Principal Lawyer (Adults)

PO9: Starting salary £70,992 pa rising in annual increments to £75,666 pa incl LW plus £5000 pa market supplement 

In addition to the salary, we offer legally qualified new starters a £5000 welcome bonus which is payable 50% after 6 months and 50% after 12 months in the role.

Hybrid working

About Us:

It is an exciting time to join Lambeth Council, we have bold ambitions for the future of Lambeth’s communities and residents through our Lambeth 2030 Plan ‘Our Future, Our Lambeth. To deliver on these ambitions, we have embarked our transformational One Lambeth Programme ensuring we are ‘connected by purpose,’ in everything we do to deliver excellence. We are proud to have recently developed a refreshed set of One Lambeth Values and Behaviours that were developed for staff by staff; Equity, Ambition, Kindness, and Accountability. For more information, please have a look at our dedicated One Lambeth Values and Behaviours page. 

About the Borough:

Located in the heart of South London, Lambeth Borough is a vibrant community of over 317,600 residents. Stretching from the dynamic neighbourhood of Streatham in the South to the iconic landmarks of Waterloo in the North, we are proud to be the 9th largest borough in London. Our diversity is our strength, with more than 130 languages spoken, making Lambeth the home of the Windrush generation, London's largest LGBTQ+ community, and a thriving Portuguese-speaking community.

With exceptional schools, lush green spaces including Brockwell Park, cultural gems like the Black Cultural Archives, and world-renowned institutions such as St Thomas's Hospital, Lambeth offers an enriching and dynamic environment.

About the Role:

An exciting opportunity has arisen in the Council’s legal department for a Principal Lawyer (Adults) to join our team.

We are looking for a qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives (or equivalent relevant qualification), ideally from within the public sector.    

This is a varied role, and the successful candidate will be expected to manage a team of staff and a busy and challenging caseload. They will be highly organised, proactive, flexible, able to work under pressure and manage competing deadlines. They will maintain quality assurance and performance standards in the service provided by their team to the Council.

You will be responsible for adult social care related legal advice, ensuring that the Council receives cost-effective high-quality advice and representation in relation to:

• Judicial review proceedings in the High Court Welfare and property applications in the Court of Protection relating to those who lack capacity to make decisions Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard reviews in the Court of Protection Displacement of nearest relative proceedings in the County Court

You will have a thorough up to date knowledge of all aspects of Adults Social Care law.  You will be experienced in representation in court proceedings and instructing Counsel. You will also have substantial experience in drafting legal documents and legal correspondence and giving specialist legal advice. 

You will also have a good understanding of current and emerging case law guidance and best practice. 

For detailed qualifications and requirements, please review the job description and person specification in hyperlink below:

Job Description and Person Specification

Contact Information:

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Janet Fasan .uk

How to Apply:

If you are interested in this opportunity, click on the apply button and complete an online application. In your supporting statement, please clearly demonstrate how you meet the shortlist criteria marked with an 'A' at shortlist stage.

We operate an anonymised application process, so be sure to remove personal details when uploading your CV or personal statement.

Recruitment Timelines:

Closing date: 11:59pm Sunday 18th May 2025.

Benefits:

We believe in rewarding our staff. When you join us, you'll gain access to a range of benefits, including:

• Participation in our 5 Staff Networks: Black, Asian, and Multi-Ethnic, LGBTQ+, Disability, Young Professionals, and Women's.
• Generous annual leave entitlement starting from 27 days, increasing to up to 35 days depending on length of service.
• Membership in the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Hybrid Working.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Occupational Sick Pay based on length of service.
• Discounts at local restaurants.
• Discount at our Active Lambeth Gyms.
• Learning and Development opportunities, including Apprenticeships.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Secure Bike Storage facilities at our Town Hall and Civic Centre.
• Trade Union Membership.

At Lambeth, we are dedicated to providing quality services and equal opportunities for all. We are committed to safer recruitment and are proud to be a Stonewall diversity champion, a Living Wage Employer, and to guarantee interviews for all disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria of the role. For a full list of our accreditations, please click here.

We actively support applications from Lambeth Care Leavers.