Careers

The Company Sec in local government

As commercialisation grows, Azhar Ghose outlines the increasing importance of the Company Secretary role within local authorities and offers some tips on how it can be performed. Read more

Jan 19, 2021

Legally-qualified chief executive to step down after 17 years at helm of London borough

One of the longest-serving legally-qualified chief executives in local government is to step down from his role at a London borough.

Dec 18, 2020

Barristers acting for local authorities and other public bodies recognised in 2020 silk round

A range of specialists in children, public, planning and environmental law have been appointed Queen’s Counsel in the 2020 silk round.

Dec 14, 2020

Weightmans bolsters social housing team with hire of governance specialist

Law firm Weightmans has hired social housing governance specialist Jo Loake as a principal associate.

Dec 07, 2020

Public law children barrister at county council switches to 3PB in Birmingham

Nicola Brown, a barrister at Staffordshire County Council who specialises in care and placement proceedings, is to join 3PB in January 2021.

Dec 02, 2020

Local authority legal team shortlisted in two categories for LawWorks pro bono awards

The London Borough of Barking & Dagenham is in the running for two awards in the LawWorks Pro Bono Awards 2020.

Nov 10, 2020

Peter Fish appointed interim Treasury Solicitor and Permanent Secretary of GLD

Peter Fish, Home Office Legal Adviser and Director General of the Government Legal Department (GLD) since 2014, has been appointed interim Treasury Solicitor and Permanent Secretary of the GLD.

Continues below

Remote working set to become the norm post-Covid, survey finds

Just 4% of local authority lawyers want to return to the office full-time after Covid-19 outbreak as finished, exclusive new research by Local Government Lawyer in conjunction with LexisNexis has found.

Virtual Training – why didn’t we think of it earlier!?

Member development trainer Bethan Evans relives her experiences of switching from face-to-face to online training during lockdown and looks at how they may affect the physical/virtual divide post-pandemic.

Taking the Diploma

Rob Hann reflects on how studying for the Law Society's Diploma in Local Government Law and Practice became a pivotal moment in his long and varied local government career.

COVID-19 Weekly Brief: Financial management in uncertain times

The current difficulties around the economy and employment resulting from the coronavirus outbreak highlight the importance of getting a grip on your finances, managing your money well and saving for that 'rainy day', says Richard Olive in this instalment of LLG's COVID-19 Weekly Brief.

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The Legal Department of the Future

Bridging the gap

The Legal Department of the Future survey reveals that local government legal teams are employing a range of strategies as they face up to a challenging combination of increased workloads and severe pressure on resources. Philip Hoult reports.

Can’t get no satisfaction?

What effect have the cuts had on local government lawyers’ ambitions and morale? Derek Bedlow looks at the results of our exclusive survey of more than 300 local government lawyers and assesses the implications for local authority legal teams.

The shape of things to come

Derek Bedlow looks at the implications of the Legal Department of the Future survey for how legal departments organise, recruit and retain their staff.

Lead or follow?

A short guide to shared legal services

Up for the challenge?

Improving internal efficiency

The way ahead

Book review: A Guide to Local Authority Companies and Partnerships (‘LACAPs’)

This unique book charts how partnerships, involving local authorities, the private sector and/or the voluntary sector, can be established within the current legal and accounting framework. Kieran McGaughey reviews the text.

Book Review: The Approved Mental Health Professional Practice Handbook

This handbook provides in-depth guidance on all key aspects of being an Approved Mental Health Professional and considers the ethical challenges involved in the role. Alex Ruck Keene gives his thoughts on the text.

Manchester on Alcohol & Entertainment Law

Professor Roy Light reviews the 4th edition of Manchester on Alcohol and Entertainment Law. Woods Whur Publishing, Leeds. £115 soft cover.

Book Review: Button on Taxis

After an eight-year gap there is a new edition of Button on Taxis. Professor Roy Light reviews the publication and the changes made.

Book Review: Cornerstone on the Planning Court

The law moves on with increasing speed nowadays, one significant recent development being the creation of the Planning Court in April 2014. That is already two years ago now, so Cornerstone obviously felt the time was right to start putting together…

Nov 03, 2020

Anthony Collins Solicitors promotes three partners and two legal directors

Anthony Collins Solicitors has appointed three partners and two lawyers to its new legal director position.

Oct 28, 2020

North West council appoints Ibrahim as Assistant Director – Legal, Governance and Workforce

Asif Ibrahim is to rejoin Rochdale Council as Assistant Director – Legal, Governance and Workforce, ahead of the retirement of David Wilcock.

Oct 23, 2020

LLG and chief executive groups send Treasury pre-action letter over making of regulations for exit payment cap

LLG and organisations representing chief executives and senior managers in local government have issued a pre-action protocol letter to HM Treasury over what they say are “significant legal flaws” in the proposed regulations for the exit payment cap…

Oct 21, 2020

Devonshires promotes two housing solicitors to partner

Law firm Devonshires has promoted two housing solicitors to partner in its latest round of promotions.

Oct 12, 2020

Top Welsh public sector lawyer receives OBE

The Director of Legal Services for the Welsh Government, Jeff Godfrey, has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to “Devolution and the Legislative Process in Wales”.

Oct 09, 2020

Remote working set to become the norm post-Covid, survey finds

In the beginning…

Rob Hann, local government lawyer and author, finds time during the Covid 19 lockdown to share some of his early experiences as a trainee lawyer at Sheffield City Council at a time of major conflict between central/local government.

Places of learning

What is it like to work as an in-house solicitor in Higher Education? Sam McGinty reflects on the transition between local government and higher education and why he loves his job.

Being a legal locum in local government

An increasing number of legal professionals are becoming locums. Rayhaneh Tehrani and Laura Smith explain the reasons why this is the case, and set out what they think candidates should consider when looking for jobs in local government.

Making the right choice

Jennifer Mellani writes about her journey to being a local government lawyer specialising in health and social care.

Firm foundations

Are you intrigued about working in local government but hesitant to take the plunge? Real estate lawyer Matthew Dineen explains how he overcame his initial doubts and never looked back.

Home truths

What is it like to work as an in-house solicitor for a registered provider for social housing or housing association? Radian’s Scott Greenwood sets out the attraction and advantages, how the sector differs from private practice and how the transition can be made by those who may be considering a move.

A chance to make a difference

Hesitant about taking on management responsibilities? V. Charles Ward explains how it gave a real boost to his career, and gives some pointers for those taking their first steps.

A mentally healthy workplace

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Yasmin Allan considers the legal and practical issues linked to the employee wellbeing agenda.

Legal apprenticeships: getting started

One of the great privileges of working with local authorities to deliver apprenticeships is observing the different approaches legal departments take to deploying and developing apprentice staff, writes Noel Inge.

The Company Sec in local government

As commercialisation grows, Azhar Ghose outlines the increasing importance of the Company Secretary role within local authorities and offers some tips on how it can be performed.