Employment Lawyer - Thurrock Borough Council

Job Title: Employment Lawyer Salary: £53,460 – £61,638 per annum
Grade: G Contract Type: Permanent
Working Hours: 37 hours per week

Thurrock Council is seeking an Employment Lawyer to join its Legal Services Team to provide expert legal advice and representation on employment matters for the Council. This includes managing a varied caseload, ensuring compliance with statutory obligations, and supporting governance processes to protect the Council’s interests.

This is an exciting opportunity with growth in abundance at Thurrock it is the perfect time to develop and progress in this vibrant and dynamic team.

We are looking for someone with a passion for employment law, a proactive mindset, and a desire to grow professionally in a supportive and experienced environment.

We welcome applications from candidates with experience in Employment Law matters who can demonstrate confidence in their specialism and shows excellent legal aptitude. We are looking for a candidate with the requisite skills to build strong relationships and trust with all key stakeholders to provide support to the Council with minimum supervision.

As an Employment Lawyer, you will be responsible for:

• Legal Advice and Case Management. Provide legal advice and support on a wide range of issues varying in complexity but not limited to:
• Providing legal advice to internal clients and stakeholders in relation to all aspects of employment law.
• Taking instructions and responding to employment claims.
• Drafting legal responses.
• Conducting case management/ preliminary hearings.
• Instructing and liaising with counsel in relation to any tribunal proceedings where external legal counsel may be required.
• Drafting settlement agreements.
• Advising panel members in relation to disciplinary hearings as well as drafting outcome decisions
• Case management and advice of any legal challenges around the SEND process and TUPE process.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, case law, and best practice.
• Advocacy and Representation. You will be expected to:
• Provide advice to councillors, stakeholders and senior officers and to liaise with external bodies and legal advisers
• To attend decision making meetings including Committee Meetings remotely or in person if required.
• Undertake advocacy at the Employment Tribunal if necessary.
• Contribute to the innovative improvement of the Legal Services Team including streamlining and case management workflow systems.
• Support junior members of the team including the Legal Apprentice in legal practice and procedure contributing towards their professional development.
• Contribute to governance processes, ensuring legal compliance and sound decision-making. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, case law, and best practice. To carry out research and provide legal advice to Client Departments on all related legal transactions.
• Engage with senior officers and Members to offer high-quality legal services, with a focus on social justice. Collaborate closely with directorates to ensure efficient delivery of Council priorities. Become a trusted advisor, advocate and problem solver as you contribute to Thurrock’s vision of client focused and innovative service delivery.
• Personally manage a caseload and be able to work unsupervised. To prepare, negotiate, draft, agree and process legal documents. To record all key actions and ensure data is regularly updated. To collate and send or check supporting legal and financial documents. To seek to always protect the Councils’ interests, while taking precautions against potential fraud and money laundering. To review and update as appropriate all templates and procedures.
• To notify and advise on any instructions or events that would result in a breach by the Council or an individual of any legislation, common law, standing order or rule or propriety or would constitute a course of action amounting to maladministration.
• To attend and participate in meetings with Officers of the Council and to provide legal advice when required.
• To be willing and able to work in a flexible and agile way with regards to both hours and location of work, including remote and home…