Lawyer - Civil Litigation

Peterborough City Council; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Cycle to Work

Home & Electronics schemes

Car lease scheme

Bank holidays flexibly

Additional annual leave (up to 10 days

Pension contributions (AVCs)

Development opportunities (apprentices

Paid volunteering hours

Equality, diversity & inclusion group

Job summary

Peterborough City Council is seeking a Senior Civil Litigation Lawyer with extensive public sector experience. You will advise on housing, debt recovery, judicial reviews and business rate disputes, and conduct advocacy in the County Court with occasional Magistrates Court hearings on SJP matters.

You will also provide governance advice to officers and collaborate across departments. As part of the Council's Litigation team, you will support internal client departments and work with a

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in Civil Litigation, preferably within the public sector.
• Experience advising on governance matters and providing strategic legal support.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on housing, debt recovery, judicial reviews and business rate disputes.
• Conduct advocacy in the County Court and occasionally cover hearings in the Magistrates Court on SJP matters.
• Support internal departments across the Council in civil litigation matters.

Job description

We are looking for a Senior Civil Litigation Lawyer with extensive experience in all aspects of Civil Litigation within the public sector. In this role, you'll provide valuable legal advice and support on various litigious and potentially litigious matters, including housing, debt recovery, judicial reviews, and business rate disputes. Your expertise in advising officers on governance matters will also be highly valued. As part of your role, you will also conduct advocacy on behalf of the Council in the County Court and provide support and resilience for colleagues by occasionally covering hearings in the Magistrates Court on SJP matters. Our Litigation team comprises a Principal Lawyer, a Criminal Litigation Senior Lawyer, a Civil Litigation Senior Lawyer, a Senior Employment Lawyer, two Assistant Lawyers, and two legal officers. This role is diverse and varied, allowing you to work efficiently and proactively, providing advice and support to internal client departments across the Council

All About Our Team

The Legal Department at Peterborough City Council is a robust team of around 50 officers, divided into four sections: Planning & Property, Commercial, Contracts & Procurement, Child Protection, and Litigation (which also includes Adult Social Care and Employment). Our team comprises lawyers, legal officers, and our newly appointed Head of Legal, supported by administrative staff to ensure efficient service delivery. We not only serve our internal PCC client departments with a range of support across various service areas but also provide external legal support to other Local Authorities.

All About Our Benefits

We value our colleagues and have developed a number of benefits in addition to our generous annual leave starting at 25 days + bank holidays, sick pay and local government pension scheme…

• Access to a range of benefits via our Employee Benefits Platform, including in-store and online discounts as well as our Cycle to Work and Home & Electronics schemes
• Buy up to 10 days additional annual leave (pro-rata)
• Access to car lease scheme
• Take your bank holidays flexibly to better suit your personal circumstances
• Make Additional Voluntary Contributions (Shared Cost AVCs) to your pension with tax and National Insurance savings
• Access to development opportunities including apprenticeships to support your personal and professional growth
• Paid volunteering hours each year so you can make a positive impact on our community during your normal working day
• Access to our equality, diversity and inclusion network
• Opportunities to receive Employee Recognition Awards

All About Our Commitments

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to fostering diversity, advancing equity, and building an inclusive workplace for everyone. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and particularly encourage those from underrepresented groups, including disabled people, care leavers, and individuals from minority ethnic communities. Your unique perspectives and experiences are encouraged and valued and will play a vital role in our success.