£43,421 - £54,702 per annum

About Us
Together, we’re the moment makers and we’re focussed on making every day the best it can be for our residents. Whatever you do here, you’ll look around and say, “I make a difference”. Because we’re all creating lasting change to people’s lives in Oxfordshire.

It’s not a job – it’s a passion and together, we’re shaping legal services for the future. Every day, our colleagues are helping to transform the lives of the residents of Oxfordshire by supporting them to live the lives they want to live.  

Oxfordshire County Council’s legal service is on an exciting journey of transformation and re-shaping. We’ve re-designed and created a brand-new legal team structure to ensure our legal services can deliver for the future, now.  

Our new structure has multiple entry routes, clear career progression and career graded pay so you can make the most of your career and development, whilst working for the common good of our communities.  

Everyday you’ll be challenged in a new way, supported by your team, in an organisation that is free thinking, flexible, and helps people achieve their ambitions.  

Our Residents are at the heart of everything we do and our approach to supporting them must be as diverse as they are. We’re not afraid to do things differently and our dynamic culture means this is a place where new ideas are embraced, and innovation thrives.  

We believe that together, our differences make us stronger, and that diversity is the foundation for innovation. Here, you can create a unique career for yourself – while raising the bar for the future of UK legal services, together.

Legal Services at Oxfordshire County Council provides key legal and corporate governance advice to all service areas of the council. There are four main legal teams: (1) Environment (2) Adult Social Care, and Litigation (3) Children and Families and (4) Contracts and Conveyancing.

About the Role
Our Solicitors are a crucial part of our in-house legal team and will provide high quality legal advice, supporting council directorates and corporate services with proactive legal advice and collaborative working to meet our customer and community needs. With our new structure, our Solicitor roles consist of 2 levels, and are career graded which will allow you to develop and progress your career with Oxfordshire County Council.

We’re looking for an enthusiastic and motivated commercial contracts lawyer to join our Contracts & Conveyancing Team. You will provide legal advice and guidance on a wide range of commercial contracts (including construction contracts) and procurement related matters.

Working Arrangements
This role will be based at our County Hall Offices one day per week, and any additional days as required for meetings etc. but we don’t expect this to be prescriptive.  

About you
NQ Solicitor/CILEX Lawyer

• Newly qualified Solicitor/ NQ CILEX Lawyer / NQ Barrister or qualified solicitor/CILEX lawyer/barrister.

Solicitor 1

• Solicitor/CILEX Lawyer/barrister who can match Solicitor 1 core competencies (Legal Services Core Competency Framework).

Solicitor 2

• Solicitor/CILEX lawyer/barrister with significant experience in subject area and matching core competencies Solicitor 2 (Legal Services Core Competency Framework).

In addition to the above qualifications, you will also;

• Have excellent knowledge and understanding of relevant areas of law and practice; ability to research quickly in unknown areas of law, learn new areas of law and make a professional judgement and provide accurate and definitive advice.
• Have experience working within a legal practice/in house legal department

Rewards and benefits

• Culture of flexible working
• Technology to support agile working where role permits
• 30 days holiday p.a. plus bank holidays
• Option to ‘buy’ additional holiday
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support
• Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, with an employer’s contribution of up to 19.9%
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Local and national discounts for shopping and travel
• Great learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing development.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to Guaranteed Interview Schemes:
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships.  We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to Safeguarding
Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to Flexible Working
We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

If you encounter any technical issues with the application system, please contact us at: careers@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Closing date: 24 October 2024

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