The role
The Role:
The council has a diverse workforce of over 4000 employees including school-based staff, which offers the opportunity for the successful Employment Lawyer to broaden their knowledge and skills.
The successful Employment Lawyer will be expected to undertake the following duties:
- Work collaboratively with the specialist Employment Lawyer, Council HR department and other lawyers within the service.
- Carry a caseload covering the full range of both contentious and non-contentious employment law matters including drafting pleadings and statements, attending employment tribunal, advising on internal disciplinary, sickness, grievance and capability procedures, TUPE, dismissal, discrimination, recruitment matters and schools.
You will be required to attend tribunal on some interesting matters from the outset. The role offers an excellent opportunity to build on existing knowledge and skills and develop in local government work.
Candidates with relevant experience from both the public and private sector are encouraged to apply. Candidates with private sector experience must have a solid understanding of how local authorities operate and demonstrate their ability to transfer knowledge and skills to successfully deliver a service within a local government context.
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.
You will benefit from working alongside experienced colleagues who are generous with sharing their knowledge.
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.”
About You:
The successful Employment Lawyer will be an admitted Solicitor, Barrister or CILEX of England and Wales with a current practising certificate with a minimum of 3 years post admission experience.
You will be a team player, autonomous, generous in sharing your knowledge, thrive in a collegiate workplace, be a critical thinker problem solver, able to recognise risk, exercise sound judgement and have a positive attitude. Experience working with clients at all levels is essential as is the ability to give clear, understandable legally sound advice orally and in writing.
The successful Employment Lawyer will need to show they have an understanding of the political sensitivities of the work and be aware of the impact their advice could have on both the council and the community they serve.
Additional salary details
Please be advised that LAW Absolute Recruitment Agency are managing the recruitment of this role.
To register your interest, please send your updated CV to zalex@lawabsolute.com
Benefits and more information:
https://jobs.southwark.gov.uk/why-us/
This post is classified as ‘Hard to Fill’ and attracts the following remuneration package;
• A hard to fill benefit payment of £2,327 which can be redeemed against gym membership, health insurance, season ticket purchase, bicycle purchase, additional voluntary contribution to pension, subscription and professional fees.
• 5% Market factor supplement in addition to the annual salary.
Recruitment timetable
Application Closing Date: 11.59pm on 3rd October 2023
Interview: 26th October and 27th 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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