Lawyer - Projects (Legal Services)

Lawyer - Projects (Legal Services)

Reference no: WYCA TCL 0009 7839 / 1

Pay Rate: £48,069 per annum

Working Hours: 37 Monday – Friday, normal working hours

Type: Permanent

City: LEEDS

The role requires the candidate to attend the office as per business needs, which is approximately 2 days a week. The remaining time can be worked from home or in the office. All applicants must be aware and be comfortable with this requirement as it is not negotiable.

Act as a senior legal advisor, supporting the Principal Lawyer and Service Lead to provide a quality legal service to the Combined Authority in relation to the Legal Projects function. Work in partnership with the Combined Authority’s Officers, external stakeholders, and partner authorities and in particular provide robust legal advice in the implementation and delivery of major infrastructure, construction, regeneration, and transport schemes and in the fields of contract, competition, and intellectual property laws and practice.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work closely with the Principal Lawyer and Service Lead to provide a customer-focused, high performing, and proactive legal service in relation to the Legal Projects function.
• Provide legal support required by means of:
  • Drafting high value/risk level and complex commercial contracts, funding, and loan documentation for infrastructure and construction projects, the energy sector, regeneration schemes, public transport projects, employment skills, and further education programmes;
  • Providing advice and assistance in relation to contract disputes and dispute resolution ensuring the Combined Authority’s position is protected at all times and risks minimized;
  • Providing advice on subsidy control and competition law;
  • Providing legal advice in relation to all Combined Authority projects and programmes including in the areas of infrastructure projects, construction, public transport schemes, major regeneration, and energy projects and regional adult education, skills, and training provision;
  • Liaising with other parts of the Legal Projects, Procurement & Commercial Service as appropriate to provide an integrated corporate legal service.
• Negotiate and review complex high value/risk level documentation and provide advice to a range of stakeholders in relation to the same, using initiative and judgement.
• Analyse situations, applying excellent legal knowledge and expertise to undertake negotiations or guide decision making based on options and implications, proposing solutions and recommending and implementing new policies and procedures to improve ways of working and reduce risk.
• Prepare and present bespoke training as required.
• Monitor new and current legal issues, ensuring team and other stakeholders are informed as appropriate and maintain up to date information in relevant areas.
• Undertake technical and complex legal research.
• Write and review complex reports for decision-making forums, ensuring clarity as to any legal implications and associated risk factors.
• Communicate timely and accurate tactical and strategic advice at all levels, applying legal privilege where necessary.
• Lead and participate in assignments and the delivery of projects or workstreams as directed or work as part of a team to deliver important schemes and provide advice and assistance to Project Boards and Project Managers during the delivery of projects.

Qualifications:

• Qualified Solicitor or Barrister entitled to hold a practising certificate or full CILEX (Fellowship) qualification with recent post-qualification experience, ideally in a public sector organisation.

Knowledge:

• Significant legal and practical knowledge and experience in the specified area of law.
• Significant legal and practical knowledge and experience of advising on large scale projects.
• Demonstrate good knowledge of local government law and practice including a thorough understanding of the political nature of local government and the democratic process.

Experience:

• Significant experience of successfully working as an in-house legal advisor within the public sector working at senior level within one or more areas of Legal Projects function.
• Practical experience of successfully performing in a similar role.
• Experience of effectively contributing to department objectives.
• Experience of successfully identifying appropriate communication channels to deliver information.
• Experience of effectively contributing to organisational vision.
• Experience of training, advising, and coaching staff on legal issues and drafting, assisting with their personal development.
• Experience of working collaboratively as part of a team with the ability to motivate colleagues to achieve team objectives.
• Substantive experience of advising on a range of matters within the specified practice area.
• Experience of advising on major projects or projects with a significant impact within a public sector environment.
• Proven experience of confidently and professionally conveying information both written and oral in a clear, concise, and persuasive style.

Skills & Abilities:

• Sound judgement and outstanding analytical skills and experience of advising on and drafting complex and commercial documentation.
• Ability to write concise, accurate and informative reports and presentations for a range of audiences & stakeholders.
• Demonstrate the ability to work in other related areas of the Legal Projects, Procurement & Commercial Service when required.
• Ability to manage own caseload from instructions to completion.
• Competent user of Microsoft packages and intranet sites.