Assistant Lawyer

National Highways; West of England; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

National Highways is seeking an Assistant Lawyer to join the Legal Services team. Reporting to the Team Leader, you will provide pragmatic legal advice across contracts, procurement, planning, highways and regulatory matters to support the organisation's objectives.

Based in Guildford, Birmingham or Bristol, you will work with Lawyers and stakeholders to manage risk, attend project boards, and draft reports for senior management while ensuring compliance and effective external counsel management.

Qualifications

• Qualified Lawyer or Chartered Legal Executive with CILEX admission and relevant practice experience.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills; ability to influence decisions.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Provide clear practical legal advice on routine matters and support colleagues on complex issues as needed.
• Advise on reputational risk and align with business objectives to deliver effective legal service.
• Act as an independent legal expert for National Highways and support Lawyers and Senior Lawyers on complex matters.
• Attend project boards and provide legal input to influence decisions and secure stakeholder buy-in.
• Contribute to drafting reports and briefings for senior management to support business needs.
• Ensure compliance with legislation, regulations and internal policies while managing external providers.

Job description

About the job

We are looking for an Assistant Lawyer to join our Legal Services team. Reporting to the Team Leader within the General Counsel - Legal function, you will provide pragmatic and effective legal advice across a broad range of disciplines, supporting National Highways in achieving its strategic objectives whilst managing legal risk.

We will work closely with Lawyers, Senior Lawyers and stakeholders across the organisation, providing expert legal guidance and contributing to the successful delivery of key business activities.

This is a diverse role and provides an excellent opportunity to apply your legal knowledge and skills to legal matters including managing the statutory instrument making process; advising on traffic regulation, management and signage; advising our Network Claims and Dart Charge teams and our Traffic Officer Service on duties and powers; Highways Act 1980 responsibilities and offences including unauthorised incursions, encroachments and obstructions on the network; litter responsibilities; automated vehicles and abnormal loads; advising the business on counter fraud and anti-money laundering; supporting National Highways staff in giving evidence in court proceedings; advising on resilience and business continuity, including crisis management.

Please note this position can be based in our Guildford, Birmingham or Bristol offices however travel to other offices to attend team meetings may be required.

• Provide clear, practical legal advice on routine legal matters, acting as a trusted legal advisor and supporting colleagues on more complex issues where required.
• Advise on reputational risk, ensuring that the horizon is scanned, managing competing priorities and stakeholder expectations to ensure the delivery of an effective legal service.
• Act independently as a legal expert for National Highways, resolving any queries, providing clear, concise advice and direction for those in need in relation to routine legal work within their areas of competency and supporting Lawyers and Senior Lawyers in relation to more complex legal matters.
• Attend project boards and provide legal advice to influence decision-making and secure stakeholder buy-in on legal matters.
• Contribute to the preparation and drafting of reports and briefings for senior management to support the business function.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, regulations and internal policies whilst managing external legal providers and holding stakeholders accountable for legal obligations.

About you

• Qualified Lawyer or Chartered Legal Executive/Fellow of CILEX Admitted and qualified hours and competencies with experience gained within legal practice.
• Experience of advising on one or more of the following areas: contracts and procurement, commercial or civil litigation, planning, highways, employment, property or regulatory law.
• Understanding of Public Law and its practical application within a complex organisation.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships, influence decision-making, and work effectively with colleagues and stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives.
• Ability to work under pressure whilst managing competing priorities and delivering high-quality legal advice.

About us.

Here at National Highways, we manage and improve England's motorways and major A roads, helping our customers have safer, smoother and more reliable journeys. Our priorities are safety, customers and delivery, and at the core of this, are our values of passion, integrity, safety, teamwork and ownership.

Legal Services encompasses both the National Highways legal team and the company secretariat. Our aim is to provide the organisation with an effective legal service and support the Board, Chief Executive, and its committees on a wide range of issues. We offer strategic legal advice on commercial, planning, operational, highways, employment, regulatory, and property matters, ensuring legal compliance and minimising exposure to risk.

External candidates will be offered a starting salary at the lower end of the pay scale, while current employees will be appointed in accordance with our established pay policy.

We are committed to creating a diverse environment and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.