Service Care Legal is partnering with a forward-thinking local authority in Essex to recruit an experienced Locum Principal Litigation Lawyer for a full-time, temporary assignment. This role provides an opportunity to step into a senior legal position, managing a diverse caseload across civil and criminal litigation within a supportive and progressive team.
Role Details
* Position: Locum Principal Litigation Lawyer
* Location: Essex / hybrid working
* Rate: £55–£60 per hour umbrella / £53.28ph PAYE inc. holiday pay / £47.54 per hour exc. holiday pay
* Contract: Initial 3 months with possibility of extension, 36 hours per week
This role offers hybrid working arrangements, with the flexibility to work remotely for the majority of the week.
About the Role
As the Principal Litigation Lawyer, you will act as the key advisor on litigation matters for the council, providing strategic legal guidance to officers and elected members. You’ll handle a varied workload, play a central role in court proceedings, and help shape policy decisions across legal services.
* Represent the authority in County and Magistrates' Courts
* Manage a wide range of legal matters, including:
o Housing possession and anti-social behaviour cases
o Judicial review proceedings
o Homelessness and housing appeals
o Injunction applications
o Licensing appeals and committee support
o Defended debt claims and planning prosecutions
* Provide high-quality legal advice across departments
* Draft legal documentation including claims, summonses, and evidence bundles
* Participate in the Licensing Hearing rota (training available if needed)
The Person
Applicants should be qualified Solicitors, Barristers, or Legal Executives (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5 years’ PQE. Essential skills include:
* Experience in court advocacy across both civil and criminal litigation
* Competence in legal drafting and case assessment
* Ability to manage cases through to completion, often independently
* Ideally, experience with local authority licensing and planning enforcement matters
* Adaptability, proactivity, and a solution-focused approach
If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact me at (phone number removed) or email your updated CV for review. We also welcome referrals, which could be worth £250 each, so please keep this in mind.
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