Our Values

It’s great to know that you are interested in working with us at Coventry City Council. As a prospective employee, it is important that everyone who works for us is committed to our One Coventry values and shares our commitment to becoming a more diverse and inclusive organisation. 

Our Values are:

About the team we are recruiting to

The Place Team in Coventry Legal Services is responsible for all planning, highways, and commercial property advice to the Council. The successful candidate will manage a busy caseload including but not limited to 1954 Act business leases, freehold disposals and acquisitions and providing legal advice to the client departments, stakeholders and senior officers. In addition, the successful candidate will be required to attend decision making meetings including Cabinet Member meetings.

What is the job role?

The Place team is looking for a qualified and experienced Lawyer to join it as soon as possible. If successful, you will be part of a friendly and supportive team that deals with drafting and negotiating property documents and providing a range of advice on property legislation to various officers within the Council.   

The work will be varied and shall include drafting and completing agreement for leases, new leases and renewals (both within and outside the security of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954), lease surrenders, drafting and advising client departments regarding wayleaves and the Electronics Communication Code 2017,  freehold disposals and acquisitions from instruction to completion, including the deduction of the Council’s freehold title and open space notices,  licences,  enfranchisements under the Leasehold Reform Acts - together with supporting training and guiding other members of the team.  

Property Lawyers are regularly required to give detailed advice in respect of Landlord’s remedies in the event of tenant default (i.e section 146 Notices and re-entry).  A knowledge of this area together with drafting skills and an understanding of the restrictions imposed on landlord’s under the Coronavirus legislation would be helpful in this role.

Some experience and knowledge of the Academies Act 2010 and the School Standards and Framework Act 1988 would be beneficial to help provide support land and property guidance and advice to Education Colleagues

Your role will be to work closely with our existing Property Lawyers to manage a varied caseload effectively and to provide a high-quality legal service to our client departments, senior management and elected members.

Now is an exciting time to join Coventry, we are firmly focused on regeneration with major developments and new projects taking place across the city. We are particularly proud to have been named City of Culture 2021. As part of your role within Legal Services you will be required to assist  delivering some of the major projects throughout the City with the Corporate and Commercial Team when required. This will involve dealing with complex, million-pound acquisitions and disposals which involves working with other colleagues in the organisation on multi-faceted projects and innovative and ground-breaking projects.

Coventry is a lively, multicultural city, which embraces both old and new and is a great place to work.  We occupy a modern building right by Coventry station so we are easily accessible by public transport. We will continue to embrace a mixture of both remote and office working as the Covid restrictions lift.

Who are we looking for?

You must have the ability to deal with a demanding caseload, with excellent client care skills, and an eagerness to provide a high-quality legal service to our clients senior managers and elected members . You will be self – motivated and organised with a track record of meeting strict deadlines and timescales.

Please contact the Place Team Manager (Rob Parkes) on 07415 642652 or Property Lawyer (Julie Sprayson) on 024 76 972552 if you wish to have an informal discussion about this exciting role.

When applying for this role you will be asked to write a personal statement, when writing your personal statement please include/ demonstrate the following:

• An experienced Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive (Fellow).
• Understanding of the law relating to commercial property and experience of successfully managing a busy commercial property based caseload.
• Dealing with commercial business leases, wayleaves,  licences, freehold disposals and acquisitions and associated agreements and documents
• Experience of working with senior officers, elected members, including attendance relevant meetings and report writing .
• Knowledge and understanding of local government and administrative law.

For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'

About Coventry

Coventry is a lively, multicultural city, which embraces old and new. Around the modern city centre there are traces of history everywhere – in the old city walls, the timber-framed buildings and the reconstructed medieval Spon Street. But Coventry has always had an eye on the future, and is now firmly focused on regenerating and re-inventing itself to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. With major developments and new projects taking place right across the city, Coventry City Council is the place to be!

There's a huge buzz about the city – Coventry ranks as the 8th best city to live, work and do business in the UK, and it was the UK City of Culture 2021. We believe this will help put Coventry on the map for all the right reasons as you can feel the sense of local pride throughout the city. It also offers a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to those joining us to play their part in it.

We genuinely believe that Coventry City Council is a special place. You will be joining Coventry City Council during an exciting time to become part of a team that contribute to achieving our visions for the city. We have made our council a place where we look after our people, making sure you're happy in your work and given everything you need to succeed. We've created friendly, welcoming workplaces where everyone is working towards the same cause, providing the best possible services for the city of Coventry.

As a council with improvement at its heart, we’re committed to making life better for the people who live and work in Coventry. We’re equally concerned with the quality of life enjoyed by our people, so by joining us, you won’t just be helping the community, you’ll be helping yourself too.

Not only do you get to work alongside great people that are helping to improve services for our community we offer great benefits too! For your valued contribution we will provide a fantastic benefits package including;

• Flexible working arrangements
• Generous annual leave allowance starting at 27 days and rising to 32 days
• Opportunity for Salary Match and Pay progression through multiple increments
• Outstanding local government pension scheme
• Learning & Development with access to certified courses.
• Access to an award winning Occupational Health Team
• Vibrant employee networks 
• Lifestyle savings
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes; Car Scheme, Cycle to work and more
• Interest free travel loans
• Payroll giving scheme
• Workplace parking scheme
• Maternity, paternity and adoption Leave
• And much more

Coventry City Council