The role
The Role:
This post sits within a team providing advice on a range of governance matters. The role will be line managed by the Council’s Specialist Governance Lawyer and will work closely with the Council’s Monitoring Officer and Deputy Monitoring Officers as well as providing governance input to the work of colleagues across Legal Services.
The team also comprises corporate information governance officers and the post will provide support and legal advice to these colleagues.
The successful Assistant Governance Lawyer will have a varied caseload to include, but not limited to:
- Providing legal advice on local authority governance and public law issues to officers and councillors including senior officers and cabinet members
- Reviewing and advising on the council’s constitution and protocols.
- Providing legal comments on reports to the council’s cabinet and other decision-making bodies
- Undertaking legal research on questions arising from the work of the team including, where necessary, briefing counsel and/or external advisors.
- Advising on member conduct and standards issues.
- Attending and providing legal advice to meetings, working parties and groups, and council committees, in matters relating to the work of the team. Specifically advising on aspects of the council’s constitution and associated protocols, and presenting training for officers and councillors.
- Providing legal advice in relation to freedom of information, environment information, subject access requests and data protection queries.
The role operates within a supportive and collaborative team alongside experienced colleagues. Relevant training and development opportunities are available.
The governance team is regularly providing advice at the very heart of the council’s activities and the post provides an opportunity to be involved in giving this key support.
About Southwark:
We are the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues and social enterprises and we have a young, diverse, and growing population.
At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities. Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.
About You:
You will be an admitted Solicitor, Barrister or CILEX of England and Wales with a current practising certificate or a qualified lawyer possessing an equivalent qualification gained in another jurisdiction who is able to practice in England and Wales.
You will already have had some experience of public law, advising on policy issues. This may have been in a local authority context, but other public law experience will also be relevant. You will also need to demonstrate experience of data protection and information governance in a public law context. Knowledge and understanding of public law principles and relevant public law contexts, and information governance law is essential.
You will need to have well-developed communication skills, able to analyse complex information and produce pragmatic advice, be a good team player, and willing to turn your hand to new things as they arise. Given the strategic positioning of this post, a strong political antenna is key, alongside a good understanding of the council’s duties.
Additional salary details
Benefits and more information:
https://jobs.southwark.gov.uk/why-us/
The council operate a hybrid working policy. Full- time staff work 3 days in the office and 2 days from home.
The vision for Southwark Council Legal Services is: “To be the council’s first choice provider of legal services, offering a sustainable, high-quality, responsive & efficient value for money service to the council and to the communities of Southwark.”
Recruitment timetable
Application Closing Date: 11.59pm on 3rd October 2023
Interview: 23rd October 2023
We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative. We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.
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