Principal Employment Lawyer (Technical)

NW Legal Consortium; Preston; Hybrid; GBP 56,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave

Flexible working

Health and wellbeing support

Family-friendly policies

Financial and travel benefits

Training and development opportunities

Job summary

Lancashire County Council is seeking a Principal Employment Lawyer in Preston to provide expert Employment Law advice and representation for the Council. You will act as a senior legal adviser, shaping decisions and supporting strategic workforce projects.

Requirements include an honours degree and admitted Solicitor or Barrister status (England and Wales) with a current practising certificate; prior Local Authority experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• Honours degree in a relevant discipline; admitted Solicitor or Barrister (England & Wales) with current practising certificate.
• Extensive experience in Employment Law across Local Authorities or public sector.
• Experience advising on Employment Tribunal matters and dispute resolution.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert Employment Law advice and representation for the Council.
• Advise, influence and shape decisions at senior levels to support strategic priorities.
• Work with trade unions, ACAS and external advisers to ensure robust governance.
• Support transformation projects and workforce initiatives within the service area.
• Ensure lawful and robust decision-making across the Council.

Skills

Employment Law

Local Authority advice

Tribunal & Disputes

Education

Honours degree

Job description

Job Identification: 20923
Job Category: Legal & Governance
Posting Date: 09/10/2026, 04:11 PM
Apply Before: 10/01/2026, 11:55 PM
Job Schedule: Full time
Locations: County Hall, Preston, PR1 8RE, GB
(Hybrid)

Job Description

Salary £55,612 to £60,147 Per annum | Fixed-Term 12 month contract, Full Time, 37 hours per week | Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom

We’re looking for a specialist Employment Lawyer with a drive and passion to deliver an effective and very specialist service to our stakeholders.

The role will be on a fixed-term basis for a period of 12-months.

About The Role

As Principal Employment Lawyer your role will be to act as of the council’s senior legal professionals providing expert legal advice and representation on Employment Law matters.

You’ll be heavily involved and integrated within your service area, advising, influencing, shaping and challenging at senior levels to support the delivery of strategic priorities, workforce projects and statutory functions.

You’ll work alongside specialist Legal colleagues to support corporate priorities, transformation projects, workforce initiatives, service development and effective risk management, ensuring lawful and robust decision-making throughout the Council.

About You

You’ll be an ambitious & experienced Employment Legal professional looking to take the next step in your career alongside possessing the drive and passion to create a better environment for the people within our region.

You’ll ideally have an honours degree in a relevant discipline alongside admitted Solicitor or Barrister status (England and Wales) with a current practicing certificate

You’ll have an excellent understanding and experience of operating within the legal frameworks and requirements of Local Authority governance

You’ll have extensive previous post-qualification professional experience within Employment Law

Excellent previous experience of advising Local Authorities or Public Sector organisations on Employment law matters

Previous experience of Employment Tribunal and Dispute resolution

Demonstrative experience of working with Trade Unions, ACAS and other external legal advisers

You’ll possess the drive to be on the front line providing Legal advice ad guidance

You’ll be an excellent communicator able and comfortable communicating with a range of stakeholders at all levels

About Us

At Lancashire County Council, we’re committed to delivering services that make a real difference to the people and communities we serve. Our Information Governance Team is at the heart of that mission, helping ensure transparency, accountability and the responsible use of information.

When you join us, you’ll become part of a supportive and knowledgeable team where your expertise is valued, your development is encouraged and your contribution has a direct impact across the organisation.

In return, we offer:

• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Flexible working opportunities
• Health and wellbeing support
• Family-friendly policies
• Financial and travel benefits
• Training and development opportunities

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.