Solicitor in Oxford

Together, we’re the moment makers and we’re focussed on making every day the best it can be for our residents. Whatever you do here, you’ll look around and say, “I make a difference”. Because we’re all creating lasting change to people’s lives in Oxfordshire. It’s not a job – it’s a passion and together, we’re shaping legal services for the future.

Every day, our colleagues are helping to transform the lives of the residents of Oxfordshire by supporting them to live the lives they want to live. Oxfordshire County Council’s legal service is on an exciting journey of transformation and re‑shaping. We’ve re‑designed and created a brand‑new legal team structure to ensure our legal services can deliver for the future, now. Our new structure has multiple entry routes, clear career progression and career graded pay so you can make the most of your career and development, whilst working for the common good of our communities.

Everyday you’ll be challenged in a new way, supported by your team, in an organisation that is free thinking, flexible, and helps people achieve their ambitions. Our Residents are at the heart of everything we do and our approach to supporting them must be as diverse as they are. We’re not afraid to do things differently and our dynamic culture means this is a place where new ideas are embraced, and innovation thrives. We believe that together, our differences make us stronger, and that diversity is the foundation for innovation. Here, you can create a unique career for yourself – while raising the bar for the future of UK legal services, together.

Legal Services at Oxfordshire County Council provides key legal and corporate governance advice to all service areas of the council. There are four main legal teams: (1) Environment (2) Adult Social Care and SEND (3) Children and Families and (4) Contracts (5) Litigation, Employment & Property.

About the Role

Do you want a values‑centred career that transforms local people’s lives every day? Our Solicitors are a crucial part of our in‑house legal team and will provide high‑quality legal advice, supporting council directorates and corporate services with proactive legal advice and collaborative working to meet our customer and community needs. With our new structure, our Solicitor roles consist of 2 levels, and are career graded which will allow you to develop and progress your career with Oxfordshire County Council.

We’re looking for an enthusiastic and motivated solicitor to join our friendly and collaborative Environment Team. You will provide legal advice, guidance, and representation to the client department on a wide range of matters pertaining to all aspects of highways and planning legislation. The role will involve drafting and reviewing planning and highway documents and agreements, negotiating s106 obligations, s38 agreements, s278 agreements, and other planning and highways agreements. You will also provide general highway advice, including highway enforcement, public rights of way, and traffic regulation orders, as well as general planning advice on matters such as the role of the Council as minerals and waste planning authority, determination of planning applications, enforcement, and Regulation 3 applications.

We are looking for a candidate who displays professionalism, excellent communication, and the ability to adapt to the needs of the client and work under pressure, whilst remaining positive and solutions focused. We are looking for an enthusiastic team player, interested in building positive relationships within the team and client department, who is also confident, independent, and comfortable recognising and managing corporate risk. We have a dedicated team of business support and legal assistants who provide support to each lawyer to enable them to undertake robust case management.

About you

You’re free‑thinking and brave, and that sets you apart. You’ll be supportive and energised; you don’t accept the norm if it can be done better – finding answers through exploration and courage. Newly qualified Solicitor/NQ CILEX Lawyer/NQ Barrister or qualified solicitor/CILEX lawyer/barrister. Solicitor/CILEX Lawyer/barrister who can match Solicitor 1 core competencies (Legal Services Core Competency Framework).

In addition to the above qualifications, you will also:

• Have excellent knowledge and understanding of relevant areas of law and practice; ability to research quickly in unknown areas of law, learn new areas of law and make a professional judgement and provide accurate and definitive advice.
• Have experience working within a legal practice/in house legal department. This is desirable however we will consider candidates with similar prior experience and demonstrable transferrable skills.

Fundamentally, you’ll be passionate about delivering stand‑out public services, because we’re here to make every moment the best it can be for the residents of Oxfordshire. This role allows for Hybrid Working with travel to Oxford required a minimum of two days per week.

Rewards and benefits

• Technology to support agile working where role permits, with unlimited access to Microsoft Copilot for smarter productivity.
• Up to 33 day’s holiday p.a. plus bank holidays.
• Option to ‘buy’ additional holiday.
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support.
• Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, with an employer’s contribution of up to 19.9%.
• Enhanced family friendly policies.
• Local and national discounts for shopping and travel.
• Great learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing development.

Application process

If you are interested in this role, please submit your application via our application portal by 25 January 2026. The job description sets out our ideal, but we value diverse strengths and potential. If your experience aligns with much of what we’re looking for, please consider applying. Shortlisting is expected to take place week commencing 26 January 2026. Interviews are expected to take place week soon after. Further details will be shared with shortlisted candidates. For informal enquiries or further information about the role, please contact Jennifer Crouch, Principal Solicitor (Environment Team) on jennifer.crouch@oxfordshire.gov.uk