Group Lawyer – Place in Wigan

Priority Candidates will be considered in the first instance.

Wigan Town Hall, Library Street, Wigan, WN1 1YN

37 hours per week

We are on a journey to build a workforce reflective of our Borough. We are committed to fostering diverse teams where everybody can bring their authentic selves to work and feel that they belong. If you want to work for a Council where everybody is encouraged to meet their full potential and make a difference in our neighbourhoods, we would love to hear from you!

Your role:

• We are especially interested in hearing from candidates with experience in two or more areas of Contracts and Procurement Law, Company Law, Commercial Law and Major Projects and Regeneration Law.
• You will deputise for the Strategic Lawyer - Place and other Group Lawyers, as and when required.
• You will have overall operational responsibility for the following areas of law:

• Contracts and Procurement
• Major Projects and Regeneration
• Local Land Charges

About you:

• You will be an admitted Solicitor entitled to a current practising certificate (the qualification of Barrister or Legal Executive is an acceptable alternative) and you will have extensive post qualification experience in Contracts and Procurement and Major Projects and Regeneration.
• You will be an enthusiastic, highly motivated and professional individual who has experience of providing complex and significant legal advice to assist and guide clients when making decisions.
• You will need to have experience of handling a personal caseload of complex and significant cases, assisting on Corporate and GMCA Regional initiatives within your area of responsibility.
• You will need to engage, inspire and care to achieve service developments, transformation and a culture of continuous improvement.
• You will need to have experience of work allocation, management of caseloads across a team ensuring that performance, efficiency and client care targets are delivered.

About us:

• Wigan Council has been voted ‘Overall Council of the Year’ at the APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) Awards.
• We are signed up to the Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment ensuring that your service will be continuous or 'unbroken' between the supporting organisations.
• The Progress with Unity plan is a place movement for change for the next decade, bringing a new era for Wigan Borough.
• Our Legal team provides high quality legal advice to Senior Leaders, Elected Members, Council Officers, partner organisations and other key stakeholders across the public and private sector on a range of legal matters.
• We aim to offer services which are good value for money, innovative in their approach and delivery, risk aware not risk averse and open to doing things differently.
• We adopt a collaborative approach with all our clients ensuring we are embedded in all their processes and decision making.
• We are committed to the continuous professional development of our staff which includes the payment of professional fees, a wide range of training opportunities and potential for management development.
• Our commitment to continuous professional development has seen us shortlisted for the Lawyers in Local Government Excellence in training award 2024.
• Here at Wigan, we are proud to support flexible working patterns, when the service can accommodate this.
• We also take a blended approach to where we work, depending on the work we do. This may include working from home, the office, or the community.
• We like to thank our employees for their hard work and commitment by giving them the opportunity to access a range of exclusive rewards and benefits.

To be appointed to this role you must be able to prove your right to work in the UK.

For an informal discussion please contact Andrew McGuire, Service Lead Strategic Lawyer, Place at a.mcguire@wigan.gov.uk

Interview date: Week Commencing 23rd February 2026

This is a politically restricted role.