Lawyer - Contracts

READING BOROUGH COUNCIL; United States; Hybrid; USD 74,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Reading Borough Council is seeking a Senior Lawyer - Contracts to join our Legal Services team. You will provide expert advice on commercial, contractual and procurement matters, working with officers, senior managers and external partners to deliver high-quality services.

You will manage a varied caseload, draft and negotiate contracts, advise on governance and risk, and mentor junior lawyers. The role supports hybrid working and public service delivery in Reading.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor/barrister/CILEX fellow with practising certificate.
• Experience of local government law and procurement governance.
• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Ability to manage a demanding workload and meet deadlines.
• Experience advising on complex legal matters.

Responsibilities

• Advising on public procurement exercises and procurement legislation.
• Drafting, negotiating and advising on commercial contracts and agreements.
• Supporting major projects and collaborative working arrangements.
• Advising on governance, risk management and decision-making processes.
• Providing clear legal advice to officers, managers and elected members.
• Preparing legal documentation, reports and briefings to a high standard.
• Representing the Council in negotiations with contractors and external stakeholders.
• Mentoring junior lawyers and legal support colleagues.

Skills

Contract law

Commercial contracts

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Independent working

Collaborative/teamwork

Legal governance

Risk management

Education

Qualified solicitor/barrister/CILEX fellow

Job description

Are you an experienced contracts and procurement lawyer looking for a role where your advice will have a real impact on the delivery of public services?

We're seeking a talented Senior Lawyer - Contracts to join our Legal Services team. This is an exciting opportunity to provide expert legal support on a wide range of commercial, contractual and procurement matters that help deliver key Council priorities and projects.

Working closely with officers, senior leaders and external partners, you'll provide pragmatic, solution-focused legal advice on complex and high-value matters, helping to ensure the Council delivers effective services while managing legal risk and achieving value for money.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

We support hybrid working, it's important to us that working arrangements are designed to enable our employees to excel and within this role you'll have the opportunity to work in a way that suits your lifestyle.

About The Role:

As a Senior Lawyer, you'll manage a varied and challenging caseload, providing specialist legal advice across a broad range of commercial and contractual matters. You will work with senior officers, managers, councillors and partners, building trusted relationships and helping navigate challenging issues with confidence and professionalism.

You will also contribute to the development of the wider Legal Services team, supporting colleagues, sharing expertise and identifying opportunities to improve the way legal services are delivered.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Advising on public procurement exercises and the application of procurement legislation.
• Drafting, negotiating and advising on a wide range of commercial contracts and agreements.
• Supporting major projects, partnerships and collaborative working arrangements.
• Advising on governance, risk management and decision-making processes.
• Providing clear and practical legal advice to officers, senior managers and elected members.
• Preparing legal documentation, reports and briefings to a high professional standard.
• Representing the Council in negotiations and meetings with contractors, suppliers and external stakeholders.
• Supporting and mentoring junior lawyers and legal support colleagues where appropriate.

You’ll have the opportunity to work on diverse and high-profile projects that contribute directly to the delivery of services for Reading residents.

You will be a confident and capable legal professional who can combine strong technical knowledge with a practical, client-focused approach. You will be comfortable managing complex matters independently, balancing competing priorities and communicating legal advice clearly to a range of audiences.

You will understand the importance of building trusted relationships, managing risk and finding proportionate solutions that enable services to operate effectively within the law.

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Qualification as a Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX), with a current practising certificate and entitlement to practise in England.
• In‑depth experience of providing legal services across a range of local government services.
• Experience of advising on complex legal matters and the corporate governance aspects of your specialist area.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, concise and well‑reasoned legal advice.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise a demanding workload and meet deadlines.
• The confidence to work largely independently, exercise sound judgement and take responsibility for matters through to completion.
• A collaborative approach, with a willingness to support colleagues, supervise staff and contribute to service improvement.
• The ability to keep abreast of developments in law and best practice and identify opportunities to improve the service.
• Experience in contracts and commercial legal work relevant to the role will be important.