Solicitor, Perth
- Location:
- 2 High Street, Perth, PH1 5PH
- Salary:
- £43,566 - £46,944 per year
- Contract Type:
- Permanent
- Position Type:
- Full Time
- Hours:
- 36 hours per week
Job Description
Solicitor, Perth PKC10233
£43,556 - £46,944
2 High Street, Perth PH1 5PH
We are looking for a solicitor to join the Council's Legal and Governance Services. The post is in the People Team which delivers creative and customer focused legal services in relation to the Council's functions which relate to people. This predominantly involves legal support for social work (both children’s and adult social work services), education, housing, community safety, licensing and human resources. The work of the team is mainly split between litigation (Sheriff Court and Tribunals) and advice. However, the team is also proactive in providing regular training and guidance for clients. The team also proactively supports clients through involvement in projects and policy, guidance and practice development. There are also opportunities to become involved in the wider work of Legal and Governance Services such as advising Committees and Councillors.
We are looking for someone who has a genuine interest and commitment to a career in local government and in the areas of work covered by the team. You must therefore be able to demonstrate awareness of public administration law or social welfare law, either through education, knowledge or experience. You will be part of a supportive and dynamic team which is passionate about delivering high quality legal advice and support to clients. The breadth and nature of the work is challenging. You will have compassion and empathy because a significant element of the job involves supporting the work of the Council's social work teams who work with vulnerable children and adults. You will have an ability to direct your own learning, to develop knowledge and understanding of both the law relevant to the team's work and the key national and local issues impacting on the business needs of clients. You will have the ability to develop a good awareness of the wider social, economic and political environment within which the Council works. You will have highly developed written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain legal advice in plain English. You will be professionally curious and able to think creatively to support clients. You must be able to demonstrate an ability to find solutions to problems. You will be able to work collaboratively and closely with those from other disciplines such as social workers and education professionals, developing trusted, respectful relationships. As the work of the team involves litigation, you must have experience of litigation and a commitment to continuing your development in this area. Your work will be accurate and you will have excellent attention to detail. You will have strong persuasion/negotiation skills which you can use in a positive and respectful way, which will be used both in court and when working with clients and external agencies. You will be able to work under pressure, juggling different demands, and maintain an organised workload. You will be a team player, working closely with colleagues to ensure that the team’s commitments are met, sharing ideas and supporting each other to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
The Individual
You must be a qualified solicitor in Scotland, with a full, unrestricted practising certificate issued by the Law Society of Scotland. The team is normally based at the Council’s headquarters at 2 High Street, Perth although the team currently operates a hybrid working model, with a mix of working at home and regular attendance at the office. The Council has excellent access to technology to support home working. A healthy work life balance is important to Perth & Kinross Council and we provide supportive management and flexible working arrangements to help you achieve this. You will have access to training and support to enable you to fulfil the Law Society’s CPD requirements.
Further details from Sarah Rodger, Legal Manager, srodger@pkc.gov.uk
When completing your application for this post, please ensure you provide current contact details (including e-mail addresses) for two referees, one should be your present or most recent employer. However, if you are an existing employee of Perth & Kinross Council, you are only required to provide reference details for your current employer.
At PKC our values and behaviours influence our work and support us in the delivery of the Perth and Kinross Offer. In your application, and should you be invited to interview, you will be asked to describe situations that support the criteria required in the role and which also demonstrate our values and behaviours. Find out more about PKC and you could soon be joining our team!
Please APPLY ONLINE. Facilities are available at all public libraries in Perth and Kinross. If you have a disability and require reasonable adjustments, please call 01738 475555 to discuss.
As part of our safer recruitment measures, Perth & Kinross Council carries out rigorous checks on the right to work in the UK, qualifications, employment history, including references, and fitness to undertake the post.
Some jobs may have been traditionally carried out predominately by one gender, but we would encourage you to apply if you meet the requirements, irrespective of your gender.
Perth & Kinross Council welcomes applications from former armed forces personnel/reservists. Many of the skills picked up during your military career could be transferred directly into a role with local government.
Find out more about working for Perth & Kinross Council and living in one of the most scenic areas of Scotland here.