Senior Solicitor/Team Leader - 37 hours

Torbay Council; Torquay; Hybrid; GBP 61,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in the UK seeks a Senior Solicitor/Team Leader for their Legal Services Management Team. You will lead the planning, property, and environment team, managing a varied caseload and supporting key agendas for the community. Ideal candidates have at least 3 years of post-qualification experience and enjoy a hybrid working approach. This is an exciting opportunity for professionals seeking a dynamic environment to make a substantial impact in local governance.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years post-qualification experience is required.
• Suitable training as a legal advisor.
• Experience providing supervision to junior colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the planning, property, and environment team.
• Casehold more complex legal matters.
• Distribute instructions and cases appropriately within the team.

Skills

Highly effective communication and interpersonal skills

Ability to give clear and accurate legal advice

Analytical and problem solving skills

Education

Admitted as a practising Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of CILEX

Job description

Application Deadline: 12 January 2026

Department: Corporate Services

Location: Torbay Council

Compensation: £61,676 - £64,815 / year

Market supplement: The salary includes an amount for a market supplement of £10,320 per year. This market supplement is reviewed annually.

Overview

Torbay is breathtaking, captivating, and welcoming, occupying a prime position on the south coast of Devon. Currently experiencing unprecedented levels of investment and the Council’s own ambitious transformation and regeneration programme have given Torbay the opportunity to capitalise on the area’s profile and many assets.

As a unitary authority, you’ll discover Torbay is a place where you can make things happen quickly. We have real momentum building, driven by a shared sense of purpose and ambition – which is clearly evident by recent success in the Local Government Chronicle Award for ‘Most Improved Council’, for significant progress in transforming services, improving children’s services, and achieving financial stability, and noted by judges for our strong organisational improvements and a great example of continuous progress. We want Torbay and its residents to thrive and are committed to making a difference in our community, delivering high quality services to local people.

To complement this journey, we are now seeking a Senior Solicitor/Team Leader to join our Legal Services Management Team, to lead and manage our planning, property & environment team. This varied role provides a platform to be actively involved, supporting key agendas pertinent to the investment and prosperity of Torbay, its residents, businesses and wider communities. No two days will be the same, for which those already working within local government will attest to and actively thrive upon.

Undertaking the role of Senior Solicitor/Team leader, you will be a suitably qualified professional across either the public or private sector; excited by a fast‑paced and varied caseload, conscientious, professionally curious and a role model to your direct reports. You will casehold more complex matters alongside your team leader responsibilities and ensure instructions / cases are distributed as appropriate to your team. You will join a supportive and rewarding organisation and team, whereby your talent will be valued and actively developed. At Torbay Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from our people and we are excited for you to join us.

We also understand the importance of an effective work‑life balance, therefore offer an enviable hybrid working approach. This is managed effectively around the need to attend essential meetings and/or make court appearances in line with the remit of the role.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to work for an employer that is in a great period of change and sees legal services as not simply a support function, but an enabler in the pursuit of their ambitious transformation and regeneration journey.

Application Information

Full job description can be found by visiting the following URL: https://www.torbay.gov.uk/jobs/job-descriptions/senior-solicitorteam-leader/

For an informal chat please contact Amanda Barlow or Philip Taylor on 01803207172 or [e-mail].

Interviews are expected to be conducted during the week commencing.

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Our adverts do sometimes close early – if you’re keen, please apply as soon as possible.

Key Skills

• Highly effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to give clear and accurate legal advice.
• Analytical and problem solving skills.

As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2016 (part 7), the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

Knowledge

• High level of knowledge of the law and procedure within a specialist discipline in the team work area.
• A detailed knowledge of the law applicable to Local Government.
• A general working knowledge of the duties and role of the monitoring officer.

Experience & Qualifications

• Admitted as a practising Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of CILEX (or equivalent) with at least 3 years post qualification experience.
• Suitable training as a legal advisor.
• Experience of providing supervision to junior colleagues.