Lawyer in London

Salary range: £52,194 - £58,461 p.a. inc. London weighting

Contract: Permanent

Hours of work: 36 hours per week

Location: Civic centre and other locations from time to time

Join our collaborative and high-performing Legal Service at Brent Council. Brent is a tremendously vibrant London borough where the iconic arch of Wembley Stadium dominates the skyline. Spanning both inner and outer London, it is a borough of huge contrasts in terms of its economic, environmental, ethnic and social make up. Brent's diversity is evident to all who visit our borough and our long history of ethnic and cultural diversity has created a place that is truly unique and valued by those who live and work here.

The council is pursuing a far-reaching transformation agenda that better meets the needs of our community so it is an exciting time to join us.

Brent Council is recruiting an Employment Lawyer to join our collaborative and high-performing Legal Service at the centre of corporate decision-making. This post sits within the Employment & Education team, which advises on employment, education (including SEND) and governance matters across the Council. This is an opportunity to work on complex, high-impact employment matters while also contributing to education, SEND and governance work within a supportive and forward-looking team.

We welcome applications from qualified Solicitors, Barristers or CILEX lawyers with post-qualification experience in employment law. This role is intentionally broad and suitable for:

• Newly qualified lawyers seeking their first post-qualification role
• Lawyers with early post-qualification experience looking to broaden their practice
• More experienced lawyers seeking a new challenge in a values-led public sector environment

Candidates with experience in governance, education or SEND law alongside employment are encouraged to apply. Progression to PO5 is available for those demonstrating the ability to manage more complex or higher-risk matters.

The Post

You will manage a varied caseload primarily across employment litigation and advisory work, with opportunities to contribute to education, SEND and governance matters depending on experience and service need. You will provide clear, practical and proactive legal advice that enables services to deliver effectively while ensuring lawful and transparent decision-making.

Key responsibilities include:

• Advising on disciplinaries, grievances, restructures, redundancies and TUPE
• Conducting and preparing Employment Tribunal cases, including advocacy where appropriate
• Advising on education and SEND matters, with support and development where required
• Providing governance advice and supporting lawful decision-making across the Council
• Drafting and reviewing reports for Members and senior officers and attending meetings where legal advice is required
• Contributing to corporate projects, policy development and governance processes
• Supervising and supporting junior colleagues where appropriate
• Providing cover across Legal Services as required

You will manage your own caseload with appropriate supervision and contribute to a culture of shared responsibility and resilience across the team.

About You

You will be able to demonstrate:

• Post-qualification experience in employment law
• Experience of employment litigation and advisory work, including at least one of: disciplinaries, grievances, restructures, redundancies or TUPE
• Ability to analyse legal risk, evaluate evidence and provide clear, practical advice
• Confidence in preparing cases for hearings and undertaking advocacy
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including report writing
• Ability to manage a busy caseload and respond to urgent matters
• A collaborative and flexible approach, with willingness to work across employment, education/SEND and governance where required
• Commitment to professional development and high-quality client service

Knowledge of education law, SEND or governance is desirable but not essential.

Living Our Values Through Legal Practice

• Collaborate Proactively: Work closely with HR, SEN teams, governance colleagues, senior leaders and Members to develop lawful and workable solutions that support the Council’s objectives.
• Lead Inclusively: Promote fair employment practices, apply equality duties in advice and contribute to an inclusive team culture that values diverse perspectives and backgrounds.
• Embrace Change: Support organisational transformation and service improvement through pragmatic legal advice, adapting confidently to legislative and policy developments.
• Be Bold and Curious: Engage constructively with complex legal issues across employment, education and governance, offering clear and well-reasoned recommendations that enable informed decisions.
• Celebrate and Share Our Success: Contribute to continuous improvement by sharing learning from cases, supporting policy development and helping colleagues build capability.

Our Wider Commitments

This role supports Brent’s Borough Plan, Moving Brent Forward Together, by enabling high-quality services that improve residents’ lives. You will contribute to:

• Reducing inequality and ensuring everyone belongs
• Generating social value through responsible employment and partnership practices
• Upholding the highest standards of integrity, accountability and openness
• Supporting Brent’s ambition to be a digital council and carbon-neutral by 2030

This is an opportunity to build a career within a diverse and ambitious borough while gaining exposure to complex legal work and meaningful client relationships across employment, education and governance.

Why join us?

We know people achieve their best when they feel valued. At Brent, you’ll benefit from:

• Up to 33 days annual leave (depending on length of service) plus bank holidays
• Excellent pension with generous employer contributions (LGPS)
• Hybrid and flexible working options available for most roles
• Supportive family-friendly policies for parents, guardians and carers
• Health and wellbeing support, including access to eye test support and a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Financial support such as education sessions, childcare deposit loans and season ticket loans
• Travel perks including affordable parking nearby, a Cycle to Work scheme and great onsite facilities
• Learning and development opportunities to help you grow your career
• Access to My Brent Rewards with exclusive discounts on shopping, travel, leisure and entertainment

Closing date: 5 July 2026 (23:59)

Brent Council values the diversity of its community and aims to have a workforce that reflects this and therefore encourages applications from all sections of the community. We positively encourage all applicants to self-identify their characteristics in the diversity survey section in the application.

We are committed to safer recruitment and safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants should be aware that posts working with children, young people and vulnerable adults are subject to an Enhanced DBS check as well as other employment clearances.

As a disability confident employer Brent welcomes applications from people with all disabilities, including non-visible disabilities and mental health conditions. We will interview any disabled applicant who meets the essential criteria. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made to any part of the recruitment process due to your disability, please contact us on.

Brent has a positive approach to flexible working.