Are you looking for a career which is rewarding and offers a unique blend of the private and public sector? Come and join our expanding legal team at First North Law. We are looking for a Litigation Lawyer/Solicitor who can join our supportive team to provide legal support on a range of legal matters. We welcome applications from backgrounds in any contentious area of law as comprehensive training will be provided to ensure the successful candidate can meet the demands of the role. The role In this diverse and fast paced position, you will assist the Board of Directors and the Education/Employment/Litigation teams to provide a comprehensive legal service to our client base. A significant aspect of the role involves a diverse portfolio of disputes ranging from simple debt recovery matters to SEND Tribunals and complex construction disputes. It is a role suited to candidates who appreciate a diverse workload and have an interest in Education disputes. The team provides a schools’ helpline which the successful candidate will support. First North Law in a period of unprecedented growth and the successful candidate will be provided with an opportunity to grow alongside the firm at this exciting time. What does working at First North Law involve? Team Player: As a growing firm it is imperative that you work with the existing team Communication: You should have excellent communication and presentation skills including the ability to communicate complex legal concepts to a range of audiences both verbally and in writing. Providing support to other teams. Self-motivated: This role provides for the ability to work from home and as such you should be able to work independently, planning and managing matters as required. Organised: Able to work under pressure to meet deadlines and manage work priorities accordingly, often working on several matters concurrently. Commercially astute: Commercial acumen that can identify risk, risk mitigations and present suitable options to the business balancing risk and reward. Attention to detail: Able to demonstrate both attention to detail and the ability to provide highly pragmatic legal advice in the context of an established, commercial, operational business. Flexible: Flexible approach with a willingness to develop knowledge and skills in different areas of law and provide advice to clients as necessary To be successful you must hold a Solicitor, Barrister, Chartered Legal Executive or equivalent qualification, and ideally have demonstrable knowledge of law in civil litigation and debt recovery and preferably Special Educational Needs and Education though training and support can be offered if required and candidates with knowledge of one discipline are invited to apply. You must have exceptional verbal and written communication skills, good presentation and interpersonal skills and have the ability to critically analyse diverse information presented in a variety of formats, and make recommendations relating to decisions which involve careful analysis of legal risk. Knowledge or experience of working with Local Authorities is advantageous but not essential, we welcome and encourage applications from the private sector. Our Team First North Law is wholly owned by North Yorkshire Council and the successful candidate for this role will be employed by the Authority and enjoy all the benefits of working for the Authority whilst undertaking work in the private sector. This role sits within a growing team and reports to a First North law Director. First North Law generates revenue for the Council by offering traded legal services to external clients. The nature of the work requires a flexible and versatile approach as it will change from time to time in response to the changing needs of the Council, and its developing initiatives. The post is required to work with colleagues and Members at every level within the organisation, with external clients and partners, and to manage the performance of staff within its responsibility. The budget of Legal and Democratic Services is in part dependent on income from external sources and the post must play its part in ensuring successful income generation and in ensuring compliance with Law Society Professional Standards. Why First North Law? If you enjoy working in a busy but rewarding environment, where you will be trained and gain experience to support the whole range of legal work carried out by First North Law, we would love to hear from you. The starting salary for this role is: £37,035 - £49,764 (Grade J/K – M). You will benefit from a supportive management system and on-going personal development and performance management. The postholder will be based at the North Yorkshire Council, County Hall, Northallerton or Civic Centre, Harrogate (to be agreed with successful applicant). There is also scope to work remotely from home or from another Council building some of the time in line with our Corporate Hybrid Working Policy. As an organisation we strongly believe in promoting a work life balance, with flexible working opportunities and modern technology you will be able to deliver your role to suit both your personal and our business needs. In return for your hard work and dedication to our service, we can offer you the chance to be part of a strong and supportive team. You will benefit from a variety of competitive employee rewards such as generous leave entitlement and local government pension scheme. We also offer exceptional company benefits such as salary sacrifice schemes in technology, professional qualifications, and green car schemes as well as discounted retail offers, health schemes to name but a few. More information can be found in our Total Rewards Brochure. If you are interested in playing a key part in our Legal Team at First North Law and would like to have an informal conversation, please contact Nigel McCloy at nigel.mccloy@firstnorthlaw.co.uk or Rachael Hansen at rachael.hansen@firstnorthlaw.co.uk to ask any questions or to arrange a suitable time for a discussion about the role. Key dates: Closing date: Tuesday 1 st July 2025 To apply please click the Apply Now link below.