Guardian Jobs
General Litigation Lawyer, SOUTHWARK COUNCIL
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
General Litigation Lawyer, SOUTHWARK COUNCIL
General Litigation Lawyer
Role Overview
Reference number: SC08233 Location: London Schedule: Full-time (36 hours/week, Mon–Fri) Salary Range: £50,175 – £57,495 (total salary package: ~£56,721 with 5% market factor + £2,327 hard-to-fill benefits) Contract Type: Permanent
About the Role
As a General Litigation Lawyer at Southwark Council, you’ll provide high-quality legal expertise to support cost-effective decision-making while handling complex litigation cases. Your work will have a direct impact on the local community and contribute to ensuring the Council remains a leader in public service law.
Why This Role and Southwark?
-
Impactful Work: Handle diverse, high-profile litigation cases—including property disputes, contract issues, injunctions, and enforcement actions—that directly affect residents and businesses.
-
Career Growth: Work alongside experienced legal professionals, gain exposure to prestigious cases, and progress in a supportive environment.
-
Flexible Culture & Support: Enjoy hybrid working with a strong focus on work-life balance. Collaborate in a dynamic, inclusive environment with diverse perspectives.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage a varied caseload of general litigation, including:
- Commercial and residential property disputes
- Contract litigation
- Injunctions and enforcement actions
- Messy property portfolio-related claims
- Provide strategic legal advice to ensure compliance, mitigate risk, and align with Council governance priorities.
- Advocate for the Council, representing it in complex court cases and tribunals.
- Stay current with court rules and evolving legislation, demonstrating strong case management skills.
- Collaborate with team members to develop and implement legal strategies that influence key decisions.
- Review and draft legal documents, ensure legally sound processes.
- Assess new laws and their implications for Council services, delivering timely advice to officers.
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
-
Qualification & Experience:
- Qualified lawyer (Solicitor, Barrister, or CILEX Fellow) authorised to practice litigation.
- At least 3 years’ post-qualification experience, including 2 years dedicated to general litigation and advisory work.
- Current practising certificate (or eligibility).
-
Skills & Competencies:
- Proven case management expertise with the ability to handle diverse, complex caseloads.
- Excellent written and verbal communication, with strong advocacy skills.
- Self-motivated, proactive, and able to quickly adapt to new legal areas.
- In-depth understanding of public sector law, commercial awareness, and litigation risk management.
- Collaborative mindset with strong collaboration skills across disciplines.
About Southwark Council
Southwark Council is London’s largest local authority social landlord, overseeing 55,000 homes for 40% of residents. The borough hosts 18,300 businesses (featuring landmarks like The Shard and The Tate Modern) and supports a young, diverse population through housing, culture, healthcare, and education.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
We are committed to equally and fairly serving our community. This role offers an opportunity to contribute to Southwark’s vision of a thriving, inclusive borough while working in a supportive and innovative environment.
We particularly encourage applications from members of Black, Asian, and ethnic minority groups to foster greater leadership representation.
Additional Details
-
Salary Enhancements:
- 5% market factor payment added to salary base.
- £2,327 hard-to-fill benefits package (can be used for gym subscriptions, health insurance, season ticket loans, cycling schemes, or pension contributions).
-
Flexible Working: Based primarily at 160 Tooley Street, with up to 2 days remote work per week when aligned with service requirements.
Recruitment Timeline
- Closing date: 26 July 2026 at 23:59
- Interviews & Assessments: Week commencing 10 August 2026 (written assessments on the interview day).
- Note: We may close early if sufficient applications are received. Apply as soon as possible.
Inclusion Opportunities
As part of our Disability Confident scheme, you’ll receive a guaranteed interview if you: ✅ Qualify on minimum criteria and identify as one of the following:
- Armed Forces veteran or current member
- In current or past care
- Disabled or with a long-term health condition
[View the full Job Description & Person Specification]( Job Description & Person Spec doc link)
“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