Contracts Lawyer

Preston City Council; Preston; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in the UK is seeking an experienced Contract Lawyer to join their busy Legal Services Department. The role requires a recognised legal qualification and involves assisting various in-house departments with contract management, maintaining a caseload, and providing legal advice. The successful candidate will excel in team collaboration, communication, and have a strong understanding of local authority operations. Benefits include flexi time, hybrid working, and a generous leave policy.

Benefits

Flexi time

Hybrid working

Minimum 30 days’ annual leave

Access to Employee Assistance Programme

Local Government Pension Scheme

Discounted parking

Cycle to work scheme

Healthcare insurance scheme

Qualifications

• Experience with grant funding agreements is essential.
• Private sector experience with local authority understanding.
• Strong ability to influence and provide legal advice.

Responsibilities

• Assist various in-house departments with contract management.
• Maintain a full caseload of contract matters.
• Provide general advice on contracts and procurement policy.

Skills

Contract management

Legal drafting

Strong communication

Team collaboration

Education

Recognised legal qualification (Solicitor, Barrister, or ILEX)

Job description

Resources Directorate. We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Contract Lawyer to join our busy Legal Services Department, which is LEXCEL accredited.

You will need a recognised legal qualification (e.g. a fully Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or ILEX qualified Legal Executive or someone who can demonstrate a level of experience and skill fitting them for the post) and be highly competent at dealing with a wide and varied range of contract and grant funding requirements.

Your duties will involve :

• Working alongside the Procurement Manager to assist a variety of in‑house client departments with their contracts for goods, services and in relation to major projects
• Maintaining a full caseload of contracts matters
• Knowledge of frameworks, call‑off contracts, bespoke drafting and concession contracts
• Grant funding agreements
• Providing general advice on contractual matters
• Assisting with policy and procedures related to contracts and procurement

Candidates with private sector experience must have a solid understanding of how local authorities operate and demonstrate their ability to transfer knowledge and skills to successfully deliver a service within a local government context.

You will be a strong team player, able to play an effective influencing role in project teams, with enthusiasm for delivering projects. The successful candidate will have excellent communication, drafting skills and the ability to provide legal advice to a variety of audiences including senior officers.

As an employer we like to thank our employees for their hard work and commitment by giving them the opportunity to access a range of employee benefits including flexi time, hybrid working, a minimum of 30 days’ annual leave (plus Bank Holidays), family friendly policies, access to an Employee Assistance Programme, Local Government Pension Scheme, AVC’s, life assurance scheme, payment of professional fees, discounted parking, bus and rail fares, a cycle to work scheme and access to a healthcare insurance scheme.

If you would like to find out more about this post, please contact Susie Hedges on 01772 906515

International Sponsorship – this role is not open to international sponsorship.