Locum Contracts Lawyer
| Posting date: | 09 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £40.0 to £60.0 per hour |
| Additional salary information: | £40-£60/hr umbrella DOE |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 16 March 2026 |
| Location: | Oxfordshire, OX1 1ND |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 5 days per week |
| Company: | Hays Specialist Recruitment |
| Job type: | Temporary |
| Job reference: | 4777664_1773055649 |
Summary
Your new company
A local authority in Oxfordshire is seeking an experienced Contracts Lawyer to join its legal team on an interim basis beginning in April. The organisation is undergoing a period of significant project activity and requires additional specialist support across a range of commercial and procurement matters, likely for 3-6 months.
Your new role
You will provide legal advice across key areas of public sector contracting and procurement, supporting internal stakeholders on a broad and varied workload. You will be handling:
- Drafting, negotiating and advising on commercial contracts
- Procurement matters under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023, including contract modifications
- Funding agreements and subsidy control assessments
- Collaboration and partnership agreements with external partners
- Providing clear, risk‑based legal advice to project teams
- Occasional on‑site attendance for meetings or project needs
This role offers the opportunity to support high‑impact public sector programmes.
What you'll need to succeed
- Qualified solicitor, barrister or chartered legal executive, with a minimum of 3 years' PQE as a guideline.
- Experience advising in local government or the wider public sector, with expertise in public procurement, subsidy control and commercial contracting.
- Strong drafting skills
- The ability to manage a varied workload independently.
- Experience of drafting funding or partnership agreements
- Prior local authority experience
What you'll get in return
- A flexible interim assignment with a competitive day rate, aligned to experience
- Hybrid (one day in the office, with flexibility)
- The opportunity to contribute to major public sector projects
- A supportive and collaborative team environment
What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.
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