£62,691 - £73,753 per annum

A role as an in-house advocate in the Children and Education legal team at Essex County Council is unique due to the diverse legal work ensuring that professionals are constantly engaged with interesting and complex cases

It is an opportunity to develop in-house expertise, providing solicitors and barristers with a rich and varied experience. This allows for a deeper understanding of the council's operations and the ability to provide tailored legal advice and influence practice.

New joiners often praise the supportive team environment. The council is dedicated to making a difference, and this is reflected in the collaborative and encouraging atmosphere among the legal team.

The legal team offers opportunities for professional growth and development. You will be encouraged to build strong working relationships across the council, schools, other local authorities, the Judiciary and the private sector.

Job Purpose

Essex Legal Services provide high quality, professional, legal advice across the Council and to increasing numbers of external clients. Providing a client facing legal service which proactively embraces change and delights the customer.

This role works as part of a specialist legal team providing advocacy and advice to meet statutory requirements including representing clients in Courts or Tribunals and thereby reducing external legal spend. This role works closely with senior leaders to make a real difference to the delivery of Essex Legal Services’ business and the business of our clients.

A qualified solicitor, barrister or Chartered Legal Executive with 5 years’ post qualification including significant advocacy experience and a member of the appropriate professional body. With significant commercial awareness to contribute to the development of the service and new external streams of business and the ability to build excellent working relationships that encourage collaboration and exert influence, to drive a continuous improvement culture.

Accountabilities

• Accountable for undertaking court advocacy to produce the best possible outcomes and ensuring their time is used to maximise the saving on external legal fees including enabling colleagues to undertake shorter and simpler pieces of advocacy.
• Responsible for interpreting client needs and providing them with a service they value; driving the delivery of productivity and efficiency improvement.
• Responsible for assisting with development of staff in Essex Legal Services and in the client department, through delivery of training and informal learning.
• Build strong working relationships across the Council and with schools, other local authorities and the private sector to ensure a quality advocacy service is provided to the customer.
• Delegated functions as detailed in the Council’s constitution (and as amended from time to time).
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Qualified solicitor or barrister or chartered legal executive enrolled with the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Bar Standards Board or the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives, as appropriate.
• Evidence of continuing professional development, substantial post qualification experience, significant advocacy experience and expert knowledge in relevant professional area.
• Substantial experience of advocacy in courts or tribunals.
• Substantial experience of working within a legal setting in a politically sensitive environment, providing high-quality advice to a wide range of customers.
• Proven track record of building strong working relationships across a large, complex organisation, with internal and external partners/stakeholders and clients.
• Proven track record of providing advice, guidance and advocacy on complex legal matters to both customers and colleagues.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex . With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) ) on our careers site

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles , including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

Closing date: 27 July 2025

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