Allen Lane are delighted to support a Local Authority in the London area who are looking for an experienced Contracts and Procurement Solicitor to join their Legal team.
Skills:
-
Knowledge of contracts and procurement and related legislation and case law
-
Demonstrable ability to effectively communicate standard and complex legal issues to Members and officers and to provide cogent legal advice accordingly
-
Demonstrable ability to work constructively with Council Members to a high degree of political sensitivity
-
Broad knowledge of Local Government law (and in particular how decisions are made) or equivalent knowledge and willingness to learn
-
Ability to work in a fully digital environment
-
Good negotiating and influencing skills
-
Ability to work with minimal supervision
-
Ability to communicate clearly and precisely
Responsibilities:
-
To provide the efficient and cost-effective delivery of legal services in the Contracts and Procurement Team within a culture of customer focus, continuous improvement, service excellence and employee development;
-
To give adequate and timely legal advice to the Councils and their various departments on all matters relating to Contracts and Procurement legislation;
-
To undertake complex and routine legal cases involving contracts and procurement matters without day to day supervision and to manage time and responsibilities accordingly;
-
To deal with all matters within the Team and to report to, liaise with and assist the Principal Solicitor, Chief Solicitors and Director of Law as necessary. The post holder’s caseload will include high profile, politically sensitive and financially weighted cases;
-
To negotiate the most advantageous terms with external parties and attending meetings with Government Departments, other Local Authorities, other departments of the Councils and where appropriate other persons outside the Councils;
-
To draft and advise on reports for the Cabinet, Cabinet Members, Council Committees and Sub-Committees and to attend such committees and other meetings as the Director of Law may require;
-
To attend and act as one of the legal advisers at Council meetings and committees as and when required (which may be held outside standard working hours) and to provide both legal and procedural advice to Members and Officers at these Committees;
-
To ensure that all procedural/standing order requirements are complied with and to advise Members as necessary;
-
Where appropriate, and in accordance with the Services’ protocol, to instruct Counsel and/or external solicitors;
-
To ensure proper records are maintained relating to all work undertaken;
-
To monitor changes in the law and practice as they effect the Team and implement changes when necessary. To inform the client departments of changes in the law and practice;
-
To meet monthly and annual chargeable hours targets;
-
To assist with developing and implementing office systems and ensuring that the most efficient and cost-effective procedures are adopted. Ensuring that LEXCEL requirements for file management are complied with;
-
To support the team where needed