Principal Property Lawyer

Directly accountable to the Head of Legal, the Principal Lawyer will be responsible for the delivery of proactive legal advice and decisions on complex casework in the area of property law within the Barking and Dagenham Legal Practice.

The post holder will be accountable for the management of Lawyers, Legal Assistants, and other relevant staff, ensuring the quality of work, work allocation, and provision of guidance, and will support the development of the legal staff within the practice. They will also provide expert research and advice on legal issues and policy to influence the legal practice within the context of overarching Council priorities.

Special requirements for this post

• You will manage the Property and Planning team and report directly to the Head of Legal, Monitoring Officer within the Legal Practice.
• You will be responsible for delivery of legal advice and casework in the area of Property Law within the Barking and Dagenham Legal Practice.

About you

• Qualified lawyer (solicitor, barrister, or fellow of CILEx) with experience in UK Property Law and drafting public sector agreements for works, services and supplies.
• Ability to provide advice to a range of internal and external clients, including the Council's trading companies and other public bodies.
• Accountable for the supervision of lawyers and other relevant staff; responsible for ensuring the quality of work and for work allocation, guidance, and development of the legal staff.
• Experience providing oral and written legal advice at the required level, and managing a busy team caseload.
• Ensuring all team work complies with Barking and Dagenham's Legal Practice Standards Manual, including file reviews, one to one supervision and Performance, Feedback and Development (PFD) with the team.
• Self motivated leader able to direct and allocate work, monitor performance delivery, and build positive working relationships with team members, peers and senior client officers at all levels.

About us

Our vision is to be a Legal Service that is recognised nationally as best practice in the public sector. We have a track record of helping team members develop their professional expertise and are a well-established Legal Practice.

Benefits include:

• Flexible working - you can discuss individual arrangements with your manager.
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) - pension, life insurance, and ill health retirement benefits.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - 24/7 free, confidential support for work life balance.
• Wider Wallet scheme - discounts at supermarkets, travel, holidays, restaurants, cinemas and other national and seasonal offers.
• Diversity and Inclusivity - we promote equality in the workplace and value diversity from all backgrounds, including LGBTQ+ community, genders, ages, disabilities, faiths/beliefs and ethnic minorities.