The role
As a General Litigation Lawyer at Southwark Council, you will deliver high-quality legal services, ensuring cost-effective and legally sound decision-making. Your expertise will guide the council in key litigation matters.
Why this role and Southwark?
- Impactful Work: Handle diverse, complex and high-profile Litigation cases that directly impact the local community.
- Career Growth: Work alongside top legal minds, gaining exposure to high-profile cases and opportunities for progression.
- Flexible & Supportive Culture: Enjoy a dynamic work environment with hybrid working options and a commitment to work-life balance.
What you'll be doing:
- Manage a diverse caseload of general litigation matters, including commercial and residential property disputes, contract issues, injunctions, and enforcement cases.
- Provide strategic and tactical legal advice, ensuring Southwark Council remains a leader in public service law.
- Represent the Council in complex and sensitive cases, including advocacy in court.
- Stay up to date with court rules, demonstrating strong file management and efficiency.
- Collaborate with officers at all levels to shape legal strategies and influence key decision-making.
- You’ll be instrumental in guiding our approach to legal challenges and ensuring that Southwark remains a leader in public service law.
- Ensure legal compliance in decision-making, supporting governance and strategy.
- Assess and interpret new legislation, advising on its impact on Council services.
- Attend and contribute to project groups, working groups, and steering panels.
What we're looking for:
We’re looking for a practical, proactive, and results-driven lawyer who brings a blend of the following:
- A qualified lawyer, authorised by your regulator to conduct litigation, with at least 3 years’ post qualification experience including 2 years gained handling general litigation and advisory work.
- A current practising certificate as a Solicitor, Barrister, or CILEX Fellow (or eligibility to apply for one).
- Strong case management skills and the ability to handle a varied caseload effectively.
- Confident written and verbal communication, with a collaborative work ethic.
- Advocacy skills with a desire to represent the Council in court.
- The ability to quickly adapt to unfamiliar legal areas, becoming proficient with minimal supervision.
- A solid understanding of, or previous exposure to, public sector legal work.
Commercial awareness and the ability to identify and successfully manage litigation risk.
Why Southwark?
Southwark Council is the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues such as The Shard, The Tate Modern and Borough Market along with conservation areas, historic buildings, social enterprises and a young, diverse, and growing population.
At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals, and attend our universities. Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark 2030 and Southwark Stands Together, underpins all that we do.
We particularly welcome applications from members of the Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.
Additional details
Full time, 36 hours per week, Monday to Friday. The successful candidate will be expected to work from our offices at 160 Tooley Street and up to two days from home, in line with service requirements.
This post attracts an market factor payment of 5% in addition to the annual salary applicable, and a hard to fill benefits package of £2,327 per annum that can be used towards gym membership, health insurance, season ticket purchase, bicycle purchase, additional voluntary contribution to pension, subscription, and professional fees.
Disability Confident (guaranteed interview) scheme:
As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:
- Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
- Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
- If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition.
Recruitment timetable
Closing date: 26th July 2026 at 23:59*
*We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role, in which case we will move the key dates for the process. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Interview and Assessment date: week commencing 10th August 2026. You will also be asked to complete written assessments on the day of the interview.
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