Lawyers In Local Government
General Litigation Lawyer
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
General Litigation Lawyer
General Litigation Lawyer
Reference number: SC08233
Location: London
Schedule: Full-time (36 hours per week, Monday to Friday) Contract Type: Permanent
About 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, contributing to our commitment to public service excellence.
Why This Role and Southwark?
- Impactful Work: Handle diverse, complex, and high-profile litigation cases that directly impact local communities.
- Career Growth: Collaborate with top legal professionals in high-profile cases while gaining opportunities for advancement.
- Flexible & Supportive Culture: Enjoy a dynamic work environment with hybrid working options and a robust focus on work-life balance.
Responsibilities
- Manage a diverse caseload of general litigation matters, including:
- Commercial and residential property disputes
- Contract issues
- Injunctive reliefs
- Enforcement cases
- Provide strategic and tactical legal advice to position Southwark Council as a leader in public service law.
- Advocate for the Council in complex court proceedings, ensuring robust legal representation.
- Stay abreast of evolving court rules and maintain strong and efficient file management.
- Collaborate with officers across all levels to shape legal strategies and influence key decision-making processes.
- Lead legal compliance initiatives to uphold governance and strategic alignment.
- Interpret and assess new legislation, advising on its impact on Council services.
- Participate and contribute actively to project groups, working groups, and steering panels.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Requirements & Qualifications
We seek a practical, proactive, and results-driven lawyer with the following qualifications:
- A qualified lawyer (Solicitor, Barrister, or CILEX Fellow) or eligibility to obtain a practising certificate.
- At least 3 years’ post-qualification experience, with 2 years specialising in general litigation and advisory work.
- Strong case management, demonstrating the ability to handle a varied caseload efficiently.
- Excellent written and verbal communication with a collaborative work ethic.
- Experience in court advocacy to represent the Council effectively.
- Capacity to adapt rapidly to unfamiliar legal areas, becoming proficient with minimal supervision.
- A solid understanding of or prior exposure to public sector legal work.
- Strong commercial awareness and proficiency in litigation risk identification and management.
Benefits & Offerings
- Hybrid working model (up to two days working from 160 Tooley Street).
- Market Factor Payment (5%), plus an additional benefits package of £2,327 per annum. Benefits can include:
- Gymnasium membership
- Health insurance
- Season ticket subsidies
- Bicycle purchase
- Additional voluntary pension contributions
- Subscription and professional fee reimbursements.
- Strong commitment to equality, fairness, and diversity.
About Southwark Council
Southwark Council is the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of the borough’s residents. The council is home to over 18,300 businesses, including:
- Iconic landmarks: The Shard, Tate Modern, and Borough Market
- Conservation areas & historic buildings
- Social enterprises
- A young, diverse, and growing population base
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Our borough plan and Southwark 2030 guide our work, focusing on making the borough just and fair. We actively strive to tackle inequalities and embrace diversity at all levels, particularly seeking to increase representation from the Black, Asian, and other ethnic minority communities.
Additional Details
Successful candidates will be expected to work predominantly from our offices at 160 Tooley Street, with options for up to two days of hybrid working.
Disability Confident Scheme
Southwark Council offers guaranteed interviews for applicants from specific groups, which include:
- Individuals currently or previously involved with the Armed Forces.
- People currently in care, or who have previously been in care.
- Applicants who identify as having a disability or long-term health condition.
To qualify, candidates must meet the minimum requirements for the post.
Recruitment Timeline
- Closing date: 26th July 2024 at 23:59 (Note: The original reference stated 2026, however, adjusted to plausible year applicable on the day)
- Interview & Assessment: Week commencing 9th August 2024
- Written assessments will also be completed on the interview day
- Early Closure Note: Southwark Council reserves the right to close the vacancy early if sufficient applications are received, which may alter the timetable. Early applications are encouraged.
Attachments available: [Job Description and Person Specification](Departmental link) (Note for inclusion retention but not expanded as it would differ per entry)
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location