Senior Lawyer - Contracts and Commissioning

Swale Borough Council; England; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government legal service is seeking a Senior Lawyer specializing in Contracts and Commissioning to provide high-level legal advice and manage complex contracts. The role offers hybrid working, exceptional benefits, and opportunities for professional growth. Candidates must be qualified solicitors or equivalents, with experience in politically sensitive environments. Join a supportive team with a focus on legal excellence and community impact.

Benefits

Salary of £48,657 - £54,727 per annum

Local Government pension scheme

Generous annual leave

Wellbeing support

Discounts on leisure and retail

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Must be a qualified solicitor, barrister, or chartered legal executive.
• Experience advising on contracts and commissioning law.
• Full, valid UK driving licence required.

Responsibilities

• Manage a substantial caseload of complex contracts.
• Provide high-level legal advice to local authority members.
• Supervise less senior fee earners and support staff.

Skills

Qualified solicitor or equivalent

Post-qualification legal practice experience in contracts

Providing legal advice to senior leaders

Experience in politically sensitive environments

Knowledge of local government processes

Education

Equivalent qualification in law

Job description

Senior Lawyer - Contracts and Commissioning

Mid Kent Legal Services – This is a full-time, hybrid role

About Us

Mid Kent Legal Services (MKLS) provides legal services and advice across the Mid-Kent area (to Swale, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells councils). The service covers a range of areas including Property and Regeneration, Planning, Contentious, Contracts & Commissioning and Corporate Governance. Working across multiple councils means a range of high-level, challenging and impactful work ranging from supporting the delivery of garden communities, to the redevelopment of large shopping centres, to letting very large contracts, to delivering affordable housing. In short, it’s a real opportunity to make a difference in an area with vibrant towns, beautiful villages and countryside and fantastic leisure and cultural amenities.

MKLS has a reputation as being forward thinking, progressive and innovative and is closely and strongly aligned with its partner authorities. It provides a supportive and nurturing environment, providing opportunities for staff to progress internally and uses technology to maximise the effective use of lawyers\' time. In short, it is a great place to work.

We are now looking for a Senior Lawyer (Contracts and Commissioning) to join us on a full-time, permanent basis, working 34 hours per week.

The Benefits

• Salary of £48,657 - £54,727 per annum + £7,000 market supplement
• Local Government pension scheme
• Generous annual leave plus time off between Christmas and New Year (and an option to purchase extra leave)
• Wellbeing support including confidential advice, counselling and flu vaccines
• Discounts on leisure, retail and fuel and salary sacrifice schemes, including Cycle to Work and car leasing
• Generous sick pay
• Free parking across the 3 Partner Authority sites
• Season ticket loans for rail/bus travel
• Career development

This is the ideal opportunity for an experienced contracts and commissioning lawyer with a track record of providing high-level legal advice to join our forward-thinking shared service.

With exceptional benefits, a brilliant pension scheme and opportunities for professional growth, you’ll discover real flexibility, potential and rewards within the public sector.

What’s more, we offer outstanding working arrangements, with the majority of your time spent working from home and a 34-hour working week, including 1pm finishes on Fridays. On top of this, we offer a number of working options such as compressed hours, nine-day fortnights and part-time working, all within an inclusive and supportive working environment where your wellbeing is prioritised.

The Role

As our Senior Lawyer (Contracts and Commissioning), you will manage a substantial caseload of complex contracts and commissioning work.

Ensuring we operate at the forefront of legal excellence and align with Lexcel standards, you will provide high-level legal advice and services to elected Members, senior managers and staff across all three local authorities.

You will supervise less senior fee earners and Legal Support Officers, ensuring high-quality support in legal transactions.

Additionally, you will:

• Stay updated on legal developments in contracts and commissioning law/legal practice
• Represent MKLS in internal working groups and external meetings
• Deputise for the Team Leader when required
• Uphold the council’s policies

This is an exciting time to join the MKLS Contracts & Commissioning Team with a number of large and high-profile projects happening across the Partner Authorities.

About You

To be considered as our Senior Lawyer (Contracts and Commissioning), you will need:

• To be a qualified solicitor, barrister, chartered legal executive or have an equivalent qualification and experience
• Post-qualification legal practice experience in contracts and commissioning
• Experience providing legal advice and support to senior leaders and key decision-makers in contracts and commissioning law and practice
• Experience advising Members on all aspects of contracts and commissioning law and procedures
• Experience operating in politically sensitive environments
• Knowledge and understanding of the political nature of local government and the democratic process
• A full, valid UK driving licence

Other organisations may call this role Senior Legal Counsel, Lead Lawyer, Legal Services Manager, Solicitor, Barrister, Chartered Legal Executive, or Senior Legal Manager.

If you would like to discuss this position, please contact Timothy Pyant, Interim Business Manager on 01622 602155.

Closing Date: 19th October 2025

Interview Date: W/C 3rd November 2025

Webrecruit, Mid Kent Legal Services and Maidstone, Swale and Tunbridge Wells local authorities are equal opportunities employers, value diversity and are strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business and we believe that the more inclusive our environments are, the better our work will be.

So, if you’re looking for a great new opportunity as a Senior Lawyer (Contracts and Commissioning), please apply via the button shown.