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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage complex contracts and commissioning work while providing high-level legal advice.
- Company: Join Mid Kent Legal Services, a forward-thinking and innovative legal service provider.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous leave, wellbeing support, and a fantastic pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on high-profile projects in a supportive and flexible environment.
- Qualifications: Qualified solicitor or equivalent with experience in contracts and commissioning law.
- Other info: Work from home with a 34-hour week and options for flexible working arrangements.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
About Us
Mid Kent Legal Services (MKLS) provides legal services and advice across the Mid‑Kent area (to Swale, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells councils). The service covers a range of areas including Property and Regeneration, Planning, Contentious, Contracts & Commissioning and Corporate Governance. Working across multiple councils means a range of high‑level, challenging and impactful work ranging from supporting the delivery of garden communities, to the redevelopment of large shopping centres, to letting very large contracts, to delivering affordable housing. In short, it’s a real opportunity to make a difference in an area with vibrant towns, beautiful villages and countryside and fantastic leisure and cultural amenities. MKLS has a reputation as being forward thinking, progressive and innovative and is closely and strongly aligned with its partner authorities. It provides a supportive and nurturing environment, providing opportunities for staff to progress internally and uses technology to maximise the effective use of lawyers’ time. In short, it is a great place to work.
The Benefits
- Local Government pension scheme
- Generous annual leave plus time off between Christmas and New Year (and options to purchase extra leave)
- Wellbeing support including confidential advice, counselling, flu vaccines
- Discounts on leisure, retail, and fuel and salary sacrifice schemes including Cycle to Work and car leasing
- Generous sick pay
- Free parking across the 3 Partner Authority sites
- Season ticket loans for rail/bus travel
- Career development
This is the ideal opportunity for an experienced contracts and commissioning lawyer with a track record of providing high-level legal advice to join our forward‑thinking shared service. With exceptional benefits, a brilliant pension scheme and opportunities for professional growth, you’ll discover real flexibility, potential and rewards within the public sector. What’s more, we offer outstanding working arrangements, with the majority of your time spent working from home and a 34‑hour working week including 1 pm finishes on Fridays. On top of this, we offer a number of working options such as compressed hours, nine‑day fortnights and part‑time working all within an inclusive and supportive working environment where your wellbeing is prioritised.
The Role
As our Senior Lawyer (Contracts and Commissioning), you will manage a substantial caseload of complex contracts and commissioning work. Ensuring we operate at the forefront of legal excellence and align with Lexcel standards, you will provide high‑level legal advice and services to elected members, senior managers and staff across all three local authorities. You will supervise less senior fee earners and Legal Support Officers, ensuring high‑quality support in legal transactions. Additionally, you will:
- Stay updated on legal developments in contracts and commissioning law/legal practice
- Represent MKLS in internal working groups and external meetings
- Deputise for the Team Leader when required
- Uphold the Council policies
This is an exciting time to join the MKLS Contracts & Commissioning Team with a number of large and high‑profile projects happening across the Partner Authorities. We are now looking for a Senior Lawyer (Contracts and Commissioning) to join us on a full‑time, permanent basis, working 34 hours per week.
About You
- To be a qualified solicitor, barrister, chartered legal executive or have equivalent qualification and experience
- Post qualification legal practice experience in contracts and commissioning
- Experience providing legal advice and support to senior leaders and key decision‑makers in contracts and commissioning law and practice
- Experience advising Members on all aspects of contracts and commissioning law and procedures
- Experience operating in politically sensitive environments
- Knowledge and understanding of the political nature of local government and democratic process
- A full, valid driving licence
Other organisations may call this role Senior Legal Counsel, Lead Lawyer, Legal Services Manager, Solicitor, Barrister, Chartered Legal Executive, or Senior Legal Manager.
Selection Process
Following the submission of your application form, it will be reviewed by the recruiting manager. Those who are successful in securing an interview can expect a face‑to‑face interview. Mid Kent Legal Services and Maidstone, Swale and Tunbridge Wells local authorities are equal opportunities employers, value diversity and are strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business and we believe that the more inclusive our environments are, the better our work will be.
If you would like to discuss this position, please contact Timothy Pyant, Interim Business Manager on 01622 602155.
Senior Lawyer - Contracts and Commissioning in Sittingbourne employer: Swale Borough Council
Contact Detail:
Swale Borough Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Lawyer - Contracts and Commissioning in Sittingbourne
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the legal field, especially those who work in local government or have experience with contracts and commissioning. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on recent developments in contracts and commissioning law. Show us you’re not just a lawyer but a forward-thinking one who stays ahead of the game. We love candidates who are passionate about their field!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions, especially those related to managing complex caseloads and providing high-level legal advice. We want to see how you handle pressure and your approach to problem-solving.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining our innovative team at Mid Kent Legal Services.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Lawyer - Contracts and Commissioning in Sittingbourne
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight your experience in contracts and commissioning law. We want to see how your skills align with the specific needs of MKLS, so don’t hold back on showcasing relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Legal Expertise: When writing your application, emphasise your post-qualification experience and any high-level legal advice you've provided. We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running, so let us know how you’ve navigated complex legal landscapes before.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and make sure your key points stand out. This will help us quickly see why you’re a great fit for the role!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure it gets to the right people. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our fantastic benefits there.
How to prepare for a job interview at Swale Borough Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on contracts and commissioning law before the interview. Familiarise yourself with recent legal developments and be ready to discuss how they might impact the work at Mid Kent Legal Services.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past roles where you've provided high-level legal advice or managed complex cases. Highlight your experience in politically sensitive environments, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Understand the Organisation
Research Mid Kent Legal Services and its partner authorities. Understand their current projects and challenges, and think about how your skills can contribute to their goals. This shows genuine interest and initiative.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare insightful questions to ask during the interview. Inquire about the team dynamics, ongoing projects, or how they measure success in the role. This not only demonstrates your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the position is right for you.
