Senior Lawyer (Litigation) in Manchester

Working hours: 35 hours per week, full time

Contract type: Permanent

Working style: Hybrid - Employees split their time between working remotely (e.g., from home) and working on-site (e.g., in an office).

Applicants must have existing right to work in the UK, as visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

This role is subject to:

• Legal right to Work: In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment.
• 2 References - where possible we require 3 years' history.
• Qualification - Solicitor, CILEx Lawyer (Civil Litigator & Advocate) or barrister with litigation rights.

Put your legal experience to work for Manchester. This is a rare opportunity to join one of the largest and most respected local authority legal teams in the country. You'll work alongside talented and supportive colleagues on a diverse portfolio of property litigation, debt recovery and public sector litigation matters that genuinely make a difference to the city.

We welcome applications from both existing Senior Lawyers seeking a new challenge and experienced litigators who are ready to step into a senior role. If you have the technical expertise, commercial awareness and ambition to take the next step, we can offer high-quality work, genuine responsibility, excellent support and the opportunity to build a rewarding long-term career with Manchester City Council.

You will work closely with colleagues across Legal Services, Adult Social Care, Corporate, Housing and Finance, providing strategic legal advice and representation on matters that directly impact the Council's ability to protect public assets, recover public funds and deliver services effectively. This is a high performing team working on high profile and exciting work.

About the Role

As a Senior Lawyer, you will manage a complex and diverse caseload and provide expert legal advice across a range of litigation matters. Key responsibilities will include:

• Advising on all aspects of property litigation, including, trespass, nuisance, rights of way, boundary disputes and land-related enforcement matters.
• Leading on the recovery of Adult Social Care debt and insolvency matters.
• Conducting and managing litigation in the County Court, High Court and tribunals.
• Providing proactive and commercially focused legal advice to internal clients and senior officers.
• Preparing legal documentation, pleadings, witness statements and settlement agreements.
• Instructing counsel and managing external legal support where required.
• Supporting strategic decision-making by identifying and managing legal risk.
• Managing, supervising and mentoring junior lawyers, legal officers and trainees.
• Deputise for the Principal Lawyer.
• Contributing to service improvements and the ongoing development of Legal Services.

Why Manchester?

Our Legal Services team is highly regarded for the quality of its advice, innovation and commitment to delivering excellent outcomes. We support one of the UK's most dynamic and diverse cities and work across a broad range of complex and high-profile matters.

In return we offer:

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• Ongoing professional development and career progression opportunities.
• Health and wellbeing support.
• Employee benefits and discounts.
• A supportive, inclusive and collaborative working environment.

More than a job, this is Manchester. Join us and use your legal expertise to make a real difference to the city, its communities and the residents we serve.

About the Candidate

You will be a qualified solicitor, barrister or Chartered Legal Executive holding litigation rights and a current practising certificate and will have significant experience of litigation practice.

You will be able to demonstrate:

• Substantial experience in civil litigation.
• Strong expertise in property litigation and landlord and tenant matters.
• Experience of debt recovery and enforcement proceedings.
• Excellent advocacy, negotiation and case management skills.
• The ability to provide clear, practical and solution-focused legal advice.
• Strong drafting, analytical and communication skills.
• Experience of building effective relationships with clients and stakeholders.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Experience of local government legal practice and Adult Social Care debt recovery would be advantageous, although candidates with transferable litigation experience from private practice, central government or other public sector organisations are encouraged to apply.

About Us

Working for Manchester City Council is a chance to make a real difference in a diverse city that leads change and improves lives. Whether you’re supporting communities or improving public services, you’ll help create opportunities and shape a better future for everyone.

Benefits we offer

• Up to 26 days’ annual leave, rising to 31 days after five years’ service.
• Buy up to two extra weeks’ leave.
• Up to 3 days’ volunteering leave.
• A 35-hour work week for full-time roles.
• We review pay each year and recognise three trade unions.
• The UK’s largest local government pension scheme.
• Enhanced parental and carers leave.
• Employee discounts and perks.
• Good Employment Charter member.

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council. Manchester City Council values equality and works to provide a fair and inclusive environment for a workforce that is as diverse as the communities it serves. We want to further increase the diversity of our workforce, in particular the number of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and disabled staff at all levels of the Council. This advert is open to all applicants, and we would particularly welcome applications from candidates identifying with one or both of those characteristics.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

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

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans.
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care.
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term condition.
• Have you completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme or any MCC positive action programmes?

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.

For more information about the role or any adjustments, email [email protected].

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.

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.

GM Elevate Programme

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme within the last two years, please indicate this within the 'Personal Statement' section or 'Supporting Statement' section of your application.

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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