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Are you ready for a role with high responsibility levels, where the work constantly changes, and where you need to exercise political awareness? Do you have a public sector ethos? If so, you could be the London Borough of Hackney’s next trainee solicitor.
The role
This role offers the successful candidate an opportunity to complete their journey to become an admitted Solicitor. Our in-house legal service is at the cutting edge of local government legal practice; every day our lawyers protect the most vulnerable children and adults, negotiate robust planning, property and other contractual agreements, advise on regeneration projects, support the provision of council housing, and conduct high-profile criminal and civil litigation.
Hackney Council offers a comprehensive training contract which covers all aspects of local government law and practice, which will expose you to a wide range of clients and give you experience in a range of challenging contentious and non-contentious areas. This is a 2-year fixed term, full time training contract commencing in April 2024.
We anticipate that you will undertake 4 seats during your training contract; seats within Children & Education; Procurement & Contracts; and Litigation & Public Realm will be compulsory, whilst the fourth seat will be of your choosing from one of the other service areas. In addition, throughout your two-year training contract you will be involved with wider Corporate and Governance issues.
What we're looking for
We welcome applications from both law and non-law graduates who have also completed the Legal Practice Course and or SQE Level 1.
We are looking for an enthusiastic, highly motivated individual who is genuinely committed to a career in local government and who will live up to the Council’s staff values – inclusive, pioneering, proactive, open, ambitious and proud.
Our successful candidate will be confident, articulate, capable of working well under pressure and adhering to strict deadlines whilst demonstrating a positive, empathetic, can-do attitude. An understanding of public law principles either through education, knowledge or experience is also required.
About us
In return our trainee will have access to a supportive, committed and experienced team who can equip you with all the necessary skills to become a 21st century local authority lawyer.
Hackney is one of the UK’s highest performing local authorities, serving one of London’s best places to live and work. We have achieved a huge amount: our services, our schools, our public spaces are all amongst the very best. We have changed the reputation, not just of the Council, but of Hackney itself. Bringing jobs and investment into the borough, securing the legacy from the 2012 Games, and making this a place of which we can all be proud.
If you want to work in a place where you can represent our values so we achieve the best for our residents, please click on the apply button below. The recruitment process is anonymous. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CVs.
When applying, there will be a number of questions relating to the post on the application form. It is essential that you complete the application questions, responding to each using examples of your skills, knowledge and experience.
We will not accept applications where Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been used to assist with completing the competency questions or any part of the application form. This application process replaces a supporting statement. Interviews date on week commencing 2 April 2024.
We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud; a place that celebrates diversity and where everyone can feel valued, included and involved. In order to achieve this, we look for people who are: Proud; Ambitious; Pioneering; Open; Proactive; Inclusive.
Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and maternity, age and marital status. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.
The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available hackneyworksjobs@hackney.gov.uk
