Principal Lawyer – Adult Social Care

Local Government South East; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 66,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS pension

On-site day nursery

Season Ticket Loan

Lease car salary sacrifice

Generous holidays

Job summary

Reading Borough Council is seeking a Principal Lawyer – Adult Social Care to lead the Berkshire Joint Legal Team, delivering high-quality legal services across Adult Social Care and related areas. You will advise senior officers, directors and partner organisations on complex, high-risk and politically sensitive matters.

You will manage a varied caseload, drive service improvements, and guide the team with a pragmatic, solutions-focused approach while supporting the Council’s strategic

Qualifications

• Significant post-qualification experience in relevant legal matters.
• Ability to lead or supervise legal professionals and manage priorities.
• Strong analytical, communication and advocacy skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team delivering high-quality Adult Social Care legal services.
• Provide expert advice to senior officers, directors and partner organisations.
• Advise on complex, high-risk, politically sensitive matters and litigation.

Skills

Post-qualification experience

Leadership

Advisory skills

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Qualified Solicitor

Barrister

CILEX Fellow

Job description

Reading Borough Council

Are you an experienced legal professional looking for an opportunity to combine high-level legal work with strategic leadership and meaningful public service?

• Full Time
• Permanent
• Reading
• Posted 3 days ago
• £65,567 to £70,297 Per year £ / Year
• Closes: 8 November 2026

Reading Borough Council is looking for a talented and forward-thinking Principal Lawyer – Adult Social Care to lead the delivery of high-quality legal services, providing expert advice and support on complex and sensitive matters while helping shape services that make a real difference to our residents.

This is an opportunity to bring your legal expertise, sound judgement and leadership skills to a role where your advice will support informed decision-making, effective service delivery and the Council’s wider strategic objectives.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

We support hybrid working, it’s important to us that working arrangements are designed to enable our employees to excel and within this role you’ll have the opportunity to work in a way that suits your lifestyle.

About The Role

As part of the Berkshire Joint Legal Team, you’ll join a specialist shared legal service across Berkshire providing expert legal support across Adult Social Care, Children’s Social Care, Education, and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Working alongside experienced colleagues from a range of disciplines, you’ll benefit from a collaborative environment, opportunities to share knowledge and expertise, and exposure to a diverse range of complex and rewarding work.

As Principal Lawyer, you will lead and manage a team delivering high-quality legal services across Adult Social Care and related areas. You will provide expert advice to senior officers, directors, elected members and partner organisations, supporting decision-making on complex, high-risk and politically sensitive matters.

You will manage a varied caseload and provide leadership on matters including:

• Adult social care duties and responsibilities
• Care Act 2014 matters
• Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
• Court of Protection proceedings
• Safeguarding adults
• Ordinary residence disputes
• Human Rights and Equality Act matters
• Judicial reviews and complex litigation
• Multi-agency partnership working

Alongside your legal expertise, you will play a key role in developing your team, driving continuous improvement, embracing legal technology and supporting the wider strategic objectives of the Council.

About You

You will be a confident and experienced legal professional with significant post-qualification experience and a strong track record of handling complex legal matters. You will bring excellent analytical, communication and advocacy skills, together with the ability to influence and advise stakeholders at all levels.

You will also have experience of leading or supervising legal professionals, managing competing priorities and driving service improvement. You will be comfortable working independently, exercising sound judgement and navigating politically sensitive issues with professionalism and resilience.

We are looking for someone who can combine technical legal expertise with a pragmatic, solutions-focused approach and a genuine commitment to delivering excellent public services.

You will need to be a qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX), holding a current practising certificate and entitled to practise in England, with significant post-qualification experience.

Experience of local government legal services and a strong understanding of the challenges facing public sector organisations will be important.

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Benefits

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

• Work Together as one team – work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
• Drive Efficiency – show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential.
• Be Ambitious – be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way.
• Make a Difference to Reading – maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed.

Our Offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A Competitive Salary Alongside a Range Of Benefits Including

• Generous holiday entitlement – 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays – rising to 30 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years’ service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance – three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan – a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

For more information on this position please contact Jayne La Grua, Director – Legal at [e-mail]

Closing Date: Sunday 8th November 2026

Interview Date: To be confirmed

Interview Setup: In person at the Civic Centre, Bridge Street, Reading, RG1 2LU