Principal Lawyer (Supporting People)

Job description

Salary: £66,573 - £79,782
Work Location: 5 Pancras Square, London N1C 4AG 
Contract Type: Permanent/ Full Time
Hours per week: 37
Closing Date: Sunday 9th June 2024; 23:59
Interviews to be held: TBC

About Camden

Camden is building somewhere everyone can thrive, by making our borough the best place to live, work, study and visit. We’re home to the most important conversations happening today. Through our mission led approach we’re making radical social change a reality, so that nobody gets left behind. Here’s where you can be part of a progressive legal team, exploring the art of the possible to unblock barriers and ensure Camden is a place that works for everyone. 

Legal Services in Camden explore the art of taking a risk aware, compliant, but not averse, approach. We embody the values of the O-shaped lawyer of operating with openness, optimism and originality. Rather than keeping the organisation ‘safe’ we are part of a 21st century legal profession that is animated by principles of social justice and works to solve problems. 

What You’ll Be Doing

We Make Camden and The Way We Work, set forth an organisational vision centred on relationships, innovation, and people, moving beyond bureaucratic approaches. Legal and Corporate Services are adapting to support this transformation. We're seeking a Principal Lawyer to lead in delivering top priorities by providing high-quality, customer-focused legal services in Social Care, Child Protection, Adult Protection, Education, and SEN.

Our in-house legal team plays a pivotal role in Camden Council's objectives, aiming to exceed client expectations and provide expert advice and representation. As a Principal Lawyer, you'll will be a valued member of a lively, responsive, and supportive team, driving improvements in legal services and council practices, delivering comprehensive legal support (in Child Protection, Adult Social Care, Education, and SEN). 

You'll lead a team of twelve, managing staff assignments, performance, and development, while collaborating with the Head of Legal Services on project management, risk management, and service improvements. Your role involves active client engagement and making resourcing decisions that align with our values and goals.

Please refer to the job profile for full details of the role. 

All About you

Find out more about what it is like to work at Camden, meet some of our People by 

visiting www.camdenjobs.co.uk/our-stories

You will have extensive experience and application of knowledge within the area of Child and Adult Protection. It would be beneficial to have some familiarity with SEN and Education, or be able to demonstrate the ability and willingness to become sufficiently knowledgeable to manage others dealing with these matters and at times lead on related issues. You will have demonstrable experience of advising senior managers and elected Members, with an ability to build trusted relationships. You should have experience of managing and motivating a team of Senior Lawyers or Lawyers, acting as a champion for them, and the wider Legal Services team, across the organisation. You will be focused on creative problem solving, seeking out acceptable solutions which support the council to achieve it’s objectives in a way which is legally compliant, risk - aware but not adverse.

What We Offer

At Camden, you’ll receive a host of benefits. From flexible working to 27 days annual leave (+ bank holidays!). We also know that a work life balance is extremely important so we also offer family leave, loan schemes and access to our incredible staff networks. We also have an incredible pensions scheme. 

Visit 'www.camdenjobs.co.uk/staff-benefits' for more details.

Additional information   

To view the Job Profile, please click HERE or copy and paste the below URL into your browser: 
http://camdocs.camden.gov.uk/HPRMWebDrawer/Record/10519532/file/document?inline

To apply for this job please follow the "Apply" link. In the ‘Why you?’ section of the application you will be required to demonstrate how you meet the role criteria noted in the Job Profile under the “About You” section.   

Inclusion and Diversity 

We want Camden Council to be a great place to work and to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and those of Other Ethnicities, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equalities and justice remains at the heart of everything we do.

To discover more about Camden and our commitment towards diversity, equality and safeguarding, please visit our 'www.camdenjobs.co.uk/staff-benefits'.     

Asking for Adjustments   

Camden is committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and as accessible as possible for everyone. This includes making adjustments or changes for disabled people, neurodiverse people or people with long-term health conditions. If you would like us to do anything differently during the application, interview or assessment process, including providing information in an alternative format, please contact us on 020 7974 6655, at [email protected] or post to 5 Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AG.

Anonymised Application – in keeping with Camden’s commitment to inclusion the recruitment to this role is anonymised and supports the objective of reducing the impact of unconscious bias.