Solicitor Commercial, Planning and Property

Job Description

Solicitor (Commercial, Planning and Property) (4) (Permanent)
Dumfries/Hybrid
£49,050 - £52,842

An exciting opportunity has arisen within Legal Services. We are looking to recruit solicitors who will work as part of our in-house Commercial, Planning and Property Team. The team delivers a diverse and complex range of commercial, planning and property and general public sector legal support to the Council organisation wide and aims to deliver an outcome/client focussed legal service ensuring that we meet our client service needs and Council priorities.

We would be pleased to hear from anyone with enthusiasm and experience in these or other statutory advisory areas or with a strong interest in developing such expertise within Local Government.

We are an organisation with a strong technological focus transforming the way we work to serve our Communities in Dumfries and Galloway and collaborating closely with Partner Agencies and the Third Sector.

Dumfries and Galloway Council has modernised its ways of working, through our Smarter Working Policy. We offer fixed, flexible, mobile, and home working styles. Legal Services operates a hybrid working model, with a mixture of office and home working. Our flexible approach to work styles provides opportunities to manage your time in a more flexible manner and helps to achieve a better work/life balance.

The successful post holder must:

Hold a degree in Scots Law and Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.

Be admitted as a solicitor by the Law Society of Scotland and hold a current unrestricted Practising Certificate.

Requirements

Have a good working knowledge of Scots Law.

Have good knowledge of current and impending legislation and practice areas, and an understanding of their impacts of the public sector.

Have knowledge and experience of delivering legal advice in the Local Government/Public Sector.

Have good experience of providing support and advice with minimal supervision in one or more of the following areas of Law:

Commercial
Procurement
Contracts
Planning
Construction
Major Projects
Property
Governance and/or
Other public sector matters

Requirements

Experience of supporting clients/employer to develop policies/strategies.

Good written and verbal communication skills.

Ability to manage varied and challenged workload.

Effective time-management skills and prioritisation

Excellent IT skills, including Microsoft packages – Outlook, Word, case/file management systems etc.

Drafting and negotiation skills

Legal Research skills

Ability to work effectively as part of a Team.

Self-confident and self-motivated.

Fostering client relationships and good resolutions.

Able to form productive working relations with various Council officials, elected members, and external solicitors.

Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs and demands of the service.

Appreciation, acceptance of and a commitment to the importance of confidentiality.

Ability to work from home.

Some knowledge/experience of the following is desirable:

Experience of operating within a political regime.

Understand local and national strategies and impacts on local government services.

Experience of supporting committees, sub-committees and other Council led bodies/partnerships.

The Council is willing to consider applications with cross border equivalents provided the successful candidate obtains a Certificate of Eligibility and undertakes to complete QLA (Qualified Lawyers Assessment) within 18 months of appointment.

For further information please contact Jacqueline Holland, Governance and Assurance Manager on 07920 071064 or email: Jacqueline.Holland@dumgal.gov.uk