Senior Lawyer
| Posting date: | 04 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £28.96 to £37.91 per hour |
| Additional salary information: | Pay Rates: PAYE: £28.96 per hour Limited/Umbrella: £37.91 per hour |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 11 March 2026 |
| Location: | Southwark, South East London |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 3 days per week |
| Company: | Neway International Ltd |
| Job type: | Temporary |
| Job reference: | OR24348 |
Summary
Neway International are seeking a Senior Lawyer to join our client based with Southwark Council.
Location: 160 Tooley Street, Southwark, Surrey, SE1 2QH
Hours: 36 per week
Start Date: 16 March 2026
Work Pattern: Full‑time (2 days in the office) / Part‑time (occasional office attendance)
About the Client
Southwark Council’s Governance & Assurance directorate provides high‑quality legal, governance, and regulatory support across the organisation. The Legal Services team is committed to delivering a sustainable, responsive, and value‑for‑money service, ensuring strong governance, compliance, and effective decision‑making across the council.
The Role
The Senior Lawyer will provide complex legal advice within a defined specialist area, ensuring compliance with statutory frameworks and supporting good governance. You will contribute to corporate and service strategies, advise Members and senior officers, and support committees, project boards, and decision‑making bodies.
The role requires strong expertise in planning, regeneration, or highways law, alongside the ability to manage complex cases, draft legal documents, and work collaboratively across departments and external partners. You will also support the development of policies, procedures, and operational plans that align with council objectives.
This position sits within a politically restricted environment and may require occasional work outside standard office hours.
Key Responsibilities
Provide legal expertise on highly complex matters, ensuring services are commercially focused and compliant with statutory and contractual obligations.
Support business and financial planning, contributing to departmental direction and resource optimisation.
Advise committees, Members, senior officers, and project boards on specialist legal matters.
Work collaboratively with the head of team to ensure consistent service delivery.
Build effective partnerships with internal departments, government bodies, external solicitors, barristers, contractors, and developers.
Ensure good governance, implementing procedures aligned with DPA, FOI, and local government law.
Keep up to date with legislative changes and assess their impact on the council.
Undertake legal research, manage complex cases, provide advocacy, and brief Counsel where required.
Maintain Lexcel‑compliant files and adhere to Solicitors Regulation Authority rules.
Monitor and record chargeable hours in line with service requirements.
Candidate Requirements
Qualified Solicitor (5+ years PQE), Barrister, or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.
Evidence of continuous professional development.
Strong understanding of local government law, human rights, equalities legislation, DPA, and FOI.
Detailed knowledge in Planning, Regeneration, or Highways law.
Significant experience advising on complex cases or projects.
Proven ability to draft complex legal documents including pleadings, contracts, and development agreements.
Experience managing budgets and setting priorities.
Strong understanding of governance arrangements and democratic processes.
Excellent written, oral, and presentational skills.
Experience managing or contributing to high‑level strategic projects.
Ability to build and sustain effective working relationships.
Experience monitoring and directing work activity within teams or projects.
Ability to lead and support change, challenge traditional practices, and manage resistance.
Experience representing the council publicly and working with community groups, agencies, and elected Members.
Willingness to work outside normal office hours when required.
Location: 160 Tooley Street, Southwark, Surrey, SE1 2QH
Hours: 36 per week
Start Date: 16 March 2026
Work Pattern: Full‑time (2 days in the office) / Part‑time (occasional office attendance)
About the Client
Southwark Council’s Governance & Assurance directorate provides high‑quality legal, governance, and regulatory support across the organisation. The Legal Services team is committed to delivering a sustainable, responsive, and value‑for‑money service, ensuring strong governance, compliance, and effective decision‑making across the council.
The Role
The Senior Lawyer will provide complex legal advice within a defined specialist area, ensuring compliance with statutory frameworks and supporting good governance. You will contribute to corporate and service strategies, advise Members and senior officers, and support committees, project boards, and decision‑making bodies.
The role requires strong expertise in planning, regeneration, or highways law, alongside the ability to manage complex cases, draft legal documents, and work collaboratively across departments and external partners. You will also support the development of policies, procedures, and operational plans that align with council objectives.
This position sits within a politically restricted environment and may require occasional work outside standard office hours.
Key Responsibilities
Provide legal expertise on highly complex matters, ensuring services are commercially focused and compliant with statutory and contractual obligations.
Support business and financial planning, contributing to departmental direction and resource optimisation.
Advise committees, Members, senior officers, and project boards on specialist legal matters.
Work collaboratively with the head of team to ensure consistent service delivery.
Build effective partnerships with internal departments, government bodies, external solicitors, barristers, contractors, and developers.
Ensure good governance, implementing procedures aligned with DPA, FOI, and local government law.
Keep up to date with legislative changes and assess their impact on the council.
Undertake legal research, manage complex cases, provide advocacy, and brief Counsel where required.
Maintain Lexcel‑compliant files and adhere to Solicitors Regulation Authority rules.
Monitor and record chargeable hours in line with service requirements.
Candidate Requirements
Qualified Solicitor (5+ years PQE), Barrister, or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.
Evidence of continuous professional development.
Strong understanding of local government law, human rights, equalities legislation, DPA, and FOI.
Detailed knowledge in Planning, Regeneration, or Highways law.
Significant experience advising on complex cases or projects.
Proven ability to draft complex legal documents including pleadings, contracts, and development agreements.
Experience managing budgets and setting priorities.
Strong understanding of governance arrangements and democratic processes.
Excellent written, oral, and presentational skills.
Experience managing or contributing to high‑level strategic projects.
Ability to build and sustain effective working relationships.
Experience monitoring and directing work activity within teams or projects.
Ability to lead and support change, challenge traditional practices, and manage resistance.
Experience representing the council publicly and working with community groups, agencies, and elected Members.
Willingness to work outside normal office hours when required.