If you would like to work in a role that mixes the law with the environment then this could be the job for you. The county of West Sussex is predominantly rural in nature and is one of the most heavily wooded counties in the country. The quality of the countryside is such that over half the County is designated as either National Park or National Landscape. There are approximately 4,000km of public rights of way across the County which enable everyone to experience and enjoy the countryside and provide an alternative to pavement in more urban areas. Legal Services aims to give the best possible legal and insurance service to the Council. As an organisation we have a simple goal – to deliver the best possible services to the people of West Sussex. We do this through the people who work for us, so its paramount to us to ensure that our employees are supported and valued. The Opportunity Salary: £28,624 to £31,067 per annum Working Pattern: Full time, 37 hours per week Location: County Hall, Chichester Interview date: w/c 16 June 2025 Here at West Sussex County Council, what we do changes lives. We are looking for an aspiring Legal Assistant with a passion and desire to work with the environment. You will have strong administration and communication skills to be able to provide legal advice on a variety of matters in connection with the delivery of the County Council’s legal rights of way and common land/town or village green service. You will have relevant or organisational knowledge of systems, procedures and policies associated with a large organisation, and excellent knowledge of IT software and related systems/procedures. You will be a strong team player and have the ability to organise your own workload, prioritising work as required. You will also be able to handle difficult situations, for example, responding to a landowner who is unhappy with matters that relate to his/her land. The job will involve the consideration of applications from members of the public to the County Council to make changes to public rights of way/village greens. You will be required to undertake archival research, evaluate evidence, produce plans and reports and balance available evidence. You will be expected to present at committee meetings and to engage with parish councils, district councils, elected members, lawyers and the public. What experience and skills are we looking for? Key Skills: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills in order to effectively exchange complicated or sensitive information both orally and in writing Confident presentational skills Competence in drafting/report writing Excellent organisational skills with the ability to work to deadlines Ability to work as part of a team and to have a flexible and adaptable approach to work Evidence of environment awareness and understanding of Local Government Law Qualifications and/or experience: Degree or equivalent qualification or experience ideally in Geography or Law or a related area (but any graduate will be considered) Experience of competently producing accurate documents Experience of competently handling a full caseload within minimal supervision Experience of rights of way work desirable Ability to travel independently across the County in order to visit sites when required. For more information on the Key Skills as well as the Qualifications and/or experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached. Working for us As well as adding real value to our service users and our communities, as an employer we recognise our employees are central in being able to achieve this. To recognise this we want to help support your development and provide a great place to work ensuring you can fulfil your full potential and have access to a range of benefits including: an excellent generous holiday entitlement of 25 days (plus opportunity to buy additional leave) a range of flexible working options, depending on your job role maternity, paternity, dependency and adoption leave volunteering opportunities training and development opportunities, including coaching and mentoring a range of discounts giving our staff access to hundreds of offers; groceries, travel, cinema tickets, days out, leisure activities, high street retailers and the opportunity to save over £1,000 a year through our West Sussex Choices benefits platform (see our if you are a business looking to offer a discount) * health and wellbeing benefits including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and Voluntary Health Cash Plans For a full list this can be found at our Further information The reference number for this role is CRS00943. For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, Becky Moutrey (Senior Lawyer) at . For issues or queries regarding your application please contact . To apply, please follow the links below to upload your CV and Cover Letter. In your cover letter please outline your motivations for applying and explaining the skills and experience you can bring to the role (please refer to the key skills) ensuring that any gaps in employment are covered in your CV. Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to 3 years referencing and a health check. Equity, inclusion and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our page. CC Available documents West Sussex County Council. Location : Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom