Locum Corporate Lawyer - Basildon Borough Council
Basildon Borough Council
Temporary (3 months), Full Time
£60 per hour (umbrella)
Location: Basildon
Closing Date: 10th September 2026
Role Purpose
The objective of the Legal Service is to provide a highly efficient and cost-effective legal service to facilitate the lawful exercise of the Council’s functions and the achievement of its policies and objectives and at all times to safeguard the interests of the Council and propriety in the exercise of its functions.
Some activities of the service are carried out in fee-earning teams responsible for litigation, regeneration, property and contracts work under the overall supervision of the Head of Legal Services.
Our approach to the practice of law is based on a friendly and open style of working and a determination to avoid unnecessary complexity. We are committed to achieving the objectives of our clients by finding solutions to their problems in a professional, courteous and efficient manner. We believe in an innovative and energetic approach to the practice of law, placing particular emphasis on personal service, speed of response, value for money, accessibility and the highest standards of professional excellence.
This is a role suitable for those who are qualified as a solicitor/barrister/Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.
The post holder will be accountable to the Principal Lawyer (Corporate) (who is accountable to the Head of Legal Services, and who will be responsible for allocating work and supervising. The post holder will also be expected to provide assistance to the Principal Lawyers and Head of Legal Services as necessary.
Duties
- At this stage the post-holder would be expected to undertake all of the below functions without assistance
- Undertake legal and, where necessary, commercial research and provide advice to the Council, including Members as appropriate, on casework and other issues, interpretation of new and existing legislation and case law including their effect on the implementation of Council policy as required. Evaluate and advise on the effect of such matters on implementation of casework and progression of projects.
- Evaluating facts and evidence and advising service clients on strengths and weaknesses of proposed actions and, where appropriate, advising on compromise particularly in strategic project work.
- Assessing when Counsel’s opinion may be required and liaising with the relevant Principal Lawyer to ensure proper instruction of Counsel as necessary.
- Draft and comment upon committee reports. Attend and advise at committee meetings (including licensing meetings) and other Member meetings as required in all legal matters and participate fully in working groups, to ensure that the Council is well informed and Legal Services effectively represented.
- Actively and positively participate in multi-discipline teams to further the Council’s strategic aims and objectives through collaboratively delivering projects and casework.
- Adopt a risk-aware approach to identify legal and commercial risks and support the Council in developing appropriate strategies to mitigate risk and maximise opportunities.
- To assist in establishing and maintaining efficient working practices within the legal teams, including independently identifying opportunities to improve and bringing these to the attention of the manager. Provide assistance in setting up all requisite case management systems, information database and common form documentation. Making the most efficient use of the information technology available to enable quick and efficient management of caseloads and to facilitate the proper costing and allocation of professional time and the maintenance of statistical data.
- Maintain an awareness of general governance and public law implications in order to identify and determine the legally appropriate route or routes.
- Maintain an awareness of general data protection and information governance implications in order to identify and determine the legally appropriate routes in discussion with Information Governance colleagues.
- Assist in the supervision and training of legal and other staff as appropriate in order to achieve productive and motivated staff and to secure the best use of available resources. This includes preparing and delivering training courses for clients and other team members.
- Prioritise caseload and self-monitor progress of work, subject to any overriding instruction from a team manager to ensure that work is completed within set timescales or to Council requirements and, where applicable, in accordance with time limits imposed by statute.
- Undertake a proactive and committed approach towards the Council’s best value ethos and Corporate Plan.
As above the Post holder will be predominantly performing the following duties:
- Corporate
- Drafting particulars of claim, statements of case and information as required
- The preparation of cases for presentation in civil and criminal courts and at public inquiries/tribunals. Advising as appropriate so as to ensure that the Council’s case is capable of being effectively presented.
- Acting as advocate in cases in the Magistrates Court, County Court, High Court and at public inquiries and tribunals as directed.
- Defending legal proceedings brought against the Council as required including judicial review, statutory appeals or other legal challenges.
- Securing the recovery of costs where the Council is successful in complex litigation, which may involve detailed assessments.
- Provide advice on general litigation matters including governance.
Skills, Knowledge and Experience
- Professionally qualified – Solicitor/Barrister/Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives CILEx
- Evidence of CPD
- At least 3 year’s post-qualification experience of undertaking the duties within the job description and have the appropriate CILEx /Solicitor/Barrister qualification
- Fulfils person specification for Fellow Legal Executive/Lawyer role as set out under duties in the job description
- Detailed knowledge of the law in at least one of the following areas:
- civil litigation
- housing
- anti-social behaviour
- licensing
- employment
- planning
- complex residential and commercial property transactions
- high value contract, procurement frameworks
- strategic legal input into regeneration and development projects
- Knowledge of criminal law and procedure in particular with regard to the drafting and issue of summonses
- Experience of advocacy in the Magistrates Court and/or experience of acting as legal advisor at Miscellaneous Licensing Committee
- Speaks clearly and fluently
- Expresses opinions, information and key points of an argument clearly
- Makes presentation and undertakes public speaking with skill and confidence
- Responds quickly to the needs of an audience and to their reactions and feedback
- Writes clearly, succinctly and correctly
- Writes convincingly in an engaging and expressive manner
- Avoids the unnecessary use of jargon or complicated language
- Writes in a well-structured and logical way
- Structures information to meet the needs and understanding of the intended audience
- Rapidly learns new tasks and quickly commits information to memory
- Gathers comprehensive information to support decision making
- Demonstrates a rapid understanding of newly presented information
- Encourages an organisational learning approach (i.e. learns from successes and failures and seeks staff and customer feedback)
- Manages knowledge (collects, classifies and disseminates knowledge of use to the organisation)
- Sets clearly defined objectives
- Plans activities and projects well in advance and takes account of possible changing circumstances
- Managers time effectively
- Identifies and organises resources needed to accomplish tasks
- Monitors performance against deadlines and milestones
- Appropriately follows instructions from others without unnecessarily challenging authority
- Follows procedures and policies
- Keeps to schedules
- Arrives punctually for work and meetings
- Demonstrates commitment to the organisation
- Complies with legal obligations and safety requirement of the role
- Adapts to changing circumstances
- Accepts new ideas and change initiatives
- Adapts interpersonal style to suit different people or situations
- Shows respect and sensitivity towards cultural and religious differences
- Deals with ambiguity, making positive use of the opportunities it presents
Why choose Basildon Council?
Basildon Borough Council is one of the largest local authorities in the East of England region and serves a population of approximately 172,000 people. The town of Basildon is regarded as a key economic hub with the main areas of employment being engineering, research and development, distribution and financial services. Basildon is also the second biggest economy in the Thames Gateway, outside of Canary Wharf.
Working for Basildon Borough Council means making a practical and positive difference to the lives of people living and working in the Borough and provides a fulfilling career.
Each of our employees - whatever job role they are undertaking - can feel motivated by having a unique opportunity to use their skills to make Basildon a better place to live. Whether it is conserving our countryside, by regenerating our Borough, by housing our residents or by collecting the refuse on time.
Note: ECC are advertising this role on behalf of Basildon Council.
Basildon Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults, and expects all employees, contractors and volunteers to share its commitment to prevent abuse, harm or exploitation.
The Council applies a robust recruitment vetting process. If you are successful you will need to undergo a Pre-employment Vetting Procedure.
What you should do next
If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via the Working for Essex website.
If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email essexsharedservices@essex.gov.uk
