£59,193.75 - £73,861.50 DOE Plus £1,435 Management Allowance

Located in Shefford, Huntingdon or Northampton

A fantastic opportunity to join an exciting, innovative law firm where you will be given the opportunity to learn and develop in your chosen field and excel in your career.

Pathfinder Legal Services Ltd is a true one of a kind. Established in 2015 as an ‘Alternative Business Structure’ (ABS) we are wholly owned by public bodies. We pride ourselves on serving our communities with resilience, enthusiasm and focus. Working for public sector and not for profit clients is our focus. A significant proportion of the work we carry out will be for local authorities, however, we have over recent years grown our client base to include more than one hundred organisations across the public and not-for profit sectors. Our clients include Integrated Care Boards, Foundation Trusts, Charities and Fire Services.

We have grown significantly in recent years and are rapidly expanding, with offices based in Huntingdon, Northampton and Shefford. With over 165 members of staff, our Firm is made up of qualified legal officers, administrative support and finance officers. We aim to develop our staff to enable them to reach their full potential and to find a career path suitable to each individual.

If the chance to play a part in this fast paced but increasingly interesting and challenging area of law interests you, we want to hear from you.

OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE JOB:
To lead a team of lawyers providing a range of public sector clients with a professional and innovative legal service predominantly regarding Special Educational Needs and education matters generally and other areas of legal practice where necessary.

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES:

1. To provide legal advice and services to client organisations in litigation matters, predominately around Special Educational Needs and education matters to ensure compliance with statutory duties and obligations and to protect the best interests of the client organisations.
2. To act as a legal advisor to client organisations to ensure compliance with statutory duties and obligations and to protect the best interests of the client organisations.
3. Develop and provide legal input in to training courses for a range of professional clients.
4. To provide overall management of the team’s complex and politically sensitive case load to ensure the provision of high quality, well researched and comprehensive legal advice within the timescales required by the client.
5. To ensure the effective identification and management of risks associated with the relevant areas of legal practice.
6. To provide supervision and manage the work of the team to ensure that professional guidance is given, that expertise is employed and work is allocated appropriately within the team.
7. To manage the activities of the team to include performance, caseloads and productivity, motivation and development, recruitment and selection and appraisals.
8. To attend courts and tribunals undertaking advocacy where required and to represent clients in negotiations and discussions with third parties in matters regarding the areas of legal practice relevant to the post.
9. To support the Pathfinder Legal Services management team in building and maintaining effective working relationships with clients to ensure the delivery of a seamless and client focussed service.
10. To support the Pathfinder Legal Services management team by complying with all Legal Services practice management requirements including time recording, Lexcel and Investors in People.
11. To support the Pathfinder Legal Services management team in developing and maintaining effective partnerships, networks and joint working arrangements to ensure the most effective provision of Legal Services to meet the needs and aspirations of clients.
12. To demonstrate awareness and understanding of equal opportunities, other people’s behaviour and their physical, social and welfare needs.
13. To ensure that reasonable care is taken for the health and safety of the team, including compliance with health and safety policy and procedure and to maintain good employment relations within your team.
14. Carry out other duties which fall within the broad spirit, scope and purpose of the job description and which are commensurate with the grade of the post.
15. To act as an authorised signatory for an appropriate shareholder client.
16. To buddy, train and support colleagues.

Pathfinder Legal Benefits

• Local Government Pensions Scheme – considered to be one of the best employer contribution rates.
• Flexible working arrangements – we offer flexible hours and hybrid working which allows for remote working but we also require regular office attendance with the aim to give everyone a balanced work/life ratio.
• Family Friendly policies including excellent Maternity, Paternity and Adoption entitlements.
• An exceptional Employee Assistance Program which helps supports employees with workplace changes as well as other work, family and personal issues.
• A generous minimum annual leave entitlement of 26 days, rising on 5 and 10 years service, plus public holidays. With the option to purchase more annual leave.

To apply for this position please send your CV and a covering letter explaining how you meet the Person Specification to recruitment@pathfinderlegal.co.uk. When applying, please quote reference ‘LIT-035’.

For a copy of the full Job Description and Person Specification and details of our other vacancies, please visit our website www.pathfinderlegal.co.uk/careers.

Closing date: 30 March 2025 @ 12:00

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