Job Introduction
Are you a proactive, organised and detail-driven professional looking for the next step in your legal career? Are you motivated by delivering excellent service? If so, we have a great role for you.
Our lawyers deal with planning, regeneration, property, highways and other related legal matters. The team is developing following the appointment of new leadership, and we’re seeking a Planning Paralegal to join us.
This is an important role and an excellent opportunity for a versatile legal professional who can work at pace. You’ll contribute to a collaborative and respectful team that values dedication and innovation.
We’re looking for a dynamic, experienced and highly organised individual who can make a real difference to the community.
You’ll be part of a wider corporate strategy to shape the continued improvement and development of Milton Keynes, through involvement in major council plans and projects designed to build on existing socio-economic strengths, tackle challenges and develop transformational policies.
You’ll deal with complex issues, analysing and forming judgments about not only your own technical or professional specialism, but also the attendant resource, finance, planning and similar issues. You will assist the Principal Lawyer and Lawyers within the Place legal team on a wide range of matters relevant to Planning, Highways and other related matters.
Milton Keynes has one of the fastest growing economies in the country and an ambitious growth agenda, so you’ll need to be commercially aware with an appetite for being busy and the ability to juggle competing priorities. You’ll ideally have a track record of enabling the delivery of council priorities.
This role may be suitable for home working, following an assessment. Home-based roles require a minimum of one day in the office/site per week.
Interviews for this role will be w/c 29 September.
Milton Keynes City Council is a modern and friendly place to work. Find out more about working with us here: www.mkcounciljobs.org.uk
Main Responsibility
- Assist the Principal Lawyer and Lawyers within the Place legal team in a wide range of matters relevant to Planning, Highways and other related matters.
- Undertake legal research.
- Liaise with client departments within the Council and with third parties.
- Prepare on behalf of others legal documents including briefs to Counsel, summons, court applications etc.
- Prepare and distribute court bundles using the Case Management System.
- Attend and contribute to regular team meetings.
The Ideal Candidate
- We're looking for a candidate who enjoys collaborative working across a number of teams.
- You'll enjoy problem solving and delivering a professional service. You’ll be interested in legal and democratic processes.
- Law Degree and/or equivalent experience working as a Paralegal.
- Experience of drafting legal documents.
- Experience of undertaking legal research.
- Willingness to undertake training in specific areas of law.
- Ability to work within strict deadlines.
- Excellent communication and organisational skills.
- Understands and demonstrates MKCC’s values; we are respectful, we are dedicated, we are collaborative.
Package Description
In addition to your salary, we offer a range of benefits including:
- Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
- Excellent pension – everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
- A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
- Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
- Salary sacrifice car scheme – low-cost leasing of electric and low emission vehicles.
- Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.
Why join us? Along with more on our Benefits, discover why Working at the City Council could be the right move for you here Working at the Council | Milton Keynes
Our roles are either designated ‘site based’ or ‘home based’. ‘Site based’ roles can include up to two days a week working from home whilst ‘home based’ roles are based at home four days a week. Of course, managers designate which category roles are in based on the needs of the service and the circumstances.
About The Organisation
Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live.
We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.
We’re very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.
We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it’s time for a new role.
If you’d like to know more about how we do things and what matters to us, take a look at our short booklet What makes us Milton Keynes City Council.
