Principal Lawyer – Criminal Litigation and Licensing
Permanent
Grade 6 – £54,495- £64,811
Consultation grade – subject to formal evaluation under the Pay Equity Review
Working 36.5 hours per week
A brilliant opportunity to join a dynamic, progressive legal service where you will be given the opportunity to work on some incredible projects and cases, while learning and developing as a leading local government lawyer.
Birmingham City Council's legal service is unique and one of the largest in-house local authority legal teams. The City Council is on its journey of resetting, reshaping and restarting and everyone within legal services is essential to the Council's success and achieving beneficial outcomes for our citizens. You could be part of this.
Legal Services covers all areas of work that the Council undertakes, from employment to property, from social care to contracts. The variety of work that our team undertakes is wide and at the highest level. The work is challenging and rewarding in equal measure. Based in Victoria Square in the City Centre, you will have excellent transport links, access to Courts and tribunals, partner organisations and all the benefits that working in the wonderful City of Birmingham brings.
Birmingham City Council is committed to achieving excellence, putting our citizens first, acting courageously and being true to our word. If this resonates with you, then we want to hear from you.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as a lead legal advisor to ensure compliance with statutory duties and obligations, to protect the best interests of the Council.
- Provide high quality, innovative, well‑researched and comprehensive specialist legal advice.
- Manage a complex caseload and deliver advice within the required timescales.
- Supervise and manage the work of the team to ensure that the team provides professional guidance and expertise, and that work is allocated appropriately within the team.
- Attend courts, tribunals, public inquiries or other meetings, undertake advocacy where required, represent the Council in negotiations and discussions and instruct and manage suppliers of external legal services.
- Develop, with the Head of Law, a clear sense of direction and motivation within the team through team meetings and supervision meetings.
Qualifications
- Hold or qualify for a current practising certificate as a Solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive, or be a member of the Bar who has completed pupillage or is a registered Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.
Benefits of working at Birmingham City Council
- 30 days annual leave – increases to 33 days after five years and 35 days after ten years, plus option to purchase additional leave.
- Access to voluntary benefits providers that support health, wellbeing and leisure.
- Family‑friendly policies such as maternity, adoption, paternity, shared parental and carers’ leave.
- Health and wellbeing support networks, including confidential employee assistance and counselling, occupational health and others.
- Employee communities and support groups including Corporate Black Workers Support Group, Disability and LGBT+ Networks, Menopause Support Forum and others.
- Disability confident employer.
- Membership of a job‑related pension scheme with generous employer contributions.
- Access to “My Rewards” – discounts and savings across many brands and great days out.
- Opportunities to join salary sacrifice schemes such as Cycle to Work, Annual Travel and Car Parking, and others.
Equal Opportunity and Accessibility
We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the communities we serve. We will use positive action where necessary to achieve diverse shortlists. Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer and is committed to employing, retaining and developing all of our people.
Proof of right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants. Sponsorship is not available for this post; applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.
Birmingham City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our citizens and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. You can view our Corporate Safeguarding Policy here.
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Permanent
Grade 6 – £54,495- £64,811
Consultation grade – subject to formal evaluation under the Pay Equity Review
Working 36.5 hours per week
A brilliant opportunity to join a dynamic, progressive legal service where you will be given the opportunity to work on some incredible projects and cases, while learning and developing as a leading local government lawyer.
Birmingham City Council’s legal service is unique and one of the largest in-house local authority legal teams. The City Council is on its journey of resetting, reshaping and restarting and everyone within legal services is essential to the Council’s success and achieving beneficial outcomes for our citizens. You could be part of this.
Legal Services covers all areas of work that the Council undertakes, from employment to property, from social care to contracts. The variety of work that our team undertakes is wide and at the highest level. The work is challenging and rewarding in equal measure. Based in Victoria Square in the City Centre, you will have excellent transport links, access to Courts and tribunals, partner organisations and all the benefits that working in the wonderful City of Birmingham brings.
Birmingham City Council is committed to achieving excellence, putting our citizens first, acting courageously and being true to our word. If this resonates with you, then we want to hear from you.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as a lead legal advisor to ensure compliance with statutory duties and obligations, to protect the best interests of the Council.
- Provide high quality, innovative, well‑researched and comprehensive specialist legal advice.
- Manage a complex caseload and deliver advice within the required timescales.
- Supervise and manage the work of the team to ensure that the team provides professional guidance and expertise, and that work is allocated appropriately within the team.
- Attend courts, tribunals, public inquiries or other meetings, undertake advocacy where required, represent the Council in negotiations and discussions and instruct and manage suppliers of external legal services.
- Develop, with the Head of Law, a clear sense of direction and motivation within the team through team meetings and supervision meetings.
Qualifications
- Hold or qualify for a current practising certificate as a Solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive, or be a member of the Bar who has completed pupillage or is a registered Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.
Benefits of working at Birmingham City Council
- 30 days annual leave – increases to 33 days after five years and 35 days after ten years, plus option to purchase additional leave.
- Access to voluntary benefits providers that support health, wellbeing and leisure.
- Family‑friendly policies such as maternity, adoption, paternity, shared parental and carers’ leave.
- Health and wellbeing support networks, including confidential employee assistance and counselling, occupational health and others.
- Employee communities and support groups including Corporate Black Workers Support Group, Disability and LGBT+ Networks, Menopause Support Forum and others.
- Disability confident employer.
- Membership of a job‑related pension scheme with generous employer contributions.
- Access to “My Rewards” – discounts and savings across many brands and great days out.
- Opportunities to join salary sacrifice schemes such as Cycle to Work, Annual Travel and Car Parking, and others.
Equal Opportunity and Accessibility
We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the communities we serve. We will use positive action where necessary to achieve diverse shortlists. Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer and is committed to employing, retaining and developing all of our people.
Proof of right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants. Sponsorship is not available for this post; applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.
Birmingham City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our citizens and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. You can view our Corporate Safeguarding Policy here.
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