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

We are a public sector legal service providing in-house legal support to Coventry City Council. The team offers a professional, comprehensive, tailor-made service to address legal issues of every description, is highly motivated, eager to develop and faces challenges head on. 

Now is an exciting time to join Coventry; a lively, multicultural city, which embraces both old and new. We are firmly focused on the needs of our citizens, regeneration with major developments and new projects taking place across the city, and proud to have been City of Culture 2021.    

What is the job role?

Coventry City Council, Legal Services, are looking to recruit 2 graduates who wish to qualify as solicitors. 

This is the second phase of our exciting and innovative opportunity to access first rate training in a friendly and supportive working environment, whilst being supported to complete a solicitor apprenticeship and ultimately qualify.  If successful, you will undertake a fixed term training contract (to a maximum of 36 months) in one of the following teams within Legal Services: Case Management, or Advocacy.  

Although you will be based within one of the above teams, the variety of specialisms covered by each of our teams, means that you will have the opportunity to experience considerable diversity of work during your training period.  

Information regarding each of the Teams. 

Case Management Team 

The Case Management Team predominately deals with the care and adoption proceedings for the Council, plus other proceedings on behalf of Childrens Services. Children’s public law is a fast moving and challenging, but very rewarding area of law within which to build your career. No two cases are the same and you will quickly develop good skills in advising the client department, drafting, negotiation, and advocacy, as well as overall case management skills through having your own supervised caseload of gradually increasing complexity as you progress.  

Advocacy Team  

You will have the opportunity to learn, develop and apply advocacy and communication skills whilst carrying out court work across the family court. This will involve learning and developing necessary skills essential in making submissions and representations regarding children, adults, and capacity issues. The hearings will involve appearing before Magistrate and Judges.  

Who are we looking for?

To be eligible to apply for these roles you will:  

• have either a qualifying law degree at 2:2 or above, obtained within the last 4 years, (i.e., completed no earlier than 2019), 

• be about to graduate with a qualifying law degree at 2:2 or above, or     

• have a Graduate Diploma in Law, obtained within the last 4 years (i.e., completed no earlier than 2018).  

(Details of Qualifying Law Degrees can be found here: SRA | Qualifying law degree providers | Solicitors Regulation Authority) 

You must also have:  

• Maths and English at GCSE 4/C or above, or  

• Maths and English Functional Skills level 2.  

Please note, you will not be eligible for this course if you have already completed the LPC (Legal Practice Course) qualification, and you should also satisfy yourself that you comply with the University and Apprenticeship other eligibility criteria, which can be found here: https://www.law.ac.uk/study/apprenticeships/for-students/  

Other requirements:

You will need to be enthusiastic, possess a strong desire to learn, have good research and analytical skills, excellent IT and communication skills and the ability to relate well to others. You will also need to demonstrate an ability and commitment to completing the Level 7 Solicitor Apprenticeship Standard, which will take approximately 27 months to complete (commencing January 2023).  

 In addition, we offer you working arrangements that will enhance your work-life balance, including a new purpose-built modern office environment, within 1-minute walk from Coventry Train Station, agile working arrangements that can include working from home (subject to project/service area requirements), flexitime and a generous holiday allowance (starting at 35 days including bank holidays). 

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview on a date to be confirmed.  

Applications should be made by submission of the application form, in which relevant experience, academic qualifications and how you meet the Job Description/Personal Specification should be demonstrated.  

Please state which team you prefer to be considered for. Your application will be shortlisted aligned to your suitability for these teams, but should we be inundated with application forms, your first preference will take precedence in the selection process. 

For an informal discussion around the role, please contact Janice White (Janice.White@coventry.gov.uk) or Andy Hyland (Andy.Hyland@coventry.gov.uk)     

In addition, we will be holding an open information session for applicants to meet the Team Leaders and our Workforce Planning & Apprenticeship Advisor.  This is a chance for you to ask any questions on the opportunities and training available. 

The session is on 20th June 2022 at 3.30pm, via Microsoft Teams. To book a place, please e-mail apprenticeships@coventry.gov.uk. 

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