About the Role
Senior Commercial Lawyer – CMB2157e – will be a key member of the Legal Services team at Cumberland Council, supporting the Chief Legal Officer and Monitoring Officer. You will provide commercial advice and legal representation on contracts, grants, procurement, and company law matters, manage complex high‑risk caseloads, and contribute to policy development and governance. Local authority experience is desirable but not essential.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead and manage the Legal Services team, ensuring efficient and effective delivery of legal support.
* Handle a caseload of complex, high‑risk, 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.
Requirements
* Qualified solicitor or barrister with substantial post‑qualification experience.
* Proven expertise in handling complex legal matters and providing strategic advice.
* Strong leadership and team management skills.
* Excellent communication, negotiation, and corporate governance knowledge.
* Understanding of public sector legal frameworks.
Details
Location: Carlisle
Salary: £56,883 – £59,198 per annum
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Diversity, Inclusion & Adjustments
Cumberland Council is a Disability Confident Employer and an Age Friendly Employer. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and provide reasonable adjustments to support applicants with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview to disabled applicants, care workers
and armed forces veterans who meet the essential criteria.
Interview Eligibility
* Disabled applicants defined by the Equality Act 2010.
* Care workers or former care workers aged 24 and under.
* Armed forces veterans whose last long‑term substantive employer was the armed forces.
Application Process
* Closing date: 3rd January 2026
* Interview date: 16th January 2026
* Please apply well before the closing date; the role may close early subject to demand.
Contact
For more information or to arrange an informal chat prior to your application, please contact Emma Lawson by email at Emma.Lawson@cumberland.gov.uk. If you need reasonable adjustments, email Resourcing@Cumberland.gov.uk.
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