Job Description

This is a fantastic opportunity to join the legal team at Ipswich Borough Council and help shape the development of this historic waterfront town at a time when the Council is embarking on many exciting and ambitious schemes.

We are looking for a suitably qualified lawyer with relevant litigation experience to join our lively in-house legal commercial and litigation team.  The team handles all aspects of local authority litigation work including environmental prosecutions, housing possessions, housing advice, health and safety matters, judicial review, planning enforcement cases, debt recovery, licensing appeals and injunctions to name a few. It is desirable, but not essential, that you have local government experience and ideally have experience working in civil litigation matters, however a willingness to learn and develop in these areas is beneficial.  Training and support would be offered as part of your continuous professional development.

Whilst this role is full time, applications for part – time will be considered.

Day to Day

You will report to the Lead Lawyer for Commercial and Litigation.  You will work as part of the legal team to provide a high quality comprehensive legal service to all Officers and Councillors.  The role covers the breadth of litigation and licensing work and therefore you will be responsible for a full caseload dealing with complex and varied matters.  You will undertake all aspects of legal work including drafting and negotiating documents and settlements, researching and problem solving, acting as advocate at Court, tribunals or public inquiries and providing high quality accurate legal advice on a range of legal issues.  You will also have the opportunity to represent the Council as legal advisor at business meetings and at Council meetings such as the Licensing and Regulatory Committee.

About you

You will be a qualified solicitor/barrister/Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives or equivalent relevant qualification with proven experience preferably of working in the field of litigation, and desired experience in a local authority context.  Applications would be welcome from those with expertise in a different field and not from local government background, who would like to take on a new challenge and could apply themselves to litigation matters. You will have proven experience of providing comprehensive legal advice in your legal field, particularly of drafting, negotiating and settling matters with minimal supervision and some experience of advocacy at either Magistrates’ Court and/or County Court.  You will have a ‘can do’ attitude, be a team player and will need excellent communication and IT skills.  You will also be able to work under pressure to meet competing priorities and deadlines and be able to offer clients a pragmatic approach.

Hours of work are 37 per week, Monday to Friday, although a part time role may be considered, and there may be times when you are required to attend evening meetings and work outside of normal working hours.

As well as a good salary, we offer a career average pension scheme, generous holiday and sick pay entitlements, subsidised parking, public transport discounts, free swimming, cycle purchase scheme, plenty of personal and professional development opportunities, flexible working, hybrid working opportunities, Employee Assistance Programme and the opportunity to work with great colleagues.

For more information about this role please contact Jonathan Reed on 01473 478627 or via email Jonathan.Reed@ipswich.gov.uk.

Please download the Job Description and Person Specification to find out more about this role: Job description and Person specification

The selection process will be an interview. Interviews will be held in the week commencing Monday 18^th September 2023.

The assessment interview process will be carried out remotely via Skype for Business, Microsoft teams or in person.

Early applications are encouraged as we reserve the right to interview candidates who meet the essential criteria prior to the closing date and / or to close the opportunity to applicants once we receive sufficient applications.