Senior Legal Adviser (Commercial Property)

Hampshire County Council; Winchester; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading local authority in the UK is seeking a Senior Legal Adviser (Commercial Property) to join their legal team in Winchester. You will provide legal advice and representation on complex transactions and projects, working collaboratively with various stakeholders. Candidates must be qualified solicitors, barristers, or chartered legal executives. This role offers the opportunity for hybrid working, ensuring a balance between office and remote work. Benefits include 25-28 annual leave days, access to a pension scheme, and other perks.

Benefits

Access to Local Government Pension Scheme

25 - 28 days annual leave

Electric plug-in hybrid car Salary Sacrifice Scheme

Interest free travel loans and discounts

Employee Support Services

Family friendly policies

Access to online legal research resources

Qualifications

• Must have a current practising certificate for England & Wales.
• Demonstrated experience in providing legal advice.
• Ability to manage varied casework in commercial property.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and representation to the County Council's directorates.
• Manage transactional commercial property matters, including disposals and acquisitions.
• Conduct legal research and mentor junior colleagues.

Skills

Sound legal skills and judgment

Pragmatic solution-focused approach

Strong client relationship skills

Effective communication skills

Ability to work independently

Collaborative team approach

Resilience and motivation

Effective prioritization

Education

Qualified Solicitor or Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive Lawyer

Job description

Senior Legal Adviser (Commercial Property)

Job Reference: HCC623094
Salary Range: £48,948 - £54,423 per annum, plus Market Supplement of £4,500 per annum depending on qualifications and experience
Work Location: Elizabeth II Court, Winchester (Hybrid Working)
Hours per week: 37
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 15 February 2026
Interview Date: 6 March 2026

The Role

Join our friendly and supportive Lexcel accredited legal department, passionate about delivering the best for Hampshire and making a real difference to the community!

Hampshire County Council is recognised nationally as one of the highest performing local authorities in the UK. Our large legal service supports all Hampshire County Council directorates and a wide range of other public service organisations. Working on matters that are as challenging as they are rewarding, you will advise on a range of interesting, varied, meaningful, high profile and complex projects at the very forefront of public interest, delivering improvements to people's lives.

What you’ll do

You will join the Commercial Property Team, working with colleagues in all Hampshire County Council directorates and third‑party clients. This role includes the provision of legal advice and representation to the County Council’s directorates and to external partners and client bodies. Your role will not only increase the efficiency of the team, but also that of the County Council as a whole and offers the unique level of support that comes with working within our well‑respected team and Hampshire County Council generally. You will be able to gain valuable legal experience and develop your legal skills through the practical application of your legal knowledge and by advancing transactional commercial property matters which are unique to local authorities.

You will take responsibility for a varied casework comprised of transactional commercial property matters. Typical matters will include disposals and acquisitions, leasehold matters, easements, deeds of assignment, licences and deeds of covenant. You will also provide legal advice to our client departments, undertake legal research, and offer assistance and mentoring to junior colleagues.

What we’re looking for

We are looking for an in‑house Commercial Property Senior Legal Adviser, who must be a qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive Lawyer (Fellow of CILEX) with a current practising certificate for England & Wales.

You will be successful in the role, if you are able to demonstrate:

• sound legal skills and judgment;
• pragmatic solution focussed approach;
• strong client relationship and communication skills;
• ability to work on your own initiative and within a strong team with a collaborative approach;
• resilience and motivation; and
• ability to prioritise effectively to meet strict deadlines.

Having successfully adopted online and hybrid working, we can consider candidates from out of the area, working partially remotely and from our offices in Winchester.

Benefits

• Access to Local Government Pension Scheme
• Between 25 - 28 days annual leave entitlement (dependent on Local Authority service)
• Electric plug‑in hybrid car Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• Interest free travel loans and discounts
• Employee Support Services
• Family friendly policies
• Access to online professional legal research resources

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion

Hampshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.

In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies.

We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.