Overview
Senior Commercial Lawyer - CMB2552e
Location: Carlisle
Salary: £56,883 - £59,198 per annum
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Are you an experienced legal professional looking for a senior role where you can make a real impact? Cumberland Council is looking to appoint a Senior Lawyer to join our Legal Services team and play a key role in supporting the Chief Legal Officer and Monitoring Officer in delivering high-quality, commercially focused legal services. You will be joining a small team of lawyers dealing with a variety of commercial matters, primarily contracts, grants, procurement and company law. You will handle your own caseload with support of more junior lawyers and legal officers and provide advice to the Council's officers, councillors and committees. You will also jointly oversee elements of the day-to-day management and supervision of team members and assist the management team in ensuring the provision of high quality, cost effective and innovative legal services and corporate governance.
Responsibilities
* Lead and manage a team within Legal Services, ensuring effective and efficient delivery of legal support.
* Handle a caseload of complex, high-risk, and corporately significant matters, providing expert representation in courts, tribunals, and other bodies.
* Provide strategic legal advice to support policy development, corporate governance, projects, and decision-making processes.
* Assist in commissioning and managing external legal advisers to ensure cost-effective solutions.
* Contribute to the management and development of Legal Services, maintaining compliance with Solicitors Regulation Authority standards and deputising for the Monitoring Officer when required.
Qualifications
* Is a qualified solicitor or barrister with substantial post-qualification experience.
* Has proven expertise in handling complex legal matters and providing strategic advice.
* Demonstrates strong leadership and team management skills.
* Possesses excellent communication and negotiation abilities.
* Understands corporate governance and public sector legal frameworks.
Please note: Do not be discouraged if you have not worked in local government before; it is your determination to provide a top-class legal service that matters most. Local authority experience is desirable but not essential. We welcome the skills and experience you bring from other backgrounds.
Application and selection
Apply today and help us deliver outstanding legal services that support our Council's objectives. This role is available on a permanent basis.
Who Were Looking For
We’re looking for individuals who embody our organisation’s core values: ambitious, collaborative, compassionate, empowering, and innovative. We also value potential and provide opportunities to grow in the role. Please refer to the post specification for the essential criteria.
Contact
For more information about the role or to arrange an informal chat prior to your application, please contact Emma Lawson by email.
Guaranteed Interviews
We offer a guaranteed interview to the following applicants as long as your application demonstrates you meet the essential criteria for the role:
* Those who consider themselves disabled as defined by the Equality Act 2010
* Those in care or who have left care and are aged 24 and under
* Armed forces veterans whose last long term substantive employer was the armed forces
Diversity, Inclusion & Adjustments
We are dedicated to enhancing the diversity of our workforce and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. We are a Disability Confident Employer and an Age Friendly Employer to provide opportunities for everyone to thrive. If you need any reasonable adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please let the hiring manager or Resourcing Team know by emailing. We will listen and try to accommodate your needs.
Application and Interview information
* Closing date: 29 January 2026
* Interview date: TBC
Please note this role may close early subject to demand. If you’re interested, apply well before the advised closing date. We cannot accept applications once the role has closed.
Post Specification & Additional Information
* Post Specification
* Our Careers site for more information: Staff Benefits, Candidate Support, About Cumberland Council
Note: This description reflects the information provided in the job posting.
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