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At Browne Jacobson, we’ve always worked across business and society, and this expertise sets us apart. Social and environmental impact are at the top of our business agenda. We champion fairness, make the complex simple and forge connections between clients to find creative solutions. This is how we improve outcomes for every person, community and business we serve.
With offices in Birmingham, Cardiff, Dublin, Exeter, London, Manchester and Nottingham, we’re a UK & I based law firm with an international reach. Our sectors include: health; real estate and construction; education; energy and infrastructure; financial services; government; insurance; manufacturing and industrials; and retail, consumer and logistics.
We nurture talent at all levels and from every background and celebrate what makes people individuals. Law needs all voices to reflect the society it serves and we’re working towards social mobility, diversity and inclusion in our firm - and our profession. We strive to create meaningful personal and professional development opportunities and offer flexible working in support of a good work-life balance. We focus on wellbeing and individuality, so that all our people can thrive.
What is the working practice for this role?
The firm operates a set of core principles that guides our working practice. It’s called ‘One Firm, Wherever You Are’.
You might have enjoyed working from home and would like to split your time between there and the office/ other work locations. Others may be eager to return to the office on a more regular basis. We believe that a regular level of in-person contact is an important way to build connections with your colleagues, enhancing knowledge and idea sharing and enabling all of us to benefit from the vibrant office culture Browne Jacobson has to offer.
Our expectation is that, on average, you’ll work from home for no more than three days per week, with the remainder of your time either spent with your colleagues in the office or working from other locations as work demands dictate, e.g. courts, client offices, conferences etc. This is an average expectation over time and we know that there will be variations from week to week. Equally, there will be individual circumstances in which a different pattern of work is needed, for example as an agreed reasonable adjustment for colleagues with a disability or long-term medical condition.
We believe this approach
- fits with our values and personality;
- will enhance our performance through greater flexibility;
- advances our ambitions as an inclusive employer – helping you better balance work and family/life commitments;
- offers opportunities to reduce our carbon footprint (travel, office services etc.), a key ambition underpinning our corporate sustainability plan.
Why is this role important and how does it fit into the team, department and wider firm?
To join a team of high performing administrative and public law lawyers dealing with the full range of public law matters encompassing a variety of work types, including constitutional and administrative law advice, planning, environment, health, information law, judicial review and other regulatory litigation and disciplinary matters.
Particular experience as detailed above is desirable but not required. However, it would be beneficial if you are able to demonstrate experience of working with or for the public sector, particularly central government or the devolved administrations, non-departmental public bodies, Local Government, the NHS and/or regulatory authorities, advising on statutory and administrative law obligations, vires, or with experience of conducting or defending judicial reviews or legislative drafting.
What does the role actually involve?
Supporting Partners and Senior Associates in advising clients on administrative and constitutional, environmental and planning law matters. This is likely to include working with government departments on a daily basis, advising on high profile nationally significant health, education, rural affairs and marine matters, advising arms-length bodies such as Natural Resources Wales and the Marine Management Organisation on environmental and planning matters, as well as advising local authorities on all manner of governance and associated matters. The work can also include advising on regulatory regimes, provision of planning advice to local authorities and corporate and developer clients in relation to section 106 planning agreements, vires analysis, legislative drafting, constitutional and administrative law advice, statutory interpretation, advising on/having conduct of judicial reviews.
All candidates should be able to demonstrate experience of the following
- Provision of advice on administrative and public law risk
- Statutory interpretation and vires analysis
- Advising on the law of consultation, EU law or Human Rights law
- Experience of litigation including drafting and consideration of pre-action correspondence and pleadings, liaison with Court staff and preparation of trial bundles
- Working alongside in-house legal teams and instruction of leading counsel
- An understanding of information law, including FOIA, DPA and EIR
- Ability to monitor critical dates and ensure compliance
- Ability to master an understanding of systems and procedures with attention to detail and ability to advise clients on those procedures
- Ability to think laterally and to consolidate and build on a wide range of disciplines
Person specification
What technical skills are required for someone to be successful and enjoy the role?
- Have excellent analytical skills
- Have excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work with clients at all levels
- Ability to work under pressure and work to and comply with time sensitive deadlines
- Familiarity with IT (Microsoft Office 365) and with case management systems
Attributes
To be referred to in conjunction with your personal development plan, but to include:
- Having responsibility for a caseload under the supervision of more senior lawyers within the team
- Enthusiasm for the provision of marketing support e.g. preparing and presenting seminars, writing copy and reports, updating literature
- The commitment to record time promptly and meet financial goals with a good track record in achieving targets. You will be expected to meet chargeable hours and fees targets
Who would be a good fit for this role?
As part of the Public Law, Environment & Planning team, you would be expected to have the following skills and experience:
- Fast learner whilst contributing fully in support of more experienced members of the team
- Be flexible, focused, ambitious and results oriented with good organisational skills
- Keen to take responsibility and develop the business
- An effective communicator able to establish and maintain harmonious and professional relationships with clients and colleagues
- Attention to detail vital coupled with a commercial approach
- Enthusiasm to maintain personal development and take advantage of training opportunities keeping up to date with legal issues and regularly accessing law reports and journals
