Senior Lawyer (Litigation)

Manchester City Council

Manchester

Hybrid

GBP 60,000 - 95,000

Full time

4 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

LGPS membership

Generous annual leave

Professional development

Health and wellbeing support

Employee discounts

Job summary

Manchester City Council is seeking a Senior Lawyer to manage a diverse caseload across property and civil litigation, with a focus on debt recovery and public sector matters. You will provide strategic legal advice, supervise junior staff, and collaborate with cross‑department teams to protect public assets and funds.

You will join a high‑performing Legal Services team, offering hybrid working, professional development, and opportunities to influence city‑wide legal strategy.

Qualifications

Qualified solicitor, barrister or CILEx with litigation rights and practising certificate.
Significant experience in civil and property litigation.
Experience of debt recovery and enforcement proceedings.

Responsibilities

Advising on all aspects of property litigation, including trespass, nuisance, rights of way and boundary disputes.
Leading on the recovery of Adult Social Care debt and insolvency matters.
Conducting and managing litigation in the County Court, High Court and tribunals.
Instructing counsel and managing external legal support as required.
Supporting strategic decision‑making and mentoring junior lawyers and trainees.
Deputising for the Principal Lawyer and contributing to service improvements.

Skills

Civil litigation

Property litigation

Debt recovery

Advocacy

Education

Qualified solicitor

Job description

Working hours:

35 hours per week, full time

Contract type:

Permanent

Working style:

Hybrid - Employees split their time between working remotely (e.g., from home) and working on-site (e.g., in an office).

Closing date:

11.59pm, 30 September 2026

Interview method:

in person

Interview date:

14 / 15 October 2026

Applicants must have existing right to work in the UK, as visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

This Role Is Subject To

Legal right to Work: In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement ofemployment.
2 References - where possible we require 3 years' history.
Qualification - Solicitor, CILEx Lawyer (Civil Litigator & Advocate) or barrister with litigation rights

Put Your Legal Experience To Work For Manchester

This is a rare opportunity to join one of the largest and most respected local authority legal teams in the country. You'll work alongside talented and supportive colleagues on a diverse portfolio of property litigation, debt recovery and public sector litigation matters that genuinely make a difference to the city.

We welcome applications from both existing Senior Lawyers seeking a new challenge and experienced litigators who are ready to step into a senior role. If you have the technical expertise, commercial awareness and ambition to take the next step, we can offer high-quality work, genuine responsibility, excellent support and the opportunity to build a rewarding long-term career with Manchester City Council.

You will work closely with colleagues across Legal Services, Adult Social Care, Corporate, Housing and Finance, providing strategic legal advice and representation on matters that directly impact the Council's ability to protect public assets, recover public funds and deliver services effectively.

This is a high performing team working on high profile and exciting work.

About The Role

As a Senior Lawyer, you will manage a complex and diverse caseload and provide expert legal advice across a range of litigation matters. Key responsibilities will include:

Advising on all aspects of property litigation, including, trespass, nuisance, rights of way, boundary disputes and land-related enforcement matters.
Leading on the recovery of Adult Social Care debt and insolvency matters.
Conducting and managing litigation in the County Court, High Court and tribunals.
Providing proactive and commercially focused legal advice to internal clients and senior officers.
Preparing legal documentation, pleadings, witness statements and settlement agreements.
Instructing counsel and managing external legal support where required.
Supporting strategic decision‑making by identifying and managing legal risk.
Managing, supervising and mentoring junior lawyers, legal officers and trainees.
Deputise for the Principal Lawyer
Contributing to service improvements and the ongoing development of Legal Services.

Why Manchester?

Our Legal Services team is highly regarded for the quality of its advice, innovation and commitment to delivering excellent outcomes. We support one of the UK's most dynamic and diverse cities and work across a broad range of complex and high‑profile matters.

In Return We Offer

Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme.
Generous annual leave entitlement.
Ongoing professional development and career progression opportunities.
Health and wellbeing support.
Employee benefits and discounts.
A supportive, inclusive and collaborative working environment.

More than a job, this is Manchester

Join us and use your legal expertise to make a real difference to the city, its communities and the residents we serve.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Alison Ellor on alison.ellor@manchester.gov.uk or Shaidah Ramzan on Shaidah.ramzan@manchester.gov.uk

You will be a qualified solicitor, barrister or Chartered Legal Executive holding litigation rights and a current practising certificate and will have significant experience of litigation practice.

You Will Be Able To Demonstrate

Substantial experience in civil litigation.
Strong expertise in property litigation and landlord and tenant matters.
Experience of debt recovery and enforcement proceedings.
Excellent advocacy, negotiation and case management skills.
The ability to provide clear, practical and solution-focused legal advice.
Strong drafting, analytical and communication skills.
Experience of building effective relationships with clients and stakeholders.
The ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively in a fast‑paced environment.

Experience of local government legal practice and Adult Social Care debt recovery would be advantageous, although candidates with transferable litigation experience from private practice, central government or other public sector organisations are encouraged to apply.

Working for Manchester City Council is a chance to make a real difference in a diverse city that leads change and improves lives. Whether you’re supporting communities or improving public services, you’ll help create opportunities and shape a better future for everyone

Benefits We Offer