Lawyer

East Cambridgeshire District Council; East Cambridgeshire; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Childcare scheme

Training and development

Occupational health programme

Holiday and sickness scheme ent ent

Job summary

East Cambridgeshire District Council is seeking a motivated legal professional to join its Legal Services team in a career progression role. You will handle a broad local government caseload, including conveyancing, planning obligations, civil and criminal litigation, and contracts.

You will report to the Director Legal and contribute to high-quality legal support for officers, members and committees while progressing through increasing responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Education to A-level standard or equivalent and CILEx membership.
• Strong drafting, research and communication skills.
• Experience in local government law preferred.

Responsibilities

• Draft legal documents, correspondence, advice and reports accurately and professionally.
• Handle conveyancing matters, including leases and documentation relating to the acquisition and disposal of property interests.
• Negotiate and draft planning obligations under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
• Prepare pleadings for civil and criminal litigation and represent the Director Legal in related proceedings, as appropriate.
• Draft and complete contracts and associated documentation.
• Attend meetings to provide legal advice and undertake resulting actions.
• Support training, service improvement and quality standards, including relevant accreditation requirements.

Skills

Local government law

Legal drafting

Analytical thinking

Communication

Time management

Education

CILEx Associate/Graduate

A-level or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Permanent, full time, with flexible working arrangements considered subject to service needs

Are you building your legal career and ready to take on broader responsibility?

East Cambridgeshire District Council is looking for a motivated legal professional to join its Legal Services team in a career progression role, with the opportunity to develop experience across a varied local government caseload.

Reporting to the Director Legal, you will provide timely, accurate and practical legal support to officers, members, committees and the Corporate Management Team. Your work will cover a broad range of local government matters, including conveyancing and leases, planning obligations, civil and criminal litigation, and contracts.

What you will do

• Draft legal documents, correspondence, advice and reports accurately and professionally
• Handle conveyancing matters, including leases and documentation relating to the acquisition and disposal of property interests
• Negotiate and draft planning obligations under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990
• Prepare pleadings for civil and criminal litigation and represent the Director Legal in related proceedings, as appropriate
• Draft and complete contracts and associated documentation
• Attend meetings to provide legal advice and undertake resulting actions
• Support training, service improvement and quality standards, including relevant accreditation requirements

About you

You will be educated to A-level standard or equivalent and hold an Associate or Graduate membership of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives, or another relevant legal qualification. You will bring sound legal knowledge, strong drafting skills and the ability to communicate clearly with a wide range of audiences.

• Knowledge of local government law and experience in one or more relevant practice areas.
• Strong research, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to organise and prioritise your own workload in a changing environment.
• Accuracy, attention to detail and confidence working to deadlines.
• A customer-focused, collaborative approach and a positive, self-motivated attitude.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and willingness to learn the Council’s systems.

Develop your legal career

This role is designed to support career development. You will build your expertise through varied casework, appropriate training and increasing responsibility, while working closely with the Director Legal and colleagues across the Council. Progression will be linked to the development and consistent demonstration of the required knowledge, skills and competence.

In return, the council offers a range of benefits including:

• childcare scheme (in approved cases)
• training and development
• occupational health programme
• holiday and sickness scheme entitlements

If you are looking to work for an organisation that prioritises environmental sustainability, the Council has made a clear commitment to operate in a responsible and sustainable manner and has recently been awarded the silver accreditation of the Investors in the Environment scheme as well as coming 43rd (out of 164) on the latest national council climate scorecard.

Adverts for posts that don’t require a DBS check or a Basic DBS check

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended 2023) and therefore applicants are required to declare all unspent cautions and/or convictions. You can find more details about our policies for ex-offenders in the Recruitment Policy available on the on the website.

How to apply

Closing date for completed applications is:Monday 2 November 2026

The selection process will be held on:Thursday 12 and Friday 13 November 2026

Please note that only candidates selected for interview will be contacted by the HR Department with the confirmation of an interview. If you have not been contacted by that date, please assume your application has not been successful on this occasion.

The council is an equal opportunities employer and operates a no smoking policy.