Team Lawyer - Place

As a Team Lawyer Place you will be part of a client focussed and outcomes driven legal and democratic function. Your role will specifically focus on:

• Civil Litigation, acting as both Claimant and Defendant,
• Criminal prosecutions such as fraud, trading standards and food safety;
• Proceedings relating to private sector housing, anti-social behaviour and other regulatory matters,
• Licensing law, advising the Authority's Regulation and Licensing Committees.
The team operates within the wider Legal Team in the areas of Litigation, Licensing, Regulation, Planning and Highways matters. You will work closely with client officers, Elected Members, partner organisations and other key stakeholders to assist them in the delivery of their service objectives and priorities. You will handle a legal caseload which may include complex and legally challenging matters, drafting complex and significant legal documents and engage in detailed negotiations with parties as appropriate You will advise, prepare and conduct proceedings acting as an advocate for the Council at County and Magistrates' courts, 1^st Tier Tribunals, inquiries and other statutory and legislative hearings.

We would be especially interested in hearing from candidates with post qualification experience in Civil Litigation. You will be a Solicitor with a current practicing certificate or have an equivalent Barrister or Legal Executive qualification. We are particularly keen to hear from candidates with post qualification experience in Civil Litigation. You will be an enthusiastic, highly motivated and professional individual with experience of providing legal advice to assist and guide clients when making decisions. You will have experience of handling a personal caseload of legal cases including complex and significant matters. You will be able to advise, prepare and conduct proceedings acting as an advocate for the Council at court, tribunals, inquiries and other statutory and legislative hearings. You will have a proven track record in working in a pressured and deadline driven environment and be able to represent the service and the Council at a local and regional level as necessary.

Wigan Council has been voted 'Overall Council of the Year' at the APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) Awards. We are signed up to the Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment ensuring that your service will be continuous or 'unbroken' between the supporting organisations. Our dedicated in-house Legal team provides high quality legal advice to Senior Leaders, Elected Members, Council Officers, partner organisations and other key stakeholders across the public and private sector on a range of legal matters. We aim to offer services which are good value for money, innovative in their approach and delivery, risk aware not risk averse and open to doing things differently. We adopt a collaborative approach with all our clients' ensuring we are embedded in all their processes and decision making. We are committed to the continuous professional development of our staff which includes the payment of professional fees, a wide range of training opportunities and potential for management development. Our commitment to continuous professional development has seen us shortlisted for the Lawyers in Local Government Excellence in training award 2024.