Job title
Adviser (Legal)
Reports to
Chief Adviser (Legal)
Department
Policy Services
Location
Stoneleigh, HQ
Grade
4
Main purpose of the job
• Provide high quality legal advice and guidance for
officeholders, HQ Boards, staff and members of the NFU and
affiliated organisations.
Responsibilities
•
Provide specialist legal advice in the formulation and
implementation of policy on all matters relating to such
areas as are agreed from time to time with the Chief Legal
Adviser (“the Specialist Areas” – see Appendix A).
• Work with the LAS team to ensure that matters of
significance to the industry are properly co-ordinated
and pursued to the benefit of members.
• Draft and keep Business Guides (these documents provide
general legal guidance to the NFU’s membership) and
NFUonline content on the Specialist Areas up to date.
• Provide training on legal issues to regional advisers, call
centre staff, group secretaries, and others as required.
• Instruct legal panel solicitors and Counsel as appropriate
to represent and advise the NFU or groups of members
on issues of significance to the agricultural/horticultural
industry.
• Conduct cases, with the assistance of Counsel, which the
NFU is handling in-house.
• Respond to consultations on proposed legislation and
guidance in the Specialist Areas.
• Present cases to the LAS Board in the Specialist Areas.
• Advise on any other supplementary areas falling outside the
Specialist Areas as and when required.
• Represent the NFU as necessary on industry groups,
working parties etc.
• Liaise with NFU legal panel firms where appropriate
on exchange of information and the handling of
members’ legal cases.
•
Ensure good communication with members,
opinion formers and the general public. To develop
and maintain close relations with the relevant press
and media.
• Under the direction of the Head of Policy Services and the
Head of Food & Farming, to work in project teams, as
required, to share information with colleagues in these
Departments; to work flexibly and to co-operate in
achieving common goals.
• Publish all relevant information on legal matters on the
public, members and staff sites of NFUonline.
• Ensure the editors of British Farmer & Grower are provided
with all news stories concerning legal issues, and to write
articles as required.
• Update NFU success sheets, to agreed deadlines, on legal
issues.
• Ensure, in close liaison with the data co-ordinator and the
policy co-ordinator, that the central database of active
members is kept up-to-date at all times.
• Maintain close contact and co-operation with relevant NFU
regional staff.
• Ensure that senior staff, Directors and Officeholders are kept
fully informed of, and briefed on, all relevant issues relating
to the above.
• Promote the benefits of NFU Mutual wherever appropriate.
• This job description will develop to meet the needs of the
NFU and any additional duties will be commensurate with
the post holder’s grade.
Person Specifications
Essential Skills/Attributes
Knowledge and expertise
• Law degree (or equivalent) or CPE / GDL and qualification as
solicitor or barrister.
• Experience in providing legal advice and/or carrying out casework.
• Experience of advising in at least one of the defined “Specialist Areas” (see
Appendix A).
Communication
• High standard of verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to explain technical information to a non-technical audience.
• Excellent negotiation skills.
• Ability to make public presentations.
Practical Skills
• Basic computer and keyboard skills.
•
Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook etc.).
Decision making and problem solving
• Ability to work independently, as well as part of a team.
• Ability to prioritise and manage a busy work schedule.
• Calm and well organised under pressure.
• Ability to work flexibly.
Responsibility
• Ability to research, analyse and evaluate information.
• Awareness of client confidentiality, data protection, FOIA, and professional
conduct principles.
Personality
• Committed to providing an excellent advisory service to Officeholders,
HQ Boards, Regional and HQ staff.
• Prepared to learn new areas of law
• Ability to work outside of normal working hours as required and to
travel throughout England and Wales, and abroad if necessary, and
which travel may include overnight stays.
• Full current driving licence (consideration will be given under the Equality
Act 2010 where applicable).
Desirable Skills/Attributes
• Able to use Microsoft Office to intermediate level.
• Experience of advising in two or more of the defined “Specialist
Areas”
Competencies
Core
Competencies
Understanding the NFU
Working Together
Personal Accountability
Communication
3 – Managing
3 – Managing
3 – Managing
3 – Managing
Functional
Competencies
Technical Expertise
Analysing and Problem Solving
Representing the NFU
Decision Making
Influence and Persuasion
3 – Managing
3 – Managing
3 – Managing
3 – Managing
3 – Managing
Appendix A
“Specialist Areas”
• Animals / Animal Health
• Company
• Employment
• Environment
• Regulatory
• Property
• Litigation / ADR
• Contracts
• Tort
• Competition
• Administrative / Public
• EU
• CAP Schemes
• Insolvency
• Rights of Way and Commons.
