Are you an experienced legal professional looking for an opportunity to combine high-level legal work with strategic leadership and meaningful public service?
Reading Borough Council is looking for a talented and forward-thinking Principal Lawyer – Adult Social Care to lead the delivery of high-quality legal services, providing expert advice and support on complex and sensitive matters while helping shape services that make a real difference to our residents.
This is an opportunity to bring your legal expertise, sound judgement and leadership skills to a role where your advice will support informed decision-making, effective service delivery and the Council’s wider strategic objectives.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
We support hybrid working, it’s important to us that working arrangements are designed to enable our employees to excel and within this role you’ll have the opportunity to work in a way that suits your lifestyle.
About The Role:
As part of the Berkshire Joint Legal Team, you'll join a specialist shared legal service across Berkshire providing expert legal support across Adult Social Care, Children's Social Care, Education, and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Working alongside experienced colleagues from a range of disciplines, you'll benefit from a collaborative environment, opportunities to share knowledge and expertise, and exposure to a diverse range of complex and rewarding work.
As Principal Lawyer, you will lead and manage a team delivering high-quality legal services across Adult Social Care and related areas. You will provide expert advice to senior officers, directors, elected members and partner organisations, supporting decision-making on complex, high-risk and politically sensitive matters.
You will manage a varied caseload and provide leadership on matters including:
- Adult social care duties and responsibilities
- Care Act 2014 matters
- Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
- Court of Protection proceedings
- Safeguarding adults
- Ordinary residence disputes
- Human Rights and Equality Act matters
- Judicial reviews and complex litigation
- Multi‑agency partnership working
Alongside your legal expertise, you will play a key role in developing your team, driving continuous improvement, embracing legal technology and supporting the wider strategic objectives of the Council.
About You:
You will be a confident and experienced legal professional with significant post‑qualification experience and a strong track record of handling complex legal matters. You will bring excellent analytical, communication and advocacy skills, together with the ability to influence and advise stakeholders at all levels.
You will also have experience of leading or supervising legal professionals, managing competing priorities and driving service improvement. You will be comfortable working independently, exercising sound judgement and navigating politically sensitive issues with professionalism and resilience.
We are looking for someone who can combine technical legal expertise with a pragmatic, solutions‑focused approach and a genuine commitment to delivering excellent public services.
You will need to be a qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX), holding a current practising certificate and entitled to practise in England, with significant post‑qualification experience.
Experience of local government legal services and a strong understanding of the challenges facing public sector organisations will be important.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leaveA wide range of flexible working opportunitiesModern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of ReadingLocal Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by OfstedSeason Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from workLease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road taxFor more information on this position please contact Jayne La Grua, Director – Legal at Jayne.LaGrua@reading.gov.ukClosing Date: Sunday 8th November 2026Interview Date: To be confirmedInterview Setup: In person at the Civic Centre, Bridge Street, Reading, RG1 2LU
Principal Lawyer - Adult Social Care
Company: Reading Borough Council
Salary: £65,567 to £70,297 a year
Hours: Full-time
Location: Reading, RG1 2LU
Working pattern: Hybrid - 3 days remote
Job type: Permanent
Posting date: 29 Oct 2026
Closing date: 8 Nov 2026
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
About Disability Confident
Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.
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Principal Lawyer - Adult Social Care employer: Reading Borough Council
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