Solicitor (Affordable Housing and Construction)

Centreforequalities; Glenrothes; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounts on products and services

Job summary

Fife Council is recruiting a Construction Solicitor to support its Affordable Housing Programme in the Legal Property and Contracts Team. You will handle land assembly, development agreements, and construction contracts, providing practical legal advice to cross-functional colleagues.

You will manage a varied caseload and deliver commercially focused guidance on procurement, contract administration, and project delivery, with experience in public sector housing projects being advantageous.

Qualifications

• Experience in construction, commercial and/or housing law.
• Public sector experience with affordable housing and regeneration projects is advantageous.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, analytical and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage a varied caseload and provide commercially-focused legal advice.
• Advise on procurement, contract award, project completion, defects, and claims.
• Address contractor performance issues, extensions of time, and contract interpretation.
• Contribute to reports and guidance for senior management and committees.

Skills

Drafting

Negotiation

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Law Degree (LLB)

Diploma in Legal Practice

Practising Certificate

Job description

Proposed Interview Date: Tuesday 22 September 2026

Closing Date: Tuesday 15 September 2026

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: FC9 £47,604.34 - £57,196.54

Working Pattern: 36 hours per week

Location: Fife House, Glenrothes

Supporting Statement

Job Details

Fife Council is delivering one of Scotland's largest affordable housing programmes, providing high-quality, energy-efficient homes for communities across Fife. With a significant pipeline of new build developments, acquisitions, land-led opportunities and regeneration projects, we are seeking an experienced and motivated Construction Solicitor to join our team and support the delivery of these ambitions.

This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in the delivery of housing across Fife. Located in the Legal Property and Contracts Team within Legal Services you will support the Affordable Housing Programme by providing legal assistance in relation to land assembly, development agreements, consultant appointments, construction contracts and associated legal matters.

Working closely with colleagues in Housing, Property Services, Finance, Procurement and the Affordable Housing Programme Team, you will be responsible for managing your own caseload and providing commercially focused legal advice ranging from procurement and contract award to project completion, defects management, claims and dispute resolution.

You will advise on contractor performance issues, contract administration matters, claims, defects, extensions of time, payment disputes, contract interpretation and termination provisions, contractor insolvency, and project recovery and risk mitigation strategies.

You will contribute to reports, briefings and advice for senior management, committees and elected members, working collaboratively with colleagues across the Council and external legal advisers to support the successful delivery of the programme.

The Person

We are looking for a Solicitor with knowledge, skills and experience in construction, commercial and/or housing law with a strong understanding of the commercial and practical challenges of complex construction, development and housing matters. Experience of working in the public sector and provision of affordable housing and regeneration projects with an understanding of procurement frameworks would be advantageous, as would familiarity of contentious and non contentious construction matters. You will possess excellent drafting, negotiation, analytical and communication skills and be able to provide clear, practical and solution‑focused legal advice to a wide range of stakeholders.

You should be capable of working under limited supervision, managing a varied caseload and developing effective working relationships within multi-disciplinary teams.

You should hold a Law Degree (LLB) and a Diploma in Legal Practice or an equivalent. You also should be a qualified solicitor holding, or eligible to hold, an unrestricted Practicing Certificate issued by the Law Society of Scotland, be able to work under limited supervision with well‑developed communication and IT skills.

Further Information

• Role Profile -When preparing your supporting statement, review the role profile and think about how you meet the essential criteria Role Profile
• How We Work Matters -Our employees are expected to display and promote certain behaviours in the workplace. See our How We Work Matters behaviour framework for more information.
• Employee Benefits -Employees have access to a benefits package that offers discounts on a wide range of products and services.
• Directorate Information- Council Department information
• Social Media -Search for more 'Fife Council Jobs' on Facebook or follow us on X @FCJobsOfficial.
• Alternative Formats - Job information can be made available in alternative formats, to make a request please e-mail [e-mail].
• AI - We recognise that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used by many people when they are applying for jobs and preparing for interview.Candidate guidance on the use of AI in the recruitment process is available here.

As a progressive employer, we offer the opportunity to work in this role as a "blended working" arrangement with home-working opportunities and occasional office-working asrequired. While the significant part of the role can and will be carried out remotely, candidates should be able to travel to and attend office locations in Fife asrequired.

For further information please contact: Philip Blair - [e-mail]