Senior Lawyer (Contracts)

The Guildhall Northampton; Northampton; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

West Northants Council is seeking a Senior Lawyer (Contracts) to join its Legal Services team and provide expert advice on contract and commercial matters for major projects across the Council.

You will draft, review and negotiate contracts and related procurement documentation, alongside advising on public law and subsidy control, while supporting reports to Cabinet and Committees and contributing to policy development. Local government experience is welcome but not essential.

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor with experience in contract and commercial law.
• Excellent communication and drafting skills.
• Ability to manage complex matters and provide practical, solution-focused advice.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review and negotiate contracts, agreements and procurement-related documentation.
• Advise on public law, subsidy control and commercial issues arising from major projects.
• Support Cabinet and Committee reports and contribute to policy development and training across the organisation.

Skills

Contract law

Commercial law

Drafting

Communication

Stakeholder management

Education

Solicitor qualification or equivalent

Job description

About The Role

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people and the difference they make. This is an exciting time to join our growing Legal Services team as a Senior Lawyer (Contracts), where you’ll play a key role in supporting major projects and providing expert legal advice that helps shape the delivery of services across the Council.

As part of our Law and Governance service, you’ll work alongside colleagues across the organisation, including procurement and commissioning teams, advising on a broad range of contractual and commercial matters. You’ll be joining one of England’s newest and largest unitary councils, with the opportunity to contribute to a modern, ambitious and forward-thinking legal service where your expertise can make a real impact.

Whether you are looking to develop your local government experience, move from private practice or continue building your career in the public sector, this is a fantastic opportunity to work on varied, complex and high-profile matters within a supportive and collaborative environment.

What will you be doing?

You’ll manage a varied caseload of contractual and commercial matters, providing high-quality legal advice and support to Members, officers and services across the Council. Your work will include drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts, agreements, funding arrangements and procurement-related documentation, as well as advising on public law, subsidy control and commercial issues arising from major projects.

Working closely with procurement and service teams, you’ll help deliver strategic projects that support the Council’s priorities while ensuring legal compliance and managing risk. You’ll also advise on Cabinet and Committee reports, contribute to the development of policies and procedures, and support the delivery of training and guidance across the organisation.

As part of a collaborative team, you’ll share knowledge, support colleagues and contribute to the continuous improvement of our legal services. It’s an exciting time to join our legal team as we continue to develop and strengthen our services. To find out more about working in our Legal teams, please visit: https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/spotlight-our-key-services-careers-and-our-partners/working-our-legal-teams

About You

You’re a qualified Solicitor with experience in contract and commercial law and a passion for delivering excellent legal services. You’re confident managing complex matters, providing practical and solution-focused advice, and building strong relationships with clients and stakeholders.

You bring excellent communication and drafting skills, sound legal judgement and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment. Experience of local government is welcomed but not essential; we are keen to hear from candidates with relevant experience from both public and private sector backgrounds who are looking to make a real difference through their work.

West Northants is a great place to build your career. We are committed to helping our people thrive through mentoring, coaching, training and development opportunities, providing the support you need to succeed in your role and continue progressing your career. Above all, you’ll share our THRIVE values and our commitment to delivering high-quality legal services that support our communities.

Our benefits

You can also see our full list of employee benefits on our careers site here: Why you should work for us | West Northamptonshire Council.

About Us

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

Our vision is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services.

We are committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC and everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and maximize their full potential. We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner

The following film was created by us to communicate our intentions - watch WNC colleagues explain what DEI means to us.

If you need additional support or reasonable adjustments during the application process, including needing the job description in another format or language, please email [e-mail] for support.

Please note we reserve the right to close the advert early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications, so we recommend applying as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.

• Salary £51,224 - £54,605 (plus 11% MFS)


• Salary Frequency Annual


• Working Hours 37


• Job Reference Ref/162341/9026


• Contract Type Full Time


• Closing Date 20 September, 2026


• Job Category Legal Solicitor/Legal Executive


• Location Northampton, United Kingdom


• Job Posted Date 27 July, 2026