Principal Solicitor – Contentious Jobs

Allen Lane

Location:
United Kingdom, Haywards Heath

Category:
-

Contract Type:
Not provided

Salary:

55614.00 - 62552.00 GBP / Year

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Job Description:

Mid-Sussex District Council’s legal team is expanding and looking to add a Principal Litigation Solicitor to the team. Our legal service supports the Monitoring Officer function and the Council as a whole, ensuring decisions made by all parts of the Council are legally robust and bearing statutory responsibility for the legal governance of the Council. This includes providing legal advice across all of the Council’s functions and, where advice cannot be sourced in-house, working with external solicitors and/or specialist counsel. We provide support for the delivery of the Council’s statutory and non-statutory functions including taking legal action where required.

Job Responsibility:

Provide legal advice, representation, and assistance across the Council to Members and staff colleagues on all necessary aspects of licensing, environmental health, housing, debt recovery, judicial review, and general litigation matters including at court, committees and public meetings where required
Understand the role of Legal Services and contribute to the delivery of the Legal team’s Service Plan and the Council’s Corporate Plan
Contribute to, and assist in, the effective operational management of the Legal Services team to deliver a high quality and cost-effective legal service
Be a trusted adviser to Members and colleagues in specialist knowledge areas, and at all levels of the organisation
Take day to day management responsibility for supporting, developing, coaching and mentoring staff
Manage an ongoing legal caseload with minimal supervision
Represent or support the Council at legal proceedings and Inquiries (either with or without Counsel)
Undertake continuing professional development as required and maintain an up-to-date knowledge of all relevant legislation and case law
Exhibit and promote the highest professional work standards throughout the team
Contribute to required policy development across the Council
Attend statutory and Committee meetings as required as legal adviser and on behalf of the Monitoring Officer

Requirements:

Fully qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive / Relevant professional qualification
Working knowledge of managing complex matters in the various areas of specialism in a local government context, in particular environmental health, licensing, housing, judicial review, and both civil and criminal Litigation
Scrutiny and implementation of new Legislation
Attending and addressing Committees, Courts and/or Tribunals in area of specialism
Relevant Court, Committee and Inquiry procedures

Nice to have:

Membership of other relevant professional bodies
Proven knowledge of the local government statutory framework and relevant current and emerging legislation, case law, guidance and best practice
Working within a local government legal team
Advising on general public law and Constitutional matters
Management and Development of staff
Attending and assisting in Inquiries/Inquests
Best practice, innovation and continuous improvement in the delivery of Legal services
Experience as a Deputy Monitoring Officer

Additional Information:

Job Posted:
December 05, 2025

Employment Type:

Fulltime

Work Type:

On-site work

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Principal Solicitor – Contentious