Surrey County Council
Employment Senior Lawyer
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The salary range for this role is £63,823 to £70,099 per annum depending on experience. This salary is based on a 36-hour working week. Part-time applications will also be considered (subject to a minimum commitment of 25 hours per week).
Are you a qualified Solicitor, Barrister or FILEX of England and Wales with a current practising certificate looking for a new opportunity to develop your career in Employment Law?
As an Employment Senior Lawyer, you will join a supportive, successful in-house legal team that delivers effective legal advice, representation, and assistance to the Council.
We offer hybrid working, which allows for remote working, but we also require regular office attendance with the aim to give everyone a balanced work/life ratio. You will be expected to attend a Surrey office a minimum of 40% of your working week, with the ability to access offices across Surrey’s estate in Reigate, Weybridge, and Woking. The team is very approachable, so there will always be someone to provide you with support and discuss matters with.
Our Offer to You
- 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
- Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
- A generous local government salary-related pension
- Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
- Paternity, adoption, and dependents leave
- An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
- Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
- Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
- A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents
About The Role
As an Employment Senior Lawyer, you will be expected to carry out a range of key responsibilities, which will include:
- Providing solutions-focused advice on Employment law matters to the Council, Surrey Fire and Rescue, and Surrey schools
- Working with Human Resources to provide practical support and technical legal advice on a wide range of matters including disciplinary action, grievances, discrimination, whistleblowing, recruitment matters, restructures, TUPE, and exit strategies
- Developing and maintaining effective business partnering relationships
- Managing Employment Tribunal cases on behalf of the Council and liaising with ACAS in relation to conciliation including drafting responses to claims and advocacy at some hearings
- Instructing and managing suppliers of external legal services such as solicitors and barristers in accordance with client requirements
- Running internal training and providing legal updates on relevant topics
- Leading/contributing at client meetings
- Advising Members and Senior Officers of the Council
- Managing competing priorities to achieve client, statutory, and Tribunal deadlines
- Exemplary client care and organisational skills
- Assisting with the management and supervision of junior members of the team, including trainees and paralegals, including ensuring the effective use of the Council’s case management systems and work in accordance with the standards set out in the team’s Lexcel manual and policies and procedures
- Contributing to the development, training, or mentoring of colleagues where required
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Your Application
In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:
- You are a skilled employment lawyer with substantial experience of the law and practice in this area
- Experience of both contentious and non-contentious matters
- The ability to work with clients at all levels and give clear, accurate, and practical advice
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and Our Life at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey.
This post has been designated as a politically restricted post in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 29/07/2026, with interviews planned to follow.
We welcome applications from candidates with relevant experience from both the public and private sector. Candidates with private sector experience should have a solid understanding of how local authorities operate and demonstrate their ability to transfer knowledge and skills to successfully deliver advice within local government.
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Contact Us
Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills, or any barriers to employment.
If you are looking for a role which is both varied and interesting with an opportunity to develop your existing skills and employment experience by working in local government, please click the apply button below to submit your application. For an informal discussion, please contact Julie Care via email at Julie.care@surreycc.gov.uk.
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)
Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.
Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council
Commitment
We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.
Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need; we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.
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