At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to provide legal advice on exciting regeneration projects.
- Company: Westminster City Council, dedicated to transforming lives in the community.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and a supportive, inclusive environment.
- Other info: Dynamic workplace with opportunities for growth and community involvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in your community while developing your legal expertise.
- Qualifications: Qualified Solicitor or equivalent with a passion for urban law.
The predicted salary is between 42912 - 49155 £ per year.
Salary range: £42,912 - £49,155 per annum. Salary negotiable depending upon experience.
Work location: Town Hall, Hornton Street, London, W8 7NX
Hours per week: 36
Contract type: Permanent
Closing date: 20 June 2026
Interview date: 29 June 2026
About Us: The Bi-Borough Legal Services Department at Westminster City Council is a world of extraordinary stories. Our ambition is to improve the quality of life for everyone in the area, and we aim to do this by building 1,750 high quality homes, creating new green spaces and playgrounds, and providing services that will support the community’s health and wellbeing.
As a Solicitor in our customer-focused Commercial Property team, you can make your own powerful contribution to the residents of Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea. Putting residents’ needs and social value at the heart of our work, our friendly and experienced in-house legal team deliver high quality advice for all sorts of situations.
This is a fantastic opportunity to get to grips with the Constitutions of both councils as you deliver advice on a wide range of commercial property-related matters including development and regeneration matters. Working quickly to come up with innovative solutions to complex routine and non-routine legal challenges, you will work with a wide range of client directorates and legal colleagues.
We celebrate a busy yet dynamic environment in which we constantly ask ourselves how we can make things happen. Rather than declining a service, we prioritise challenges and find solutions. Join us, and you will use your knowledge of the law around buying and selling land and leases in the local authority sector to determine how commercial property leases will work from both a landlord and a tenant’s perspective.
Getting to know your clients, you will explore their objectives and underpin their decision-making processes with clear legal advice, advising them on risk and helping them secure the best outcomes. This will often be done at speed, as they may need you to translate complex legal issues so that they can take decisions and give instructions quickly.
We champion a truly inclusive and supportive workplace in which colleagues are encouraged to be true to themselves. With more than 30 languages spoken in our team, we promote a friendly workplace that’s quite unique. Furthermore, many of our colleagues take the opportunity to volunteer and support charity work, so there is a real sense of community here.
Our work is very much deadline orientated, so you will need to have exceptional time-management and prioritising skills, with the ability to think strategically when under pressure. It goes without saying that you will be a Qualified Solicitor, Licensed Conveyancer, Barrister, CLIEX Fellow or Associate, and you will be passionate about providing advice relating to the urban environment.
Comfortable negotiating advantageous terms on behalf of both Councils, you will be capable of dealing with stakeholders at all levels, including Government Departments and other Local Authorities. You will have fantastic verbal and written communication skills, you will be keen to mentor less experienced colleagues, and learn from those who are more knowledgeable.
Specifically, you will be able to communicate legal issues effectively, so you will have a good knowledge of a wide range of commercial property challenges including lease renewals, security of tenure, easements, restrictive covenants, charging of assets and other transactional property-related issues. You will also have an understanding of a range of other areas such as the acquisition and disposal of commercial property with the capacity to draft commercial leases and asset management documents.
Westminster City Council is committed to supporting Care Leavers into the workplace. Care Leavers seeking their first job and who wish to be considered under our scheme, will automatically be invited to interview should they meet the essential criteria for the role.
What We Offer: Westminster is an amazing place. We are home to more than 200,000 residents from all backgrounds, over 50,000 vibrant and vital businesses and three-quarters-of-a-million people work in Westminster. By working directly with our communities and other partners, we can build a more inclusive city that celebrates our diverse communities, and where residents, workers and visitors from all backgrounds will feel welcome and safe.
At Westminster City Council, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive workplace and an employer of choice. We encourage and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that, at all levels, reflects the communities we serve. We champion equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, has a sense of belonging and is empowered to be their best.
As a forward-thinking Council we appreciate that people work in different ways, therefore our staff benefit from working a range of flexible working patterns as well as Agile working. The Council is a Disability Confident Employer. If you have declared a disability in your application, we guarantee an interview if you meet the essential criteria of the job.
Solicitor (Entry Level) WCC624137 in City of Westminster employer: Hampshire County Council
Westminster City Council is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where your contributions directly impact the lives of residents in a vibrant community. With a strong commitment to employee growth, flexible working patterns, and a culture that celebrates diversity, you will thrive in a supportive team that values collaboration and innovation. Join us at our Town Hall location in London, where you can develop your legal expertise while making a meaningful difference in urban regeneration and community wellbeing.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Solicitor (Entry Level) WCC624137 in City of Westminster
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the legal field. Attend events, join online forums, or even hit up LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that solicitor role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Westminster City Council and understand their projects, especially around regeneration and community support. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills. As a solicitor, you’ll need to explain complex legal issues clearly. Grab a friend and do mock interviews, focusing on how you’d communicate legal advice to clients from various backgrounds.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Westminster City Council and contributing to the community.
We think you need these skills to ace Solicitor (Entry Level) WCC624137 in City of Westminster
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific skills and experiences that match the Solicitor role. Highlight your understanding of commercial property law and how it relates to the work we do at Westminster City Council.
Show Your Passion:Let us see your enthusiasm for transforming lives through legal work. Share any relevant experiences or projects that demonstrate your commitment to community-focused initiatives, just like Aruna's work in the Church Street Estate.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to communicate your qualifications and experiences, as we value effective communication skills in our team.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our official website! It’s the best way to ensure your application is seen by the right people and gives you a chance to explore more about us and our values.
How to prepare for a job interview at Hampshire County Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on commercial property law and the specific challenges faced by local authorities. Familiarise yourself with the key issues mentioned in the job description, like lease renewals and easements, so you can speak confidently about them during the interview.
✨Show Your Passion for Community
This role is all about transforming lives and improving communities. Be prepared to discuss why you're passionate about urban regeneration and how your values align with the council's mission. Share any relevant experiences that demonstrate your commitment to making a positive impact.
✨Practice Your Communication Skills
Since you'll be dealing with various stakeholders, it's crucial to showcase your verbal and written communication skills. Prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated complex legal issues in the past, and practice explaining these concepts in simple terms.
✨Be a Team Player
The council values collaboration, so highlight your ability to work well in a team. Think of examples where you've successfully collaborated with others, mentored colleagues, or contributed to a group project. This will show that you're not just a great solicitor, but also a supportive team member.