Public Sector Solicitor (Manchester Area)

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a junior solicitor (NQ–3 PQE) to join a leading national public law and commercial advisory team based in Manchester. This role offers excellent exposure to high-profile, complex work advising central and local government bodies, NHS trusts, arm’s-length bodies, and other public and third sector clients.

You will play a key role in supporting the team on a broad range of matters, including public procurement, commercial contracts, outsourcing arrangements, and governance issues. The role combines high-quality contractual and advisory work with opportunities to contribute to policy-shaping projects and transformational public sector initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a wide range of commercial contracts, including services agreements, outsourcing arrangements, framework agreements, and collaboration agreements.
• Advising public sector clients on procurement strategy and compliance with UK procurement regulations, including the new Procurement Act 2023.
• Providing legal support governance, and public law issues relevant to contractual arrangements.
• Working closely with senior lawyers to deliver practical, commercially sound advice to public and quasi-public bodies.
• Conducting legal research and helping prepare client training, briefing notes, and thought leadership.
• Participating in client development initiatives, including contributing to tenders, events, and webinars.

About You:

• Qualified solicitor (or soon to qualify) in England and Wales with 0–3 years’ PQE.
• Demonstrable interest in public sector commercial work—whether from private practice, in-house, or public authority experience. Commercial contracts experience is essential.
• A sound understanding of public procurement, or a strong interest and willingness to develop specialist expertise in this area.
• Strong drafting and analytical skills with good commercial awareness.
• A collaborative team player with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Able to manage deadlines, prioritise workload, and adapt to client needs in a fast-moving environment.

What’s on Offer:

• Competitive salary with comprehensive benefits.
• A strong commitment to training and development, including structured learning around public procurement and public sector commercial advisory work.
• Hybrid working and genuine flexibility to support work-life balance.
• A collegiate, inclusive team with a reputation for delivering high-quality, impactful work in the public sector.
• The opportunity to advise on contracts and projects that make a real difference to public services and communities.

If you’re a junior solicitor looking to build a career in complex, meaningful commercial work within the public sector, this is a fantastic opportunity to join a specialist team operating at the forefront of the field.