This is an exciting opportunity to join a well-regarded and supportive Legal and Democratic Services team at a time of continued investment and development. As Principal Lawyer - People, you will have the opportunity to lead on complex and rewarding work that directly impacts residents and communities across West Berkshire.
You will work closely with senior officers and elected members, helping to shape service delivery and influence decision-making across a broad range of people-related matters. No two days are the same, and the role offers significant variety, autonomy and the opportunity to make a visible difference.
We are looking for someone who wants to be part of a collaborative and ambitious legal service. Whether you are an experienced Principal Lawyer seeking a new challenge or an aspiring senior lawyer ready to take the next step into leadership, we would welcome your application. If you are passionate about delivering high-quality legal services and making a difference in the public sector, we would love to hear from you.
The Role
As Principal Lawyer - People, you will be responsible for:
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Providing expert legal advice and support on a range of people-related issues, including Adult Social Care, Education and Housing.
- Managing a team of lawyers and ensuring the delivery of high-quality legal services
- Working collaboratively with internal stakeholders to mitigate legal risks and provide pragmatic solutions
- Drafting and reviewing legal documents, including applications, statements, agreements, and court submissions
- Representing the Council in legal proceedings, including appearances at tribunals and court hearings
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will possess the following skills and attributes:
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Qualified solicitor or barrister with a valid practising certificate or a CILEX with litigation rights of at least 3 years post qualifying experience
- Extensive experience in providing legal advice in the area of Adult social care, ideally within a local authority environment
- Strong leadership and people management skills or aptitude to develop these skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships
- Proactive and solution-focused approach to legal issues
- Ability to work under pressure and manage conflicting priorities and make the most of limited resources
Why Work for West Berkshire Council?
West Berkshire Council offer excellent employment benefits such as:
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Flexible working wherever possible between the hours of 07.00-21.00
- Hybrid working wherever possible working 40% in the office
- Access to a wide range of training and development opportunities
- Generous Local Government pension scheme
- Family friendly policies
- A range of local discounts
- Wellbeing Programme including Employee Assistance Programme and employee benefits
- You will also be entitled to a generous annual leave entitlement starting at 30 days per annum (plus public holidays). Rising by an additional 5 days after 5 years’ service.
Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Join us at West Berkshire Council and make a positive impact in our community while advancing your career. Explore everything that a career with West Berkshire Council has to offer here: Working with Us
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Dawn Bond on 01635 519111 or email
[email protected] or Nicola Thomas on 01635 519456 or email
[email protected]
Equal Opportunities
The Council supports Equal Opportunity of employment and positively encourages applications from people who fall within any of the nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.
How to apply
Please now complete a short online application form. You will then be able to upload your CV.
This role has been identified as public facing in accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016; the requirement to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English applies.
This post is a Sensitive Post for the purpose of the Local Government Housing Act 1989 and the post-holder is therefore restricted from engaging in any prescribed political activities. In summary, this means that you are prohibited from holding political office and from involvement in any political activity within or outside the workplace. Full details of the restrictions can be found in the Council’s Policy and Guidance on Politically Restricted Posts.
This privacy notice applies to job applicants applying for vacancies with West Berkshire Council https://info.westberks.gov.uk/pnapplications
AI in Applications
We recognise that candidates may choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support the preparation of their job applications. When used appropriately, AI can be a helpful aid in structuring responses, checking clarity, and improving presentation.
However, applications must reflect your own skills, experience and understanding. If an application appears to rely excessively on AI-generated content, it may not meet the required standard and could be rejected.
We encourage all applicants to ensure their submissions are authentic, tailored to the role, and clearly demonstrate their own knowledge, experience and suitability.
