Senior Lawyer - Private Sector Housing

Job title

Senior Lawyer - Private Sector Housing

Liverpool is home to vibrant, energetic, and engaged communities, people who take real ownership of their local area and are passionate about making our city a better place. We've got ambitious targets to meet and we need people who are driven, dynamic and ready to deliver the very best for our communities. Public service is more important than ever, and this role represents a real opportunity to make a difference to our communities by transforming the way we work and placing our residents at the heart of everything we do.

Working at Liverpool City Council provides an opportunity to contribute to your community and make a positive impact on the lives of residents. Our values shape how we work to deliver public services, and how we communicate with the residents we serve. We care about the best outcomes for local people, through our public services. We are proud of our world-famous thriving city with its rich culture, as well as affordable housing, good schools, beautiful green spaces – there’s really something for everyone!

As a Senior Lawyer at Liverpool City Council, you will manage a full caseload of complex and often sensitive legal matters within one or more specialisms of the team. The Planning & regulatory Team cover the areas of planning, environment, and private sector housing enforcement. Expert knowledge and understanding of the law relating to private sector housing is essential, and knowledge and understanding of one or more of the other areas of law covered by the team is desirable.

You will have personal responsibility for a caseload of complex and non-complex legal work, and act as a subject matter expert for private sector housing enforcement, with appropriate support and supervision, from a Head of Law. The post holder will lead and develop a team of Lawyers, who have conduct of matters relating to private sector housing enforcement (including criminal and civil litigation) and other areas of law where required.

As a Senior Lawyer, you will help supervise and contribute to the development of Trainee Solicitors. The role reports to Head of Law for the Planning & regulatory team. The post holder will provide proactive, and solution focussed advice that supports the delivery of the Council’s priorities and policies. Senior Lawyers will advise on legal matters relevant to public and local government law including on executive and committee decision-making, information governance and public law challenges.

You may advise members and formal decision-making bodies including Cabinet, Council, committees and overview and scrutiny in respect of the team’s specialism and as required by the Director of City Law & Governance and/or their Deputy Director. The Director will expect you to support them in their role as Monitoring Officer and promote the Nolan Principles, escalating matters as appropriate.

As a Senior Lawyer, you will externally commission legal work for the Council where required, ensuring value for money and high-quality advice and representation is received. You will play an active role in ensuring the team, service and the wider Council is aware of current and proposed law and practice affecting the Council. The post holder may participate in the delivery of projects and programmes in Legal Services and/or corporately.

You will support your Head of Law and your clients with the development of legal procedures and policies.

• At least 31 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 35 after 5 years’ service (pro rata if part time) - option to purchase further days
• Agile working (role dependent) - a "Flexibility First" approach to agile working, where flexibility is the norm rather than…