Job Description

Salary

46,142 - 49,282

Contractual hours

37

Basis

Full Time

Date posted

04/06/2025

Job reference

REQ002269

Job title:

Principal Legal Officer (Adult Social Care)

Salary:

PO4 46,142 - 49,282

Hours:

37 hours per week

Contract:

Permanent

Location:

HYBRID: Civic Hall, Leeds / Working From Home

As a Principal Legal Officer you'll thrive on playing a significant role in supporting the safeguarding of, and services provided to, the most vulnerable adults in the City through the provision of professional advice and representation in contested legal proceedings.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Principal Legal Officer you will:

Be a solicitor or barrister holding a practising certificate with a keen interest in Adult Social Care Law. Be values-driven, enthusiastic and outcome focussed; Come with fresh thinking, energy and compassion for people; Demonstrate a commitment to building relationships with Council services, the Courts and partner organisations.

About the role

As a Principal Legal Officer you will undertake a substantial personal caseload of legal professional work in the area of Adult Social Care law. You will be expected to deal with providing quality legal advice and representing the Council in contested hearings in the Court of Protection.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please upload your CV and complete a personal statement explaining how you meet the criteria set out in one of the s.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Amy Walker (Team Leader) on 0113 378 9153 or via email at Amy.Walker2@leeds.gov.uk.

Interviews will take place week commencing 21st January 2026.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the

Skilled Worker visa

route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least 38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

: Principal Legal Officer (PO4)

Job Purpose:

To provide a high quality, value for money legal service, which actively supports the delivery of the Council's strategic objectives as set out in the Best Council Plan. To undertake a substantial personal caseload of legal professional work in the area of Adult Social Care. The post holder will be expected to have this area of work as a focus but also to provide support on at least one other area of law as required, and any other local government legal matters and /or matters dealt with by Legal Services. The post holder would be expected to deal with advice and contested hearings, with more complex advice and advocacy being dealt with by higher grader officers. To contribute directly to the generation of external income and work flexibly across the Service as and when required.

RESPONSIBILITIES

To undertake a substantial personal caseload of legal matters in one or more areas as set out above in "Job Purpose". To draft and issue court and other documentation as necessary. To conduct investigatory and preparatory work as necessary to ensure effective presentation of cases to court. To provide advice/updates as to the progression of cases and the value of particular strategies. To draft instructions to counsel. To attend court/tribunals/inquiries/appeals with counsel as instructing representative if required. To undertake advocacy on cases where appropriate including contested hearings. To work flexibly as part of a team to cover court, tribunal/inquiries/appeals commitments and other work as required. To provide advice to clients both orally and in writing. To maintain an awareness of all legislative and case law developments which might impact on the work of clients and advise them as appropriate. To prepare and deliver training for clients and colleagues with regard to law and practice relating to their functions and work. To contribute directly to the generation of external income. To work flexibly across the Service as and when required. To support other staff within the Section and Service as required. To take personal responsibility under and abide by the Council's Health and Safety policy.

Qualifications

Essential requirements

Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.

Skills Required

Able to plan and organise own workload, with minimum supervision, and to strict deadlines. Able to act as an advocate on behalf of the Council including dealing with contested hearings Able to work and communicate effectively as a member of a team. Able to establish productive relationships with people and organisations at different levels inside and outside the Council. Able to grasp and assimilate new information quickly. Able to resolve a wide range of legal problems in a local government context. Able to draft and prepare clear and concise documents, procedures, guidance notes, reports, statements, letters and memoranda. Able to carry out effective legal research. Able to contribute directly to generate external income. Able to work flexibly across the Service as required.

KNOWLEDGE / QUALIFICATIONS

Solicitor or Barrister entitled to hold a practising certificate Knowledge of the law and practice relating to Adult Social Care. Knowledge of law and practice relating to local government

EXPERIENCE

Experience of managing and dealing with a personal caseload. Experience of advocacy e.g. courts/tribunal/inquiries/appeals including experience in dealing with contested hearings, as appropriate. Experience of providing advice to clients. Experience of assisting others in providing training, preferably legal. Experience of Windows based IT systems. Experience of working to a quality system e.g. Lexcel, ISO or similar (D) Experience of working as an effective member of a team.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

A commitment to provide and develop for clients high quality legal services. A professional approach and presentation. An awareness of the sensitive and confidential nature of the work. A willingness to work flexibly beyond normal hours. To take ownership of your personal development planning and be willing to actively participate in learning and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge and skills. Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct. Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies. Carry out all duties having regard to an employee's responsibility under Health and Safety Policies. Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities. Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade. Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities. Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures. Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council. Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person. The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements

Candidates are not required to meet all the following desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates

KNOWLEDGE / QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of the law and practice relating to at least one other area of law covered by the section (Desirable requirement)

EXPERIENCE

Experience of providing legal training. Experience of advising committees. * Experience of working to a quality system e.g. Lexcel, ISO or similar.