Job Description. Legal Services. Organisation Advertising Description. Fixed term for 12 months. Grade Grade 8

Transcription

1 Job Description Post Title and Post Number Organisation Advertising Description Post Number Full Time/Part Time Duration Post is open to: Employment Solicitor Z2015 Legal Services 42643Z2015 Part time, 60% of full time Fixed term for 12 months Internal and external candidates Grade Grade 8 Salary Starting salary is normally in the range 38,511 to 45,954. With potential progression once in post to 51,702 a year. Salary will be paid pro rata. Terms and Conditions Administrative and Other Related Closing Date 19 July 2015 Job Summary Legal Services is an in-house solicitors office. It advises Academic Units and Professional Services within the University and liaises with external bodies and solicitors as required. The Director reports directly to the Registrar and Secretary of the University, and is the prime point of contact for external solicitors. The University has arrangements with external solicitors under which matters are referred to them where specific expertise is required. The Employment Solicitor takes the lead in advising on matters directly and indirectly relating to employment law. The Employment Solicitor will be involved in advising the University and in particular Human Resources on a range of employment and personnelrelated issues. The relationship with HR is a close one and the role-holder will support the HR community in their understanding of the legal context in which they practise through the provision of team briefings and training sessions. The Legal Services team has a busy and wide ranging agenda and although this role is to focus on employment related matters, opportunities may arise for involvement with other legal issues within the office. Legal Services deals with some cases of considerable financial and reputational

2 impact on the University, and therefore the applicant should have experience of managing large matters through to completion and the ability to take on a variety of work with varying degrees of complexity. Main Duties The post holder will be required:- i. To provide advice on a wide range of personnel-related issues including, but not limited to: appointment (recruitment, probation) and dismissals; redundancies and restructures; Internships; the commissioning, payment and management of casual work; pension auto-enrolment; employment status; performance management; discipline; grievance; sickness /absence management; discrimination and equal opportunities including equal pay; employment contracts including changes to terms and conditions and negotiation with trade unions; TUPE and outsourcing; and Trade unions. ii. iii. To review and advise on the drafting of papers and related reports for College Boards, University Executive Board, Senate Council or University Committees in relation to proposals for transformative change, for example, restructuring of Schools or departments or policy revision taking into account the University s legislation and governance. To support Human Resources with regard to the drafting and implementing of policy documents and legislation and in internal investigations and proceedings. iv. To engage in employment tribunal case management and preparation including representation of the University at Employment Tribunals or at internal hearings, if appropriate. v. To carry out a substantial amount of drafting and support the review and revision of policies, procedures and Codes of Practice relating to staff matters and in relation to change management within the University. While the University Legal Services has access to PLC and web-based resources (such as LAWTEL and Lexis), together with the excellent facilities of the Harding Law Library at the University, the nature of the University s work is such that drafting ab initio is frequently required. vi. To pro-actively identify and where relevant solve both legal and practical problems associated with the business of the University. vii. To give clear and concise explanations of legal issues to non-legally-qualified members of the University at all levels, understanding the multi-cultural context of the University and the differing roles and ways of working across the University. viii. To prepare and issue Instructions to External Solicitors or Counsel and to oversee the delivery of outputs in a timely fashion. ix. To facilitate the Protocol which ensures that all instructions to external legal advisers are issued and managed via Legal Services. x. To be proactive in identifying and establishing methods to reduce potential risk or liability to the University.

3 xi. To be willing to cover if necessary for other members of the team. xii. To deliver and provide support to Human Resources in delivering of training to Academic Units and Corporate Services on legal initiatives and statutory compliance. xiii. To produce his/her own documents s and letters. xiv. To ensure that priorities are balanced within the area of specialism and schedule work accordingly, taking appropriate action to keep things on track. xv. To work closely with HR as principal internal customer. Person Specification The successful candidate should have: At least three years experience as a qualified solicitor in England and Wales working within private practice or in-house. A core of experience in employment law-related matters including contentious work and a willingness to acquire new skills and learn about statutory compliance within the University. Additional training, if necessary, will be provided although the ability to carry out extensive independent study will also be essential. Experience of writing policy documents. Experience of building successful collaborative working relationships, and recognition of the wider organisational priorities within the University. Experience of working and investigating across a range of legal issues. Experience of managing large and complex programmes of work from commencement through to completion. A meticulous attention to detail with excellent spelling and grammar. Skills in time, study and project management are required. Resilience - the ability to work calmly and effectively under pressure, both in a team and independently, and to prioritise a varied and diverse workload. A flexible approach with pragmatic and strong organisational skills. Excellent interpersonal communication with a proven ability to negotiate and persuade others and to understand when to compromise and when to hold ground. Good IT skills including the ability to produce presentations using PowerPoint and a basic level of typing and computer literacy training can be available for specific applications e.g. PowerPoint and Outlook

4 Additional Skills and Experience The following experience would also be desirable:- Experience gained in the Higher Education Sector. Experience of working in an in-house legal team. Experience of delivering training.

5