At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Commercial Team, providing high-quality legal advice and managing complex legal matters.
- Company: Dynamic council offering a vibrant working environment and strong community focus.
- Benefits: Generous leave, pension scheme, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Join a Disability Confident Employer committed to inclusivity and professional excellence.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in local governance while leading a high-performing legal team.
- Qualifications: Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or FCILEx with extensive experience in relevant legal areas.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 70000 £ per year.
We offer a vibrant working environment with:
- a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
- lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council.
- generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days.
- hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work‑life balance.
About the role
Lead Legal Excellence for our Commercial Team. We are seeking an experienced and strategic leader to manage the Commercial Team for the Council’s Legal Services function, overseeing both in‑house provision and external legal support. Reporting to the Head of Legal, you will play a key role in supporting the delivery of the service and providing professional leadership across the Commercial team. The Principal Lawyer is a senior member of Legal Services, responsible for delivering high‑quality legal advice, leading complex casework and supporting the organisation’s strategic objectives. The role ensures that legal risk is effectively managed while enabling informed decision‑making across the organisation.
What will you be doing?
- Lead and shape the Commercial Team, setting direction, driving high performance, and ensuring the delivery of timely, solution‑focused legal advice to client services.
- Support the Head of Legal, ensuring strong governance, ethical standards, and that all Council decision‑making is lawful and compliant.
- Provide legal representation and advice to Committees, Sub‑Committees and other Council Boards as required.
- Provide expert advice to client services on complex, high‑risk matters.
- Manage legal risk, overseeing major casework, litigation and ensuring robust risk identification, mitigation, and communication.
- Lead, develop and manage a high‑performing team, promoting professional excellence, continuous improvement and a positive, values‑driven culture.
- Oversee the use of external legal providers, ensuring high‑quality advice and value for money.
- Oversee budgets, efficiency and sustainability.
- Drive service improvement, enhancing systems, processes, and digital capability to deliver modern, effective legal services.
About you
- Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or FCILEx.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
- Extensive experience in a relevant specialist area to include Childcare, Adult Social Care and Education.
- Experience managing complex, high‑risk and high‑profile legal matters.
- Experience managing staff and leading legal teams of multiple legal disciplines/specialisms.
- Experience in local government or wider public sector including strong knowledge of local government law, governance, the Constitution and decision‑making processes.
Disability Confident Employer
We are proud to be a recognized Disability Confident Employer and are committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. The council obtained the Gold status award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).
Principal Lawyer - Commercial Team in Corby employer: North Northamptonshire Council
As a Principal Lawyer in our Commercial Team, you will thrive in a vibrant working environment that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. With generous leave entitlements, a robust pension scheme, and flexible working arrangements, we foster a culture of support and development, ensuring you can balance your career with personal commitments while making a meaningful impact in local government legal services.
Contact Details:
North Northamptonshire Council Recruitment Team
