Job Description
Job Description
Post Title: Principal Solicitor - Licensing
Service: Legal and Corporate Governance
Hours: 35 hours per week
Duration: Permanent
Salary: £57,948 - £63,390 per annum
Location: Highland Council Headquarters, Inverness
Salary placing will normally be at the first point of the scale.
Contact Person: Claire McArthur Tel: 01463 644145 Email: Claire.McArthur@highland.gov.uk
Job Purpose
To be responsible for the provision, delivery and management of the Council’s in house licensing legal advice. This includes:
- Providing high quality legal services in line with the Council’s corporate priorities and in support of effective service delivery.
- Ensuring delivery to performance targets and objectives and to meet the statutory requirements placed on the Council.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- To provide appropriate legal support and advice to the Council, Officers, elected Members on all matters relating to civic licensing, liquor licensing, houses in multiple occupation and landlord registration
- To provide clerking services for the Highland Licensing Board and the Highland Licensing Committee
- Instructing Counsel and/or external solicitors, as appropriate
- Preparing for and assisting with licensing appeals and judicial review cases
- To monitor and share changes in the law and practice as they affect the licensing service and implement changes when necessary.
- To work collaboratively with other teams and support the training and development of colleagues and clients.
- To provide line management duties within the wider licensing team
- To deliver training on licensing and related matters to elected members
- Advising on the requirements of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct and associated guidance
- Providing assistance to the Chief Officer – Legal and Corporate Governance with Monitoring Officer duties
- Assisting in the effective strategic and corporate management of the service
- Deputising, when required, as a member of the Legal & Corporate Governance management team
- Ensuring a robust approach to continuous service improvement and efficiency
- Assisting in the provision of the effective management of financial, staffing, property, ICT and other resources
- Promoting good employee relations and ensuring the development of staff through the employment review process
- Maintaining professional standards and undertaking the monitoring and appraisal of performance and attendance in line with Council policy
- Ensuring the health and safety of staff and service users, promoting equality of opportunity and preventing unfair discrimination
Other Duties
To undertake other duties as required.
You will be expected to travel efficiently and effectively between various work locations within Highland to meet the operational requirements of the Service.
Requirements
Scottish LLB law degree or equivalent Scottish qualification
Diploma in Legal Practice
Current Practising Certificate from the Law Society of Scotland
The Highland Council understands that diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity and being fair and inclusive. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds, representative of the communities we serve and particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be under-represented in our workforce.
As a disability confident employer, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria requirements for the post.
Shortlisted applicants will normally be contacted by email, unless otherwise stated. Please check your emails regularly, including your junk/spam folder.
Please APPLY ONLINE
Job Attachments
Job Description and Person Specification
Applying for a Post with the Highland Council
