Gateshead Council
Legal Manager (Commercial, Housing and Regulatory Law)
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Who We Are & What We Stand For
Do you want to help make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives? If that sounds like you, keep reading - we might be the perfect match.
We’re delighted that you’re interested in working with us. You’d be joining us at a very exciting time.
We pride ourselves on our ambitious and forward-thinking approach to taking care of Gateshead and its people, and we passionately believe that our employees reflect that spirit in truly enabling Gateshead to thrive.
At Gateshead Council you’d be a highly valued member of a team that recognises and respects the skills that you bring to your role, encourages creativity and passionately advocates a great work / life balance. Our actions speak louder than words, and with flexi-time and hybrid working available across many of our roles, as well as a full suite of outstanding employee benefits, we’re confident that it isn’t just the salary that attracts our staff.
Lead with influence. Advise with confidence. Shape the future of Gateshead.
Our Legal and Democratic Services team plays a vital role in supporting the Council's priorities and protecting the interests of the communities we serve. The Commercial, Housing and Regulatory Law Team provides expert legal advice across a wide range of high-profile and complex matters, supporting major projects, corporate decision-making and service delivery throughout the organisation.
Working closely with senior officers, elected members and external partners, the team is recognised for delivering practical, solution-focused legal advice that helps shape the future of Gateshead. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a talented team of legal professionals and make a meaningful contribution to the Council's strategic objectives.
A senior legal leadership opportunity where your advice helps drive change and deliver better outcomes.
What You Will Get To Do
- Lead and inspire a team of solicitors, legal assistants, paralegals and support staff, ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, customer-focused legal service.
- Provide expert legal advice and guidance to senior officers, elected members and Council services on complex commercial, housing and regulatory matters.
- Act as one of the Council's senior operational lawyers, overseeing the provision of effective legal support across a diverse portfolio.
- Support and deputise for the Chief Legal Officer, including attendance at member and officer working groups, committees and governance meetings.
- Manage and advise on complex, high-profile and sensitive legal matters, helping to shape strategic decision-making across the organisation.
- Represent the Council at courts, tribunals, appeals, inquiries, panels and hearings, acting as a trusted advocate for the authority.
- Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, fostering collaboration and confidence in legal services.
- Support organisational change, continuous improvement and service development, contributing to corporate strategies, policies and projects.
- Interpret legislative changes and provide strategic advice to ensure the Council remains compliant and responsive to emerging legal requirements.
- Contribute to business planning, corporate governance and the ongoing development of Legal and Democratic Services.
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Bring your legal leadership skills to Gateshead and help shape the future of local government.
What You Will Bring
- Qualified Solicitor or Barrister holding a current practising certificate, with significant expertise in at least one area relevant to the role.
- Strong knowledge of local government, local authority services and the political environment, with the ability to operate effectively within a democratic decision-making framework.
- Excellent communication, advocacy, report-writing and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex legal issues clearly to a range of audiences.
- Proven ability to lead, motivate and develop teams, manage workloads, allocate priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes within demanding timescales.
- Strong influencing, negotiation, judgement and problem-solving skills, with the confidence to handle complex, sensitive and challenging situations.
- A collaborative and politically aware approach, with the ability to build productive relationships with senior officers, elected members, clients and stakeholders.
- A commitment to public service, integrity, equality, continuous improvement and delivering excellent outcomes for communities.
What’s In It For You
- Competitive Salary: We offer fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience.
- Outstanding Pension Scheme: We don’t just offer a great salary we invest in your future too. Find out what benefits a Local Government Pension provides: https://twpf.info
- Generous Annual Leave: Enjoy 28 days of annual leave, rising to 32 days after 5 years (2 of which can be fixed by the Council), plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
- Flexible Working Hours: Benefit from up to 26 flexi days per year (subject to business needs), giving you more control over your time.
- Hybrid & Flexible Working: We support a healthy work-life balance with flexible and hybrid working options.
- Learning & Development: Access a wide range of training, development, and progression opportunities to help you grow your career.
- Health & Wellbeing Support: From discounted gym memberships through our partner GLL to mental health resources, we care about your wellbeing.
- Cycle to Work Scheme: Save money and stay active with our tax-efficient cycle to work programme.
- Electric & Hybrid Car Scheme: Get behind the wheel of a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle through our salary sacrifice car scheme in partnership with NHS Fleet Solutions a cost-effective, environmentally friendly way to drive (after 12 months service).
- Exclusive Discounts & Salary Sacrifice: Through our VIVUP employee benefits platform, enjoy discounts on shopping, travel, and services plus salary sacrifice options on white goods, electronics, and more, helping you spread the cost of essential purchases (after 6 months service).
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Our commitment to you
We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. We know that we deliver better services when our workforce reflects the full range of backgrounds and experiences in the society we serve. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
How To Apply
You can apply online using the apply now button below. Within the form, you’ll be asked for details about you, your career history, skills, experiences and qualifications.
We advise you to be as detailed and specific as possible, paying particular attention to any of the above which are relevant to the role to which you are applying.
If you have any questions about your application, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our recruitment team via
Please note: As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. However, in high-volume recruitment situations, it may not always be practicable to interview every eligible candidate. In such cases, we may need to prioritise those who best meet the essential criteria, based on the information provided in the application.
Additionally, the Council reserves the right to close this vacancy early or adjust the shortlisting criteria, including the pass mark for interview selection, to ensure a fair and manageable recruitment process. We encourage early applications.
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