Introduction
Many services in local government involve daily contact about the
law, and councils need frequent legal advice. Solicitors
advise both elected council members and senior officers on a wide
range of topics from employment to land purchase, through to
prosecution of rogue traders and suppliers. Approximately
3,500 solicitors are employed in all types of local authorities
throughout the UK. Many current chief executives trained as
solicitors. The profession can therefore lead to the very
top.
Work Environment
Most of the work takes place in offices, but some travel may be
necessary to visit officers/members in other work locations
throughout local authority area. Size of departments is
dependent on type of council in metropolitan and county councils
(the largest types) the number of professional solicitors will
normally be greater than in other types of council. Some
attendance at court to advise officers and members and/or to argue
the local authority's case will be necessary. Solicitors also
may work in different venues and locations when attending committee
meetings and serving as a member of multi-disciplinary officers'
teams for major projects.
Daily Activities
Most of the senior posts in the Director of Administration's
department, which provides important services for councillors and
other departments, are held by solicitors. Many solicitors
tend to specialise in a particular area of law such as housing,
planning, highways, education or social services. The range
of duties undertaken by solicitor does therefore vary form one
authority to another, but their responsibilities can be summarised
as follows:
- ensuring that the councils' statutory requirements to spend
money on services such as education, road and environmental health
are not discharged unlawfully;
- ensuring that councils follow correct procedures and advising
councillors as necessary of the legal implications of actions they
plan;
- attending court hearings and public enquiries to represent the
council in a range of cases such as those concerning trading
standards legislation, non payment of rent, development control
offences, and civil matters/issues;
- preparing for and attending tribunals and appeals, and as the
council is normally the largest landowner in the area, undertaking
conveyancing (the buying and selling of land) is an important
area.
Skills & Interests
Solicitor needs to have excellent communication skills. They
are required to write concisely and accurately at all times, often
having to explain detailed concepts and matters to 'lay
people'. They must have an eye for detail, be good
presenters, especially essential in court/tribunal settings.
They must be prepared to read widely, and undertake
post-qualification training, in order to keep abreast of the law,
which is constantly changing. Other important attributes are
tact, diplomacy and the ability to assimilate and analyse large
amounts of detailed information quickly and accurately.
Entry Requirements
Most solicitors are graduates. Three main routes:
- graduates with a qualifying law degree (Law Society has a list
of accredited degrees) take the Legal Practice Course (one year
full-time, two years part-time). This is followed by a two-year
training contract in an authorised legal office, during which time
they also undertake the professional skills course;
- graduates with non-law degrees (or a foreign law degree) first
take either the Common Professional Examination or Postgraduate
Diploma in Law (either one year full-time or two years
part-time). They then follow the same route as law
graduates;
- non-graduates, whether school-leavers or mature entrants, must
start by training as legal executives. (Minimum entry
requirements for legal executives are four GCSEs - grades A, B and
C - including English, or equivalent qualifications.)
Alternatively, applicants can take the Institute of Legal
Executives (ILEX) para -legal training course leading to a
Certificate in Legal Studies. Legal executive training
involves working under the supervision of a solicitor in a legal
office and studying part-time for the ILEX
examinations. Members of ILEX with passes in seven core
subjects and one substantive law paper, plus three years' relevant
work experience over the age of 18, who then wish to train as
solicitors, follow the same route as law
graduates. Fellows of ILEX wishing to train as
solicitors must pass the same subjects as members, complete the
Legal Practice Course and the 20-day professional skills course but
need not undergo the two-year training contract, provided that they
are Fellows and still in employment at the start of the Legal
Practice course. A legal services SVQ/NVQ is available at
Level 4.
Future Prospects & Opportunities
Because solicitors are employed by every local authority,
opportunities to move location arise. Promotion is usually
gained by moving from one authority to another. This increases
their experience - which is vital if they wish to obtain senior
posts. Around 50% of the current chief executive officers today
began their careers as solicitors.
Further Information & Services
Chartered Institute of Legal Executives www.cilex.org.uk
Law Society www.lawsociety.org.uk
Solicitors in Local Government www.slgov.org.uk
You may find further information about this area of work through
Careers Wales (www.careerswales.com/) or
in your local library, careers office or school careers
library.