Legal Officer

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a supportive and friendly team who provide legal support to the County's Countryside and Rights of Way function. The role involves processing applications to modify the Definitive Map of Public Rights of Way including investigation, report writing, legal drafting, appeals and public inquiries, and providing legal advice on a range of countryside and rights of way matters.

The role offers an opportunity to work on challenging and interesting cases as part of a team committed to delivering high quality legal services in the public sector.

Staffordshire County Council genuinely recognise the benefit of achieving the right work life balance and our extensive package of benefits supports this. We genuinely invest in our employees and our package includes a generous holiday entitlement, increasing significantly with service, and an additional annual leave purchase scheme. Flexible and hybrid working (in an appropriate job role), employee travel and entertainment discounts, a local government pension scheme, optional car lease scheme and a staff parking discount scheme. We also offer family friendly policies such as maternity, adoption, paternity, and parental leave.

Responsibilities will include:

• Managing a caseload of applications to modify the Definitive Map of Public Rights of Way.
• Investigating applications including historical and legal research.
• Writing and presenting reports to relevant Committees and Panels of the County Council.
• Handling appeals against refusal to make a modification order and liaising with the Planning Inspectorate in relation to these.
• Drafting and processing legal orders.
• Arranging and attending public inquiries to give evidence in support of legal orders made by the County Council.
• Providing legal advice to the client department on a range of countryside and rights of way matters.

We are looking for a paralegal whose skills combine legal expertise with the personal qualities necessary to excel in the complex field of rights of way law:

• Qualified to a minimum standard of CILEX paralegal, or equivalent.
• Whilst no previous experience in rights of way law is necessary, transferable skills would be desirable and training will be provided.
• Demonstrable experience of completing all aspects of routine legal casework on other fee earner's and own allocated files.
• An interest in public sector work and countryside and public rights of way matters.
• Ability to work as a member of a team.
• Excellent communication skills as the candidate will need to provide general legal advice and interact with various stakeholders.
• Meticulous attention to detail.

We're happy to talk flexible working.

If you are unsure if your skills and experience are suitable for this role or you have any queries, please contact Heather Morgan, Team Senior - heather.morgan@staffordshire.gov.uk or Clare Gledhill at clare.gledhill@staffordshire.gov.uk.

Interviews: will take place during the week starting 26 May 2025.

Our Recruitment Process: We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what you'll bring to the role.

We are no ordinary county council:

Our Values:

The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.

We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.

We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.

Our benefits:

We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.

In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to Our rewards and benefits - Careers at Staffordshire.

Our recruitment process:

As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities.

As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.