Staffordshire County Council
Senior Lawyer - Employment
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The Team Senior Lawyer (TSL)
The Team Senior Lawyer (TSL) plays a vital role in ensuring that the team they have responsibility for delivers the optimum client service. They will do this by supporting team members and by working to develop an insightful knowledge about the client, which will place them in the best position possible to allocate and manage work effectively. In addition, the TSL has responsibility for completing aspects of highly complex legal casework, to include the drafting and negotiating of complex legal documents, in order to achieve the optimum outcome for the client.
They will represent and advise the relevant client at all high-level case-related meetings. Conduct complex advocacy on evidence. To include cross-examination of witnesses and experts at court hearings, contested advocacy at small claims case management hearings/dispute resolution hearings/tribunals/mediation/public inquiries/panels/committees, as required by the relevant specialism area. The post holder will also have fee-earner responsibility on a small number of highly complex cases in order to achieve the optimum outcome for the client.
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Main Responsibilities
- Completing aspects of highly complex legal casework, to include the drafting and negotiating of complex legal documents, in order to achieve the optimum outcome for the client.
- Represent the relevant client at all high-level case-related meetings, including conducting complex advocacy on evidence, to include cross-examination of witnesses and experts at court hearings.
- Management of junior members of the team and ensuring the appropriate professional development of team members as required.
- Working with senior colleagues to achieve the financial objectives of the LSU and presenting creative solutions to ensure that the LSU stays within budgetary restrictions.
Essential Criteria
- A Solicitor, Fellow of CILEX with litigation rights or a Barrister with practising certificate authorised to conduct litigation with substantial experience in the relevant legal area.
- Extensive experience in the relevant field in a legal environment and an in-depth understanding of the laws relating to the role and demonstrable experience of completing all aspects of complex legal casework.
- Experience of representing clients at high-level case-related meetings and conducting complex advocacy on evidence in the relevant tribunals.
- An ability to clearly and engagingly communicate in all media forms; verbally, digitally, and in writing.
- An ability to draft complex legal documents.
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Interviews
Interviews will be held on the 26th August 2026 in Stafford.
Due to the business need, this is a full-time role across Monday – Friday, and we could not currently consider part-time working.
Informal Chat
For an informal chat about the role, please contact:
- Wendy Lofthouse, Deputy Legal Services Manager, wendy.lofthouse@staffordshire.gov.uk
- Manisha Makwana, Principal Lawyer (Employment), manisha.makwana@staffordshire.gov.uk
Our Recruitment Process
We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what you’ll bring to the role. Please note: The minimum essential criteria in the ideal candidate section detailed above will be used if you are applying under one of our Interview Guarantee Schemes.
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