Legal Officer

at  Norfolk County Council

PERMANENT CONTRACT | £30,559 TO £32,654 PER ANNUM (SCALE G) | 37 HOURS PER WEEK | COUNTY HALL

We are looking for a Legal Officer to join nplaw in our Special Educational Needs and Disability Team (which is part of the wider People Team) to provide legal support to our Lawyers, this role is to start in March 2025. This role is being advertised as the current incumbent is progressing their career and staying within nplaw.
nplaw is a public sector shared legal service with a wealth of experience gained through many years of advising our clients in local government, the public sector, charities and schools. We provide a wide range of legal services, delivered by specialist lawyers who understand the local government context. Working for the benefit of the public is at the heart of our culture, and we’re looking for Legal Officers to help us deliver our broad portfolio of services.
As a Legal Officer at nplaw, you’ll be responsible for assisting with the provision of legal services to clients. This will mean undertaking straightforward transactions and casework, attending meetings, and drafting documentation. You’ll work closely with Solicitors, Chartered Legal Executives on cases, and will also deal directly with clients, and litigants in person ensuring a high degree of service at all times. You’ll have a brilliant opportunity to learn and develop your skills and experience, with the support of a talented team around you, and a structured approach to long term career development with the possibility of enabling you to qualify as a solicitor if this is something you aspire to.
To be considered for the Legal Officer role you will have a law degree, be CILEx level 3 qualified (or working towards CILEx level 3) or hold a similar qualification and or experience in legal work. You’ll need a good knowledge of the law or a willingness to learn a new subject area, first class communication and organisational skills, and a desire to learn and progress your career. We will offer you training and support in all these areas.

In this role, you will be part of a large team providing legal advice and support on education matters and particularly on Tribunal Appeals, ensuring that the expectations of stakeholders and clients are met. You will understand, or develop an understanding of, the legal procedures, resources and systems to undertake straightforward legal transactions and casework, with support from Solicitors and/or Senior Legal Officers as required, including:

• obtaining and drafting basic court documents including consent orders and requests for change in proceedings.
• preparing/drafting basic legal documents and briefs,
• ensuring that Court Bundles are compliant with Tribunal guidance and updated ready for the Tribunal and other relevant parties and receiving the relevant documentation and adding to the bundle where relevant.
• attending meetings and hearings when requested to do so to take notes.
• ensuring that deadlines and order time limits are complied with by chasing and reminding clients and third-parties.
• progressing matters for disclosure and information from third parties.

We would welcome applications from candidates at any stage in their career, whether newly graduated or with more experience.
We know we’re asking for a lot, but in return we think we have a lot to offer. These roles involve variety in what you do, challenging and high-impact cases to work on, the opportunity to work for the benefit of the wider public and the chance to progress your career within an award-winning legal service, where you will learn from some talented and experienced professionals.
For an informal discussion on this role please contact Naomi Rankin, Senior Lawyer; naomi.rankin@norfolk.gov.uk .
We want our people to be inspired and motivated to work well together, make the most of our workspaces, enjoy a healthy work-life balance, and deliver excellent services to Norfolk and its people. Flexibility is built into the way we work, with hybrid working a key feature for many roles. Our technology platform and equipment are first class, enabling you to connect and collaborate remotely. We ask that you have in place good Broadband connectivity.
Already a Norfolk County Council employee? See and apply for all internal and external vacancies via myOracle using your @norfolk.gov.uk or @nccal.ac.uk email address.
Before you apply please see the full job description and person specification in the below link – this will help you to shape your application to demonstrate how you meet the criteria for the role.

JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION

You can also find out about the rewards and benefits we offer as well as our other terms and conditions.

These are some benefits you can enjoy by working for Norfolk County Council:

• Competitive salary
• Generous holiday entitlement with the ability to buy and sell leave
• Health and Wellbeing services including fast-track physiotherapy and a free counselling service
• Flexible working opportunities including flexi-time, part time, remote and hybrid working – dependent on your job role and business need.
• Financial benefits such as:
• ‘ Norfolk Rewards’ our employee discounts programme which helps you save money on almost anything, from everyday groceries and clothes, to holidays, new technology, gym membership, trips to the cinema and days out.
• A Blue Light card for Fire Service and Social Care Workers
• Relocation expenses (where applicable)
• An advance of your expenses if you travel for work
• Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution, life assurance, death in service payments and dependants’ pensions
• Tax efficient ways of getting extra pension and new bikes

• Access to our tax efficient car lease scheme for greener travel enabling you to lease a brand new, ultra-low emission vehicle (subject to eligibility)A payment if you refer someone you know to a hard to fill job

• obtaining and drafting basic court documents including consent orders and requests for change in proceedings.
• preparing/drafting basic legal documents and briefs,
• ensuring that Court Bundles are compliant with Tribunal guidance and updated ready for the Tribunal and other relevant parties and receiving the relevant documentation and adding to the bundle where relevant.
• attending meetings and hearings when requested to do so to take notes.
• ensuring that deadlines and order time limits are complied with by chasing and reminding clients and third-parties.
• progressing matters for disclosure and information from third parties