ACTUAL CLOSING DATE: Applications must be received by 2 September 2026 at 11:55PM
Please ensure that you read the full advert text and do not submit a CV, as these will be disregarded as they do not form part of SLC application process. If you require to submit additional information to support your application, please upload this under supporting documents.
INTERNAL APPLICANTS MUST APPLY VIA OPPORTUNITY MARKETPLACE.
Location: Council Headquarters, Hamilton
Hours: 2 permanent 35 hours per week vacancies
Work Pattern: Monday - Thursday 8.45am - 4.45pm, Friday 8.45am - 4.15pm
Salary: £42,228 - £53,177 per year
South Lanarkshire Council are seeking to expand their Legal Services Team. We are looking for talented, adaptable and enthusiastic solicitors who have a desire to work in local government to join our busy Legal Team which aims to provide the highest quality legal service and advice to the Council. This role may suit newly qualified individuals as the Team environment is supportive and will allow you to develop and gain experience of the workings of local government whilst undertaking varied and interesting work. The Council’s Legal Team is a high performing team that was short-listed in the Innovation Award category at the 2025 Herald Law Awards.
You will work within one of our high performing teams -
Contracts Team - delivering a legal service to clients across the Council with a focus on commercial work. Experience of procurement, contracts, grants, funding agreements or subsidy control is desirable.
Licensing – dealing with all civic and liquor licensing on behalf of the Council and public registration duties, including births, death and marriages. Supporting the South Lanarkshire Licensing Boards and Licensing Committee and providing advice and support to the Council’s Licensing & Registration Team.
Litigation - providing representation and advice in litigation matters including child protection; permanence; adults with incapacity; adult support and protection; education matters including ASN tribunals; debt recovery; and housing matters including ASBOs and recovery of heritable property. You will require to undertake a range of litigation services for client services across the council and will be responsible for managing your own case load.
Property/Planning and Information - carrying out a full range of property transactions, planning work and supporting information governance, including FOI and data protection. Experience of conveyancing, commercial property, planning, FOI or data protection is desirable.
There will be opportunities and support to apply any existing knowledge or experience, and/or develop new skills, in these areas.
Applications are invited from enrolled solicitors with a current Law Society of Scotland Practising Certificate and solicitors due to finish their traineeship in the next few months.
For further information or an informal chat please contact Margaret Mary Wilson, Legal Services Manager on 01698 454501.
Please answer the following questions as part of your application submission, your answers should be uploaded under supporting documents
Are you a qualified solicitor with a current and unrestricted practising certificate from the Law Society of Scotland?
Please describe in detail:
- A time when you identified a problem and took the initiative to correct it yourself
- A time when your team or organisation was undergoing some change and how you dealt with that
- A time when you had to manage client expectations while still delivering excellent customer service, and,
A situation when you faced conflict while working in a team and how you dealt with that
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If you require to submit any further additional information to support your application (not a CV), please upload this under supporting documents.
Please Apply online - All correspondence will be via your email address
Preferred candidates identified after the selection event process will be required to assist the recruitment team, if need be, to ensure timely completion of recruitment checks. If recruitment checks are not completed within a reasonable timescale, you may automatically be withdrawn from this position.
Canvassing of Elected Members or employees of South Lanarkshire's Council directly or indirectly in connection with any appointment within the Council shall disqualify the applicant.
Legislative Information
This post is excepted in terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Scotland Act 2020.
Preferred candidates will be required to complete a Level 2 disclosure check, prior to a formal offer of employment being made.
Please refer to http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk for further information about the disclosure process and best practice.
Overseas Criminal Records Check
An Overseas Criminal Records Check is required where applicants born outside the UK (Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or who have lived or worked outside the UK for a continuous period of 12 months in the past 10 years.
Applicants are responsible for providing evidence of the Overseas Criminal Record Check. The check must be translated into English and should come from the police, judicial authority, government department or home embassy of the country or countries concerned. The check must include an official statement confirming that the applicant does not have any history of or pending criminal record proceedings. Checks may be carried out to authenticate the documents provided.
Equal Opportunities and Inclusion statement
The Council is committed to fostering equality, diversity and inclusion in its workforce. Therefore, we welcome applications from all sectors of the community, including under-represented groups within our workforce. We are keen to receive applications from candidates who have a disability, who are from a care experienced background, who are from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background, from a military service background and from those who are new Scots.
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria as outlined in the job profile for this position.
As proud holders of the UK Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award, the Council is also committed to supporting members of the armed forces community, including service leavers, veterans, reservists and their families. In line with this commitment, service leavers, their close family members, veterans and reservists will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the essential criteria as outlined in the job profile
As an employee of South Lanarkshire Council, you would also receive a wide range of benefits including:
- Enrolment in award winning local government pension scheme
- To increase the value of their pension pot, Local Government Employees can opt to join the Salary Sacrifice Shared Cost AVC scheme.
- Up to 33 days annual leave
- Public holiday entitlement (up to 10 days)
- Occupational sick pay
- Family friendly policies - flexible working and leave, maternity/paternity leave enhanced leave.
- Employee Discounts – including discounts at the cinema.
- Range of benefits to support you (Cycle to Work Scheme, Physiotherapy, Employee Assistance Program which offers practical and emotional support)
