Principal Lawyer Technical Specialist in Manchester

Job Description

Permanent vacancy at Manchester City Council, Town Hall Extension, Albert Square, Manchester, M60 2LA.

About the Role

Full‑time, 35 hours per week. Permanent contract. Closing date 23 January 2026.

Position: Principal Lawyer Technical Specialist within the Public Law Sub‑Group of the Children & Families Legal Group.

Our newly re‑profiled roles are designed in direct response to valuable feedback about how to progress your career beyond Senior Lawyer and from our colleagues in the Legal Service where Technical Roles already exist. Unlike before, when advancement meant choosing either a full‑time management‑focused path or switching to an alternative role, this innovative position empowers experienced child‑care lawyers to step forward—gaining hands‑on management experience while continuing as a technical specialist. It’s the best of both worlds: professional growth without sacrificing the work you love. This unique opportunity sets us apart from other local authorities, and opens a door that’s rarely available elsewhere.

Key Information

Interview method: Face to face.

This role is subject to

• Qualification and Registration – Qualified Solicitor, Barrister (with Litigation Conduct Authorisation), Chartered Lawyer or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives (with Advocacy Certificate) holding a current practising certificate.
• DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance – Applicants must apply for a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service check.

About the Candidate

★ Are your skills and legal mind being rewarded?
★ Do you work together as part of a supportive team?
★ Is your work wide‑ranging and varied?
★ Are you achieving your goals?

Be part of our ongoing incredible journey.

Why work with us?

We offer our lawyers flexible start and finish times with an effective hybrid working‑practice model. There’s opportunity for development and variety thanks to the way our teams practise in our Lexcel‑accredited and supported legal service.

Legal work for public services in Manchester, Salford and Rochdale Councils and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority puts you among the few practitioners in England’s first, and biggest, devolved region, where major decisions are now taken in‑house rather than in Whitehall and by NHS administrations.

If practising in a supportive public service legal team is the right cultural fit for you, please get in touch for an informal discussion.

To arrange an informal discussion on these roles please contact Jonathan Broad, Assistant Director, Legal & Democratic Services, Children & Families Legal Services by email at jonathan.broad@manchester.gov.uk.

As part your application, please submit your Curriculum Vitae and detailed Expression of Interest setting out how your skills and experience meet the role profile.

About Us

We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities.

Working for Manchester is not just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.

Our Manchester vision is for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – a vision shaped by the people of Manchester. It guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through our Manchester behaviours:

• We take time to listen and understand
• We work together and trust each other
• We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
• We ‘own it’ and we aren’t afraid to try new things
• We’re proud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits we offer

• Generous holiday allowance – Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks.
• A buzzing pension – You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three‑times your salary as a lump sum.
• Enhanced parental and carers leave – Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your newborn or support your family during critical life events.
• Brilliant perks – Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
• Learn and grow – We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.
• A Good Employment Charter member – We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognise three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
• Up to 3 days volunteering leave – Give back to the community with three days pro‑rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council

We are dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.

Support During the Process

• Interview adjustments: Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
• Accessible formats: Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the “Accessibility tools” button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text‑to‑speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

• Members of the Armed Forces or veterans
• Current or former care leavers
• Have a disability or long‑term condition

When You Join Us

We’re a Disability Confident Employer, offering:

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability‑friendly.

What we will need from you if you’re successful

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.

Pre‑Employment Checks

• Proof of Right to Work – You’ll need to provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the UK.
• References – We’ll require references from your current and previous employer(s).
• Proof of Qualifications – Evidence of qualifications relevant to the role will be required.
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check – A criminal record check may be necessary, depending on the role.

Other relevant information

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

For more information about the role, please ensure that you read the role profile attached.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

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