Chief Legal Advisor

Overview

An exciting opportunity for a versatile legal professional who can shape the future direction of HB Public Law, a shared local government legal practice. 

HB Public Law is one of the largest local government legal practices, with a focus on career development from entry level to management.  With local government reorganisation and devolution on the national agenda, this is a key opportunity to support our local authority clients to shape their future, whilst delivering excellent legal services across a range of functions. You will need to be commercially aware, with an appetite to work at pace, build excellent relations with staff and clients and the ability to juggle competing priorities.

This is an excellent opportunity for a Chief Legal Advisor to join the London Borough of Harrow, the host authority for HB Public Law.  This role will lead, direct and develop HB Public Law as a key member of the senior leadership team and will take a lead lawyer role with one of the four local authority partners. HB Public Law is the brand name of the shared legal service providing legal services to four local authority partners and other public sector clients. This post reports directly to the Assistant Director of Legal and Governance.

About You

The successful candidate will have experience of:

• Legal practice management and public sector leadership;
• Managing a number of teams with diverse legal specialisms;
• Advising senior client officers and elected members;
• Fronting a legal practice;
• Governance in a public sector body and ideally local authority setting
• Creating a high-performance culture and ethos of continuous improvement

 You will need:

• To be a qualified solicitor or barrister with significant PQE and evidence of career development and training.
• Enthusiasm regarding the growth, development and enhancement of the shared legal service.
• Exceptional leadership skills with the ability to inspire confidence in clients and staff.
• To be risk aware and have an understanding of risk appetite and management in different organisations.
• The ability to develop relationships and understand the role of in-house lawyers in a public sector body.
• A deep understanding of local authority governance and public sector legal frameworks
• To undertake high-profile roles at elections.
• Be able to work unsocial hours, including attending formal member meetings in the evenings and work at venues a distance from Harrow.
• Undertake a role in emergency planning and civil contingencies.

For an informal discussion prior to applying for the role please contact Sarah Wilson (Assistant Director for Legal and Governance) on 07900 226230 or sarah.wilson@harrow.gov.uk.

The closing date for an application is Monday the 3rd of February 2025

Related Documents

For more information, please refer to the Role Profile/Selection Criteria

About us

Harrow Council is the 12th largest London borough and one of the most culturally diverse local authorities in the UK, making it a great place to live, work and visit with a range of cultures, religions and opinions that come together to produce high achieving schools and a close and friendly community. Located 10 miles from the city centre and just 13 minutes to Euston from Harrow & Wealdstone station there are great transport links via the Metropolitan Line, Watford DC Line and national rail service. It is easily accessible to the M1, M25 and A406.

Other information

Support for candidates visit: Harrow.gov.uk

Our behavioural indicators roles below G11 and above G11

Here at Harrow Council, the vision is one of 'Working together to make a difference for Harrow' Please click here to view Harrow Council's benefits

Important Note

Our staff are our greatest asset and therefore no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender, reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity unless a Genuine Occupational Qualification applies.

Harrow is committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and as accessible as possible to everyone. This includes making adjustments or changes for disabled people or people with long-term health conditions. If you would like us to do anything differently during the recruitment process, or provide any information in an alternative format please contact us at resourcing@harrow.gov.uk

HARROW REDEPLOYEES WILL BE GIVEN PRIORITY CONSIDERATION

We particularly welcome female applicants, individuals under 25 years of age, those from the Black and Multi Ethnic community, LGBTQIA+ applicants and disabled applicants, as they are under-represented within Harrow Council at this level. Appointment will always, however be made on merit.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, any your data protection rights, can be found by visiting www.cifas.org.uk/fpn.