Principal Legal Officer

**Job title: Principal Legal Officer (PO4/PO6)**

**Salary**:PO4: *GBP*43,421 - *GBP*46,464 / PO6: *GBP*48,474 -*GBP*51,515** (grade dependent on experience)**

**Hours: 37 hours per week**

**Contract: Permanent**

**Location: HYBRID: Civic Hall, Leeds / Working From Home**

As a Principal Legal Officer you 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 or FCILEx 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 complex personal caseload of legal professional work in the area of Adult Social Care law. You will be expected to deal with complex advice and complex contested hearings in the Court of Protection. You would be expected to attend committee/board meetings and members briefings as requested to advise.

**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
- 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 Job Descriptions.

**Read our guidance**


Interviews will take place week commencing 14 July 2025.

**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 *GBP*38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.**

**Job Description: Principal Legal Officer (PO6)**

**Job Purpose**:
To provide a high quality, value for money legal service, which actively supports the delivery of the Council strategic objectives as set out in the Best Council Plan.

To undertake a substantial complex 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 complex advice and complex contested hearings. They would be expected to attend committee/board meetings and members briefings as requested to advise.

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 complex legal matters in one or more areas set out above in Purpose of the job.
- To draft and issue court proceedings and other documentation as necessary.
- To conduct investigatory and preparatory work as necessary to ensure effective presentation of cases to court/tribunals/inquiries/appeals.
- To draft instructions to Counsel. To attend court/tribunals/inquiries/ appeals with Counsel as instructing representative if required.
- To advise/update as to the progression of cases and the value of particular strategies.
- To work flexibly as part of a team to cover court/tribunal/inquiry commitments and other work as required.
- To advise clients both orally and in writing, including in relation to complex matters.
- To provide legal advice and support to committees/board meetings, member briefings etc.
- 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 provide training for clients, colleagues and members with regard to law and practice.
- To establish, develop and maintain effective relationships with a range of internal colleagues and external stakeholders and parties including members, directors and senior officers to improve and enhance service delivery.
- To support other staff within the Section and Service as required including taking an active role in coaching and mentoring