Overview
Join Essex County Council’s Legal Team – Make a Real Impact in Public Law
Are you a qualified Solicitor or Legal Executive with a passion for Corporate and Commercial Law
Essex Legal Services provide high quality, professional, legal advice across the council and to increasing numbers of external clients. Providing a client facing legal service which proactively embraces change and delights the customer.
We are a specialist legal team providing high quality Corporate and Commercial advice supporting on ECC’s business as usual activities and also working on innovate and major projects and programmes. . Achieving good customer service and making a real and demonstrable difference to the delivery of Essex Legal Services’ business and the business of our clients.
We are looking for a Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Legal Executive primarily with a strong interest in working in-house to contribute to the ongoing development of the business and with the ability to build excellent working relationship with our clients. To read more about our business area, please visit: Corporate Services and Transformation
Why Essex County Council?
- Diverse and Impactful Work: We serve 1.5 million people, a £1.7 billion estate and tackle a wide range of interesting and complex legal challenges and projects.
- Supportive Team Environment: Join a brilliant team of lawyers who are dedicated to making a difference. New joiners rave about the interesting work and the support they receive.
- In-House Expertise: Most of our work is done in-house, providing you with a rich and varied experience.
What We’re Looking For
- Qualified Solicitors/Barristers / Legal Executives with a current practising certificate and a strong interest in working in-house.
- Expertise in contract, corporate and commercial law
- Strong Communicators & Relationship Builders. Able to provide clear advice on complex issues and build trusted relationships across a large, politically sensitive organisation.
- Outcome-Focused Professionals who understand client needs and drive productivity and efficiency improvements.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide timely, accurate legal advice across the Council and to external clients.
- Act as a legal practitioner and advocate, offering specialist consultation and support.
- Constructively challenge and influence decision-making to achieve the best outcomes.
- Build strong working relationships with internal teams, external stakeholders, and other local authorities.
- Deliver against business plans aligned with the Council’s strategic vision.
Why You’ll Love Working with Us:
- Flexible Work Arrangements: Experience the best of both worlds with our flexible hybrid working arrangements. Enjoy the freedom to work from home while still benefiting from in-person collaboration in our Chelmsford offices.
- Generous Time Off: Start with 27 days of holiday, increasing with service, plus 8 bank holidays and up to 4 paid volunteer days each year.
- Secure Your Future: Enjoy peace of mind with enrolment in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
- Professional Growth: We cover professional fees for approved professions, supporting your career development.
- Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.
Interested?
To learn more about our current opportunities, please email us at Resourcing.Team@essex.gov.uk . We’d be delighted to speak with you.
Why Essex?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone’s Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) on our careers site.
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community
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