Principal Lawyer Rate: £60-£70 per hour - Negotiable DOE Contract Length: 6-month initial contract Southwest Local Authority Flexible Hybrid Working - 2 days per week in office Spencer Clarke Group are working with a local authority in the Southwest region to find an outstanding Principal Lawyer to lead its specialist team, with a primary focus on Childcare Law and a secondary focus on Adult Social Care Law. This is a pivotal leadership role during a period of organisational change, where you will provide stability, direction, and expertise to a high-performing legal team. A visible office presence is required to ensure strong team cohesion, effective collaboration, and proactive leadership. Key Responsibilities Lead, manage, and develop a team of specialist lawyers and legal officers within Childcare and Adult Social Care law. Provide expert legal advice to senior leaders, Members, and committees on complex and high-profile matters. Contribute to strategic decision-making across the Council, balancing legal risk, governance, and service priorities. Supervise case allocation, oversee complex casework (including Judicial Reviews), and ensure robust quality assurance. About You Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Legal Executive with a current practising certificate. Significant experience in Childcare Law (essential) and Adult Social Care Law (desirable). Strong leadership and people management skills, with proven experience guiding teams through change. Excellent advocacy, communication, and influencing skills. Resilient, politically astute, and confident handling complex and sensitive legal matters.If you're interested in this role, click the apply button or contact Max using the details below: (phone number removed) Our legal specialist, Max, has extensive experience across all areas of the legal market and recruits for positions at every level - from legal assistants and paralegals through to Directors of Legal and Monitoring Officers. If this particular role isn't quite right for you, but you'd like to explore other opportunities, please get in touch using the contact details above for a confidential discussion about the market. We are also proud to offer a market-leading referral scheme, with rewards of up to £300. If you know someone who might be a great fit for this or another legal role, simply ask them to send their CV to Max - and don't forget to include your own details so we can ensure you receive your referral bonus if they are successful. INDSCGMC