Lawyer

We currently have a vacancy for a Projects Lawyer in our in-house Legal, Governance & Compliance Services Team. We are seeking a skilled and proactive Lawyer to join our team, providing strategic legal advice across the full project lifecycle - from early development to the award of contracts. You will act as a senior advisor for the Combined Authority in relation to the in-house Legal Projects function and provide legal support in connection with all aspects of commercial contracts. This includes delivering robust, pragmatic support and advice on contract drafting, negotiation, and dispute resolution.

Our Offer

• Work your way – From flexible and agile working options, including a generous flexi-time scheme to help you balance your personal life and career.
• Time to recharge – Enjoy 28 days of annual leave (with increases based on length of service), plus all Bank Holidays.
• Free greener travel across West Yorkshire – Cover your commute sustainably with unlimited free bus and rail travel using the MCard (Zones 1–5).
• Secure your future – Benefit from a highly competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Investing in you – Take advantage of fully funded professional development, regular training, and up to 3 paid volunteering days per year.
• Grow with us – Incremental salary progression for most roles and annual cost of living increases.
• Family first – We offer enhanced parental and bereavement leave, plus other family-friendly policies to support you when it matters most.
• Your wellbeing, our priority – Access 24/7 free confidential counselling services and the Headspace app for you and up to 5 family or friends.
• Modern workspace in a prime location – Work in bright, contemporary offices just a 2-minute walk from Leeds Train Station, fully equipped with the latest tech.

The Role

Reporting into the Principal Lawyer – Projects; your key responsibilities will include:

• Act as a senior legal advisor, supporting the Principal Lawyer and Service Lead to provide a quality legal service to the Combined Authority in relation to the Legal Projects function.
• Work in partnership with the Combined Authority’s Officers, external stakeholders and partner authorities and in particular provide robust legal advice in the implementation and delivery of major infrastructure, construction, regeneration and transport schemes and in the fields of contract, competition and intellectual property laws and practice.
• Provide legal support required by means of:

• Drafting high value/risk level and complex commercial contract, funding and loan documentation for infrastructure and construction projects, the energy sector, regeneration schemes, public transport projects, employment skills and further education programmes.
• Providing advice and assistance in relation to contract disputes and dispute resolution ensuring the Combined Authority’s position is protected at all times and risks minimised.
• Providing advice on subsidy control and competition law.
• Providing legal advice in relation to all Combined Authority projects and programmes including in the areas of infrastructure projects, construction, public transport schemes, major regeneration and energy projects and regional adult education, skills and training provision.
• Liaising with the other parts of the Legal Projects, Procurement & Commercial Service as appropriate to provide an integrated corporate legal service.

Please review the Role Profile for more information about the responsibilities.

About You

You will have the following key skills, attributes, education and experience:

• Qualified Solicitor or Barrister entitled to hold a practising certificate or full CILEX (Fellowship) qualification with recent post-qualification experience, ideally in a public sector organisation.
• Significant experience of successfully working as a legal advisor at a senior level within one or more areas of the Legal Project Service.
• Practical experience of successfully performing in a similar role.

This post is subject to vetting clearance. Due to the nature of this role, it is a requirement that the successful applicant will be subject to relevant vetting checks at the appropriate level and any job offer will be conditional subject to successful vetting clearance. Applicants should be aware that it is not possible to make meaningful vetting enquiries in many jurisdictions outside the UK. Vetting clearance cannot therefore be granted if the applicant has not been resident in the UK for the relevant minimum period and comparable vetting enquiries cannot be made in jurisdictions where the individual has been residing. The relevant periods are three years for NPPV 1&2 and five years for NPPV3. Further guidance can be found here.

To Apply

If this sounds like your next role, please complete the application form on our website and tell us within the supporting statement why you would be a great fit for our role and how your skills, knowledge and experience align with the requirements within the Role Profile. Please visit our Advice for Candidates webpage and review the guidance on this page for support in completing your application form.

Further Information

The Combined Authority is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better outcomes. We welcome applications irrespective of people's age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, or other personal circumstances. We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability and/or who are neuro divergent. To find out more about inclusivity at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority please visit our dedicated webpage.

Under the Disability Confident Scheme, applicants with a disability are guaranteed an interview, subject to the minimum criteria being met. Please note that whilst it is our policy to recruit at SP1 for all appointments, which is the salary stated above, each role includes career salary progression, with incremental increases applicable in most cases on an annual basis.