The London Borough of Ealing is seeking to appoint to a lawyer for a full-time fixed term contract of 12 months with the drive to contribute to the development of innovative legal strategies and legal support and advice to the Council’s Adults and Public Health Directorate. This is an exciting opportunity for the successful candidate to handle an interesting and varied workload, to provide important and cost-effective legal advice and support to a number of high-profile clients, regarding wide ranging issues with significant consequences for the social care and public health clients in the Council. It is also an opportunity to work in a local authority that is committed to ongoing improvement in all aspects of its organisation and service delivery.
Your role, as the successful candidate will be to provide an excellent legal service to the Council and other public bodies to the highest professional standards. You will provide an enhanced legal service to the Council’s Adults and Public Health Directorate in respect of social care and be handling a caseload of complex legal matters with minimal supervision. As an in-house social care lawyer, with a focus on adult social care, you will also be responsible for making a positive contribution to the continuous improvement in the quality and cost effectiveness of the service.
The successful applicant will
- Be a qualified solicitor, a barrister or a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.
- Have the ability to obtain and evaluate evidence, prepare cases and advocate effectively on behalf of the Council before courts, tribunals, inquiries and other bodies.
- Have the ability to adopt a clear and systematic approach to problem solving, including the ability to effectively research new law and policy and to apply that research to meet the needs of the client.
- Have the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with non-lawyers and with lawyers and advise at all organisational levels including Members and Directors.
- Have excellent knowledge and experience of adult social care law and practice
- Have excellent knowledge of adult social care legislation regulations and rules including knowledge of imminent changes in legislation and guidance.
- Have knowledge and experience of children law as it pertains to a child’s transition to Adult Social Care
- Have experience of handling their own caseload and of working unsupervised or with little supervision
- Have sound knowledge of local government and public law regarding social care, health and education
- Have experience of providing lawful innovative and creative solutions to legal issues where appropriate
- Have experience of drafting legal and court documentation
- Have some advocacy experience
- Have experience or express a willingness to work under a hybrid system of working [i.e. both in the office and remotely]
This role is deemed customer facing and as such you must have a command of spoken English which is sufficient to enable you to effectively perform the role. This requirement relates to Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016.
This post is subject to Ealing’s enhanced vetting process.
Ealing Council is committed to creating good jobs and delivering on its connected communities’ agenda. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive.
We therefore welcome applications from all residents of the borough, we particularly welcome applications from candidates who are entering the employment market in the early stages of their career and mid-career professionals, who are currently underrepresented in Ealing’s workforce.
Please note all applications will be determined on merit.
