Description

We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.

This role has a starting salary of £45,680 per annum, based on a 36 hour working week. This is a 12-month fixed term / secondment opportunity, and you will be expected to attend the office between 1-2 days per week.

We are excited to have someone join our fantastic Legal Support team on a secondment for the role of Deputy Practice Manager. The team is based in Dakota, Weybridge and deals with a variety of challenging and important statutory services for the Council. The role itself is a senior position, with inclusion and exposure to Senior Management meetings, financial oversight and direct line management of 8 team members.

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

About the Team

The Legal Support team is the backbone of Legal Services within Surrey County Council. The team assists with all administration functions for lawyers, senior managers and paralegals alike. The team consists of 13 personnel, spread across varying roles from childcare legal support to records management and financial processing.

About the Role

As the Deputy Practice Manager, you will manage the day-to-day functions of Practice Support processes such as finance processes, post, case management upkeep, deeds, sealing, secretariat support and general admin of IT support, IT, equipment etc. You will have 7 colleagues directly reporting to you in order to ensure a consistently high-quality administration service is provided to the lawyers within the department.

Reporting directly to the Legal Services Practice Manager, from whom you will take your strategic direction, you will be responsible for implementing practices and procedures within the team that enable and support the smooth running of legal services, as well as ensuring compliance with Lexcel standards. You will take accountability for the development and maintenance of the case management system and lead in the upskilling of legal colleagues in this and other technologies.

Your role requires tracking the performance statistics of the practice, record and report budget spend and financials to the Senior Management Team. You will also take responsibility and accountability for assigned projects within the service. You will be expected to deputise at meetings for the Legal Services Practice Manager and lead by example in modelling and embedding the council's values and behaviours across the service.

Shortlisting Criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following:

• A clear understanding of Lexcel requirements
• A level or degree qualified or have substantive alternative work experience in a legal setting
• Extensive experience of managing a small team
• Be confident in delivering training and mentoring to staff at all levels
• Financial knowledge and experience in managing budgets, Unit4 financial transactions and processes as well as reconciliation
• Being proficient in all Microsoft products

Contact us

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

For an informal discussion please contact Henry East by e-mail at henry.east@surreycc.gov.uk.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 15/06/2025 with interviews to follow.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Local Government Reorganisation

Surrey County Council is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation which will allow us to implement the Government led policy of devolution, which is all about giving more powers to local areas. 

Currently, Surrey has a two-tier council system, with 11 district and borough councils and a county council, all responsible for different services. All these councils will be reorganised into a smaller number of new unitary councils which will come into effect in April 2027. At this point, this role will be transferred, with all existing terms and conditions intact into one of the new unitary councils. 

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council.

Our Values 

Our values are as important as our abilities and shape who we are as an organisation. Discover more about our values.

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. Our Life at Surrey handbook provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.

Our Commitment 

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where: 

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application 
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form 

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.

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