6 Month Contract With A local Authority

To provide high-quality, solution-focused legal services to the Council, schools, and other clients, with a particular focus on commercial law, social care contracts, and public health commissioning. The postholder will act as a senior legal advisor on complex, high-profile, and sensitive matters, delivering expert legal advice, drafting and negotiating contracts, managing a substantial caseload, and supporting the effective delivery of Council priorities. The role also includes supervising legal staff and supporting the Head of Law in the management and development of Legal Services.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a complex caseload of commercial, social care, and public health legal matters, including the drafting, negotiation, and review of contracts and agreements.
  
• Provide specialist legal advice on procurement, commissioning, governance, public law, and local government matters.
  
• Advise on the legal frameworks and regulatory requirements affecting social care and public health commissioning activities.
  
• Deliver pragmatic, risk-based, and solution-focused legal advice that supports Council objectives and service delivery.
  
• Provide legal support and representation in internal and external meetings, committees, and other formal forums.
  
• Advise elected members, senior officers, committees, Cabinet, and Council bodies on matters within the team's area of expertise.
  
• Support the Monitoring Officer function and promote high standards of governance, ethics, and compliance.
  
• Supervise, manage, mentor, and develop lawyers, trainee lawyers, and other team members.
  
• Commission external legal services where required, ensuring value for money and quality outcomes.
  
• Contribute to the development of legal procedures, policies, projects, and service improvement initiatives.
  
• Assist with budget management, financial monitoring, and identifying efficiencies and income generation opportunities.
  
• Ensure compliance with statutory obligations, corporate policies, information governance, financial regulations, procurement requirements, and health and safety standards.
  
• Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion and foster a positive, high-performing team culture.
  
• Deputise for the Head of Law as required.
  

Requirements

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or FCILEX authorised to practise in England and Wales.
  
• Authorised to conduct litigation under the Legal Services Act 2007.
  
• Significant experience providing complex legal advice within a local authority or similar public sector environment.
  
• Extensive experience drafting and negotiating social care and public health contracts.
  
• Strong knowledge of procurement law and the legal frameworks governing social care and public health commissioning.
  
• Expert knowledge of commercial law and public sector legal practice.
  
• Experience managing a substantial and complex caseload while meeting challenging deadlines.
  
• Ability to provide practical, risk-based, and commercially focused legal advice.
  
• Experience supervising, managing, and developing legal professionals.
  
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to advise senior leaders and elected members.
  
• Ability to work independently, prioritise competing demands, and deliver high-quality outcomes under pressure.
  
• Understanding of local government governance, decision-making processes, and public law principles is desirable.
  

Additional Information

• Hours per Week: 35 Hours
  
• Payment: Bi-Weekly
  
• Location: Liverpool City Council