£43,857 - £45,859 per annum
37 hours per week, Monday - Friday
Permanent

This is an excellent opportunity to join the legal team at Ipswich Borough Council as a Lead Lawyer to provide a comprehensive, professional and high-quality legal service to the council and its members and clients in the fields of commercial contract and procurement work, and to manage and develop a team of lawyers. 

The team handles a variety of complex commercial procurement and contract matters, drafting and negotiating contracts, agreements and bespoke frameworks, and advising clients on a variety of matters including public procurement and the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, commercial queries including TUPE and contractual disputes. The role as Lead Lawyer involves working closely with the procurement team and senior officers and involves managing lawyers working on litigation and licensing as well as commercial matters. 

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the team on challenging and complex matters, at a time when the Council is embarking on exciting and ambitious projects, and to grow and develop your own and your team’s skills, knowledge and experience in commercial and litigation / licensing work. 

Day-to-Day
You will be responsible for:

* leading, managing and developing a team of lawyers, to provide a high-quality legal service primarily in commercial, litigation and licensing law

* undertaking a range of case work, taking instructions, drafting and negotiating documents and settlements, and generally providing high quality accurate legal advice on a range of legal issues

* vetting reports and representing the council as legal advisor at business meetings and if required acting as advocate at court, tribunals or public inquiries

* such other duties as may be required from time-to-time in line with the post.

About you
You will be a qualified lawyer with at least 3 years’ post qualification experience in the areas of commercial contract and procurement work. A knowledge of litigation and / or licensing work is desirable but not essential. You will have proven experience of providing comprehensive legal advice, and of drafting, negotiating and concluding documents on complex matters. You must have an ability to lead, motivate and develop a team. It is essential you have excellent communication skills, can develop and maintain effective working relationships, can work under pressure and meet competing priorities and demanding deadlines. 

You may be required to attend evening meetings and work outside of normal working hours. The council offers flexible / agile and remote working.

To find out more:
For more information about this role please contact Clare Dawson-Dulieu on (01473) 432330 or via email: clare.dawson@ipswich.gov.uk

How to apply:
Apply online via the Apply button where you can complete the online application form. The selection process will be an interview.

Closing date: 22 October 2021.

Interviews: w/c 1 November 2021.

Due to COVID-19 the assessment/interview process will be carried out remotely via Skype for Business or Microsoft Teams.