Lawyer - Advocacy Team

Are you an experienced advocate looking for your next challenge in local government?

We're seeking a talented Senior Lawyer - Advocacy Team to join our Legal Services team and play a leading role in delivering high-quality advocacy, legal advice and representation across a diverse range of complex and sensitive matters.

This is an excellent opportunity for a skilled lawyer who enjoys advocacy and wants to work at the heart of local government, supporting decision-makers, protecting the Council's interests and making a tangible difference to the lives of Reading residents. You'll handle a varied caseload, appear before courts and tribunals, and work closely with senior officers, elected Members and colleagues across the organisation.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

We support hybrid working, it's important to us that working arrangements are designed to enable our employees to excel and within this role you'll have the opportunity to work in a way that suits your lifestyle.

About The Role:

As part of the Berkshire Joint Legal Team, you'll join a specialist shared legal service across Berkshire providing expert legal support across Adult Social Care, Children's Social Care, Education, and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Working alongside experienced colleagues from a range of disciplines, you'll benefit from a collaborative environment, opportunities to share knowledge and expertise, and exposure to a diverse range of complex and rewarding work.

As Senior Lawyer, you will manage a substantial and complex caseload within your area of legal specialism, providing clear, pragmatic and risk-aware advice to elected Members, committees, senior officers and partner organisations.

You will undertake advocacy and represent the Council in courts, tribunals, hearings and inquiries, appropriate to your qualifications and experience. You will also draft and settle legal documents, pleadings, reports and agreements to a high professional standard, ensuring that legal risks are identified and managed effectively.

Working closely with the Principal Lawyer and colleagues across Legal Services, you will contribute to the Council's strategic priorities, support sound governance and decision-making, and identify opportunities to improve the way legal services are delivered.

You will also supervise and mentor junior colleagues, support their professional development and help foster a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing team.

Your responsibilities will include:

Providing high-quality legal advice on complex, sensitive and potentially politically sensitive matters within your area of expertise.

Advising officers, senior managers and councillors on legal issues, policies and corporate matters.

Managing an allocated caseload, ensuring work is delivered efficiently, accurately and within agreed timescales.

Undertaking advocacy in courts and tribunals appropriate to your qualifications and experience.

Supervising and supporting colleagues, contributing to their training, development and performance.

Supporting the Principal Lawyer and deputising for them in casework or team management when required.

Identifying opportunities to improve processes, make effective use of legal technology and enhance the quality of service delivery.

Contributing to service development projects, training activities and initiatives that support the Council's wider objectives.

You will be an experienced legal professional with strong analytical skills, sound judgement and the confidence to manage challenging legal matters. You will be comfortable advising senior stakeholders, balancing competing priorities and providing practical advice in a politically sensitive public sector environment.

You will bring:

Qualification as a Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of CILEX with litigation rights, holding a current practising certificate in England and Wales.

Significant post-qualification experience, typically five years or more, relevant to local government legal practice.

Experience handling complex, high-value or sensitive legal matters.

Experience of advocacy or representation in courts and tribunals, as appropriate to your specialism.

The ability to advise senior officers, elected Members and committees with clarity and confidence.

Experience of supervising, mentoring or supporting junior colleagues.

An understanding of local government law, governance and the wider political context in which councils operate.

A proactive approach to managing legal risk, building effective relationships and improving service delivery.

Experience of supervising colleagues and contributing to service development will also be important.