Principal Solicitor - Employment, Criminal and Commercial Litigation WCC622306

OverviewAs a Principal Solicitor you can make your own powerful contribution to Westminster''s success. You''ll join the Council''s management team and contribute proactively to our collective leadership, collaborating with elected Members, services, partners and stakeholders to deliver a wide range of objectives and priorities. Focused on driving service transformation and leading by example as you model and embed our values and behaviours, you''ll help to build a sustainable and highly effective organisation that puts residents at the heart of decision making.

Responsibilities

Leading, managing and developing a team of lawyers and Paralegals, ensuring they provide high quality legal services to the two bi-borough councils.

Working on a range of complex and sensitive matters, offering legal, procedural and governance counsel, helping on policy and strategy, and, when required, giving advice at meetings of Members and officers.

Monitoring resources against budgeted targets and innovating to ensure the service remains effective, efficient and valued.

Working on cross-cutting corporate projects and leading the team on employment, criminal and commercial litigation issues.

Promoting a culture of customer focus, continuous improvement and staff development, and planning ahead to meet changes in service demand.

Leading, developing and managing a professional team, supporting project leads and collaborating with colleagues across both councils, in a fully digital and agile environment.

Qualifications and Requirements

Qualified Solicitor or Barrister entitled to practice in England and Wales, or a Fellow of CILEX with equivalent relevant experience.

Specialist knowledge and proven experience in one or more of the following areas of law: employment, criminal and commercial litigation.

Ability to advise on high profile, cross-cutting projects and operate independently at a senior level in a complex and often politicised stakeholder environment.

Broad knowledge of local government law and decision making (or willingness to learn) and the ability to discuss legal issues with political sensitivity with Members and officers.

Capacity to work at pace in a fully digital and agile environment and to lead, develop and manage a professional team.

Strong negotiating, influencing and communication skills and a proactive mindset focused on innovative solutions in a fast-moving environment.

EEO and DiversityWestminster City Council is committed to equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aims to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and has a sense of belonging. The council encourages applications from people from all backgrounds and seeks to have a workforce that represents the communities we serve. The council supports positive action commitments under the Equality Act 2010 where appropriate.

Benefits and Working StyleAs a forward-thinking Council, Westminster values flexible working patterns and Agile working arrangements to meet staff and service ..... full job details .....