The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.
Job details
Job reference REQ00000018819 Date posted 27/08/2025 Application closing date 22/09/2025 Location Kendal Salary £56,883 - £59,198 Package Blank Contractual hours 37 Basis Full time Attachments Blank
Senior Lawyer - Contracts & Commercial - WMF2232e
Location: Kendal (including agile workingand working from home)
Contract Type: Permanent
About this opportunity
A great opportunity has arisen within ourLegal Team for a Senior Lawyer – Contracts and Commercial tosupport on the Council’s commercial work.
This role offers a unique opportunity toprovide expert legal advice on construction, assets, highways,and economic development, with a strong focus on complexcontractual and procurement matters. You’ll manage a challengingcaseload, contribute to strategic planning and corporategovernance, and offer guidance on NEC4, JCT, and otherconstruction contracts. The role also involves supervising teammembers, representing the council in key decision-making forums,and ensuring high-quality, cost-effective legal services.
Please follow this link for moreinformation on our Capital Strategy 2024-29.
To be a success in this role, you will haveexperience of or knowledge in the following:
* Experience in advising on constructionand assets, highways and economic development services on arange of construction, contractual and procurement matters,including those of a contentious nature.
* Experience in providing advice oncommercial and contractual arrangements (including NEC4, JCTand other construction contracts).
* Independent management in accordancewith practice standards of a complex and challenging caseloadof files - particularly of a more complex, corporatelysignificant and/or higher risk nature.
* Supervising and developing practice ofdesignated team members in accordance with practicestandards.
* Provision of legal advice and support tostrategic planning, policy formation, projects, corporategovernance, decision making, review and scrutiny and to providerepresentation at decision making bodies, boards/panels,working groups and on external bodies as required by therole.
* Keep under review and provide timely andpractical advice to senior managers and elected members on theimplications of legislation, case law and other emergingdevelopments in the specialist technical areas relevant to therole.
* Drafting, reviewing and negotiatingcontractual documents including for example contracts forpurchase of goods / services, grant agreements.
* Providing the highest level of clientcare and advice to clients on contract and commercialactivities, offering solutions.
* Evidenced dedication to continuousprofessional development.
* Experience in and willingness to learnand enhance, local authority governance requirements includingensuring adherence to legal and regulatory standards.
* Experience of working in localgovernment (desirable but not essential).
Who we are looking for…
We are looking for a proactive andcollaborative professional who thrives in fast-paced environmentsand enjoys rising to a challenge. You will bring a strong trackrecord of meeting deadlines, excellent communication skills, andthe confidence to make sound decisions and solve problemseffectively.
In this role, you will handle a variety ofresponsibilities, including providing clear, practical advice toofficers and Elected Members, and participating in CouncilCommittees and working groups as needed.
To succeed, you’ll need strong IT skills, awell-organised approach to work, and the ability to confidentlyuse electronic legal resources for research and casework.
Above all, you will be committed todelivering high-quality service that makes a real difference toour residents and clients.
What can we offer you!
Working at Westmorland and Furness Councilyou will receive a variety of benefits, including a competitivepension scheme, enhanced annual leave allowance and other variousperks and discounts schemes. For more information about life atWestmorland and Furness Council and what we can offer you, pleasevisit our Careers site. Our benefits | Careers(westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk)
Would you like to find out more?
For further information about this role,such as responsibilities and essential criteria please view thebelow attachments:
We are currently operating both in-personand virtual interviews. Options will be discussed with candidatesonce they have been invited to the interview stage of the processfor this specific position, and if you have any concerns oradjustments are needed, we are happy to discuss this withyou.
Westmorland and Furness Council are nowable to offer sponsorship for Skilled Worker Visa applicationsfor eligible roles. Please note, we cannot guarantee theeligibility of all of our roles, therefore, if you would likemore information on roles that may be eligible please visit thegovernment website - Skilled Worker visa: eligible occupationsand codes - GOV.UK.
Safer Recruitment & DBS
At Westmorland and Furness Council we arecommitted to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare ofchildren, young people and adults at risk and we expect allworkers, employees and volunteers to share our commitment.
This role does not require a DBS check.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Westmorland and Furness Council iscommitted to improving the diversity of its workforce to betterreflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications fromeveryone and work to promote an inclusive, supportive culturethat values and celebrates our differences.
As a Disability Confident Leader, disabledapplicants, who meet the essential criteria of this job, areguaranteed an interview.
We also offer guaranteed interviews toArmed Forces personnel and veterans and those in care or careexperienced and under 24 years old (someone who has been lookedafter by a local authority at any point, for any length of time,e.g. foster care, residential care, or under the guardianship ofa local authority) that meet the essential criteria for therole.
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