Salary - Grade
GBP £64,032 to £65,172 64032 - PO9
Contract Type
Permanent
Contracted Hours
Full Time - 36 hours per week
DBS Required
No
Department
Chief Executive’s
Service
Legal
Closing date
14/09/2025
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 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 junior 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.
– Work closely with service areas to support delivery of Council priorities and community outcomes.
About You
We are looking for an ambitious and pragmatic legal professional with:
– Qualified solicitor, barrister or CILEX lawyer with a current practising certificate.
– Significant post-qualification experience in litigation, ideally within or advising local authorities.
– 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.
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.