Job Description
Head of Legal Services / Deputy Monitoring Officer - Greater Manchester - Immediate start!
£500 per day | Senior Leadership Role | Interim - 4+ weeks
Are you an experienced local government lawyer looking for your next strategic leadership opportunity? We are supporting a well‑established public sector organisation in the recruitment of a Head of Legal Services / Deputy Monitoring Officer. This is a pivotal position, offering the chance to influence corporate governance, lead a high‑performing legal team, and shape legal strategy across the authority.
The Role
As the Head of Legal Services, you will:
* Lead, develop and manage a multidisciplinary legal team delivering high‑quality advice and representation.
* Act as Deputy Monitoring Officer, providing guidance on governance, standards, constitutional matters, and attending key committees and meetings as required.
* Oversee compliance, legal risk management, policy guidance, and the provision of robust legal support to senior leadership, elected members, and partners.
* Manage budgets, support service development, oversee training, and drive continuous improvement across Legal Services.
* Conduct and manage complex litigation and advocacy where required.
About You
We’re looking for someone who is:
* A qualified UK Solicitor or Barrister with substantial post‑qualification experience.
* Skilled in advising senior stakeholders on complex legal and constitutional issues.
* Experienced in several areas of local authority law (e.g., governance, litigation, contracts, property, regulatory).
* A confident leader with proven management and financial oversight capabilities.
* An excellent communicator with advocacy experience and the ability to influence at senior levels.
* Why Apply?This is an exceptional opportunity to step into a senior legal leadership role with meaningful influence, organisational visibility, and significant strategic responsibility. You’ll play a key role in shaping good governance and supporting the delivery of vital public services.Please contact Sharzad Michaels in the Legal & Governance Team at Allen Lane for more information.