Amber Valley Borough Council is situated in the heart of Derbyshire, nestled between a UNESCO World Heritage site of the Derwent Valley and the Peak District National Park and is a place of outstanding natural beauty.

The team is overseen by the Borough Solicitor and consists of 4 qualified lawyers, a Trainee Solicitor, a Technical Assistant and two assistants.  The team undertake a variety of local authority work including Planning, Procurement, Property and Regeneration, Civil and Criminal Litigation and Public Law.

The Council offers competitive pay and benefits including a Christmas shutdown week which is in addition to annual leave entitlement, various policies that support work life balance, hybrid working, free car parking, Local Government Pension Scheme membership, reduced gym membership and a commitment to invest in staff training.

Head of Legal and Deputy Monitoring Officer

Grade 12 - £52,574 To £54,705 per year

Reporting to the Borough Solicitor you will have significant post qualification experience in Local Government law and practice and be responsible for the operational and strategic direction of the Council’s Legal and Land Charges Service as well as deputising for the Borough Solicitor as required. You will be required to attend where appropriate, meetings of the Council or any of its standing committees and sub-committees, or other bodies as required.

This role will suit adaptable, flexible individuals with strong leadership and management skills who are committed to ensuring a high-quality work standard and continually seek to improve performance. Excellent communication skills are essential to manage high performing teams, to provide professional legal guidance to team members and Council services and to be able to advise Members. The Council are keen to support the successful candidate’s development and future career aspirations by funding relevant professional training such as the Inspire Programme with the aim of equipping them to become a Monitoring Officer in the future.

Junior Lawyer/Solicitor - Property and Contracts

Grade 8 - £39,186 To £43,421 per year

Reporting to the Senior Solicitor/Lawyer you must have experience of dealing with property, contracts and procurement matters in addition to being a qualified Solicitor or Legal Executive. In addition, you will be given the opportunity to develop knowledge of other areas of Local Government Law.

Providing legal advice and support to the Council your role will cover a wide range of contract, procurement and Council matters as well as having the chance to support major projects and advising on governance matters.

You will be a strong team player with the ability to deliver on deadlines, have effective communication skills and be able to use sound judgement to solve problems. You will be used to working in a busy pressurised environment and will enjoy a challenge. A commitment to delivering the best possible service for the benefit of our residents and clients is required. You will be part of a supportive team and will have the opportunity to further develop your professional knowledge whilst working within this friendly and approachable team.

Trainee Solicitor

Starting Salary Grade 4 - £24,702 - £26,421 per year

We have a great opportunity for a hardworking, motivated and adaptable individual to join the Council’s Legal Services Team as a Trainee Solicitor for 2 years. The successful candidate will be given the opportunity to gain experience in areas such as procurement, Data Protection and FOI, litigation, property, licensing, planning and governance work.

As a Trainee Solicitor, you will receive a variety of training including a fully funded Professional Skills Course with a view to admission as a qualified Solicitor with a guaranteed full time post available on successful completion of your training program. In addition you will receive support and professional guidance whilst working within a team of friendly legal colleagues.

We are looking for high-calibre candidates who:

• Are self-motivated and enthusiastic with a strong desire to learn;
• Have effective research and analytical skills;
• Possess excellent IT and communication skills, with ability to relate well to others;
• Have a commitment to training and self-development; and
• Wish to pursue a career in Local Authority law.

Candidates must be able to deal with a varied and demanding workload and who are committed to delivering a successful in house legal service. We expect the individual appointed to take personal responsibility for delivering excellence, to work with others to achieve the best possible outcomes, to embrace change and new opportunities, to make the most of the resources available and to think and act in the best interests of the Council.

Candidates must have completed or started studying their LPC Course on or before 31 December 2021 to apply for this post.

We would be delighted to receive an application from you if you feel you can meet the above requirements as well as those described in the person specification.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 18 August 2024 at Midnight

(Any applications received after the closing date will not be accepted)

CV’s are not accepted