Job Description

Salary - Grade
GBP 66,084 to 67,260 66084 - PO9
Contract Type
Permanent
Contracted Hours
Full Time - 36 hours per week
DBS Required
Yes
Department
Chief Executive's
Service
Legal
Closing date
23/11/2025

Are you an experienced litigation lawyer ready to lead complex and high-profile legal matters within local government? We are seeking a

Senior Litigation Lawyer

to join our Legal Services team and contribute to delivering a modern, high-performing legal function at the heart of public service.

About the Role

You will play a key role in managing and delivering high-quality legal advice and representation across a wide range of litigation matters. This includes acting as the lead on complex cases involving

judicial reviews, injunctions, enforcement actions, statutory appeals, regulatory prosecutions

, and general civil/criminal litigation within a local authority context.



This is a strategic role with leadership responsibilities. You will supervise and mentor a team of lawyers and legal officers, help shape the authority's litigation strategy, and support the broader objectives of the Council through proactive legal solutions. While the post has elements related to public realm and civil enforcement, it is primarily focused on broader litigation impacting various council services, including housing, planning, environmental protection, and governance.

Key Responsibilities

- Manage a varied and complex litigation caseload, including high-risk and high-profile matters.

- Provide expert legal advice to internal stakeholders, including senior officers and elected members.

- Represent the Council in courts and tribunals, including advocacy where appropriate.

- Draft and review court documents, contracts, agreements, and legal opinions.

- Supervise and support lawyers and paralegals, ensuring quality and consistency.

- Contribute to the development of litigation strategies and service improvements across the legal team.

- Ensure compliance with legal duties, policies, and procedures, including providing governance advice.

About You

We are looking for an ambitious and pragmatic legal professional with:



- Qualified solicitor, barrister or CILEX lawyer with a current practising certificate ('Authorisation to conduct litigation' from the Bar standards board for Barristers or 'Practice rights' for CILEX).


- Significant post-qualification experience in litigation, ideally within or advising local authorities.



- Previous experience of people management, ideally within a local authority setting (or similar).



- Strong understanding of public law principles, local government law, civil procedure, and relevant regulatory frameworks.



- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an ability to provide clear, concise legal advice.



- A strategic thinker who can manage competing priorities and deliver under pressure.



- Proven experience in supervising legal staff and managing complex caseloads effectively.



- Confident advocate, comfortable representing the Council in court or tribunals.



- A collaborative and solution-focused approach, with a commitment to public service values.

An Enhanced DBS Check is required for this role.

Why Join Us?

London Borough of Hackney offers a dynamic and supportive environment where you'll be part of a dedicated legal team working at the centre of local democracy. You'll have access to flexible working, a generous leave package, local government pension scheme, and opportunities for professional development.



You will also be helping shape the future of our community - ensuring fairness, accountability and positive outcomes for all our residents.



We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in the legal profession.



As a Council, our most outstanding asset is our staff, who are highly dedicated to serving our residents and committed to our goals as an organisation.



If you want to work in a place where you can represent our values so we achieve the best for our residents, please click on the apply button below.

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CV's.

To proceed with your application, you will need to create an account and submit your application.

As part of the application process, you will need to complete a number of competency based questions. These questions allow you to demonstrate your suitability for the role and provide examples of your skills, knowledge and experience outlined in the job description.

We understand the benefits of using AI in the workplace. However, if you are thinking of using this tool to submit your application, we ask you to think about what value it will add. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.

Closing date for applications

:

23 November 2025 (22:59)

Interview and assessment date

:

W/c 1 December

2025

We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud; a place that celebrates diversity and where everyone can feel valued, included and involved. In order to achieve this, we look for people who are: Proud; Ambitious; Pioneering; Open; Proactive; Inclusive.



Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.



The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available: hackneyworks@hackney.gov.uk



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