Principal Construction & Projects Lawyer | Preston

Lancashire County Council; Lancashire; Hybrid; GBP 57,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

26 days annual leave

Vivup staff discount scheme

Job summary

Lancashire County Council is seeking a Principal Construction & Projects Lawyer to lead expert legal advice on major construction, highways and infrastructure projects from inception through delivery. The role sits in the Legal Services team and offers strategic impact within a large local authority.

The successful candidate will draft and negotiate NEC/JCT contracts, provide commercial and governance support, and mentor junior lawyers, helping shape high-stakes projects for the county and its

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive with significant construction law experience.
• Extensive experience advising on construction and major projects matters.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills; pragmatic, solutions-focused.

Responsibilities

• Advising on major construction, highways and infrastructure projects.
• Drafting and negotiating NEC and JCT contracts and bespoke agreements.
• Providing commercial and strategic legal advice on high-value, high-profile projects.
• Supporting complex procurement exercises and subsidy control matters.
• Advising senior officers on public law, governance and decision-making.
• Providing technical leadership and mentoring colleagues.

Skills

Construction law

Project experience

Contract negotiation

Stakeholder management

Public sector experience

Education

Solicitor/Barrister/Chartered Legal Executive qualification

Tools

NEC contracts

JCT contracts

Job description

Job Description

Salary £57,447 to £62,132 per annum | Permanent, Full Time 37 hours per week | Preston/Hybrid

Please note that we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role

We're seeking a talented legal professional to join our Legal Services team as a Principal Construction & Projects Lawyer. This is a unique opportunity to play a leading role in delivering major infrastructure, highways, property and regeneration projects while providing strategic legal advice at the heart of one of the country's largest local authorities.

The Role

As one of the Council's senior legal specialists, you'll provide expert legal advice across a wide range of construction, projects and procurement matters. You'll work closely with senior leaders, project teams and service areas, helping to shape major projects from inception through to delivery while ensuring robust and legally compliant decision-making.

You'll be involved in:

• Advising on major construction, highways and infrastructure projects.


• Drafting and negotiating complex construction contracts, including NEC and JCT contracts and bespoke agreements.


• Providing commercial and strategic legal advice on high-value, high-profile projects.


• Supporting complex procurement exercises, subsidy control matters and commercial risk management.


• Advising senior officers on public law, governance and decision-making.


• Providing technical leadership, mentoring colleagues and helping to develop our specialist legal services.

This is a role where you'll have genuine influence, helping deliver projects that leave a lasting legacy for Lancashire's residents and communities.

About You

We're looking for a qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive with significant experience in construction law and projects work.

You'll bring:

• Extensive experience advising on construction and major projects matters.


• Strong expertise in drafting and negotiating construction contracts, including NEC and JCT forms.


• Experience of advising on complex, high-value and strategically important projects.


• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.


• The ability to provide pragmatic, solutions-focused legal advice.


• A collaborative approach and enthusiasm for supporting and developing colleagues.

Experience working within local government or the wider public sector would be advantageous, along with knowledge of governance and public law principles.

Closing Date:

11/10/2026

Why join us?

By joining Lancashire County Council, you can shape the career path that is right for you, with opportunities to gain personal and professional qualifications, coaching, and mentoring. Lancashire County Council truly is the place where you can have the career you've always wanted.

In return for your passion and expertise, we offer a generous benefits package, which includes:

• A competitive salary and Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions.


• A great holiday entitlement of 26 days annual leave, which increases with length of service. You will also be entitled to 8 Bank Holidays, 2 additional statutory Bank Holidays, and have the option to buy additional leave each year.


• Our staff discount scheme in partnership with Vivup, allowing you to access discounts with a range of UK retailers, saving on everything from weekly food shops to white goods and cars.


• Access to fantastic development and career opportunities.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications.

Local Government Reorganisation

The Government has confirmed that local government across Lancashire will be reorganised, with the current 15 councils being replaced by four new unitary councils covering North, South, East and West Lancashire from April 2028.

If you are successful in your application, you will initially join Lancashire County Council. However, as part of the planned transition, your employment will transfer to one of the new unitary councils from April 2028, subject to the implementation of the reorganisation and relevant employment legislation.

Throughout this period, our focus remains on delivering excellent services to our communities. By joining us now, you'll play an important role in shaping the future of local government and helping to build a strong new organisation that will serve residents for years to come.