£81,803 - £90,664 per annum

The Council contribution to your LGPS pension is 19.6% of your actual pensionable pay.

Location: Stevenage with some requirement to travel within Hertfordshire. At Herts Legal we recognise the benefits of hybrid working and this role provides the opportunity of remote/flexible working as well as some attendance at the office due to the nature of the role.

About the team
Herts Legal is a large, innovative and vibrant legal team providing high quality legal services to Hertfordshire County Council and a variety of other clients. A key part of what makes Herts Legal such a great place to work is the excellent practice management and support team which enables our lawyers to focus on the law.
We are seeking an experienced and versatile leader for the Assistant Chief Legal Officer role with overall responsibility for a range of legal specialisms. We are seeking candidates with recognised expertise in any one or more of the following:-

• Property Law
• Housing Law
• Highways Law
• Commercial & Procurement Law,
• Planning & Environment Law

About the role
As an Assistant Chief Legal Officer you will lead at least two teams of specialists within a large and well supported legal team providing legal advice and support on a wide range of interesting projects. You will be required to:

• Have day to day management responsibility for leading and shaping the development of specialist legal teams of up to 30 qualified staff. You will line manage the senior lawyers and work with them to enable them to achieve their best.
   
• Contribute to the overall strategic management and development of a large and well supported local authority legal team as a member of the Legal Services’ management team.

• Liaise with client officers from HCC and Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) and others including senior Councillors to ensure that they and their local authority receive the best advice for their situation.
   
• Be the lead lawyer in at least one of the specialist areas and steer high profile matters involving HCC/SBC ensuring that the Director of Law & Governance, Chief Executive and Councillors are kept informed.
   
• Deputise for the Director of Law & Governance as the Council’s Monitoring Officer.
   
• Be the representative from, and promote, Legal Services on corporate Boards and Groups or as directed by the Director of Law & Governance.
• Contribute to the maintenance of Legal Services’ Lexcel accreditation.
   
• Be the client relationship manager with client organisations, negotiating and agreeing appropriate levels of legal support for each.

About you

Essential criteria:

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive with significant post qualification experience and specialist knowledge/experience in at least one of the listed specialisms.
• Experience in providing and promoting solutions to significant proposals and projects, and providing high level professional advice on a range of complex matters
• Senior legal experience within a large organisation
• Knowledge of how local authorities organise and deliver services
• Experience in managing and motivating staff
• Sustained record of continuing professional development

Desirable Criteria:

• Enthusiastic and keen for a challenge.
• Experience of Governance/Monitoring Officer/Deputy MO role

In summary, this role provides an excellent opportunity for you to widen and deepen your experience as a senior legal professional within one of the largest local authorities in the country.

Closing date: 18 March 2025

For further information or to apply, please click on the 'Enquire/Apply' button below.