£61,325 - £70,706 per annum

About Us
Three Rivers District in South West Hertfordshire straddles the north west corner of the M25 on the edge of Greater London. The district is a mixture of beautiful countryside, villages and small towns. The area has a diverse range of sectors and businesses and is a centre for the film industry with Warner Brothers at Leavesden forming part of a studio cluster along with Elstree and Pinewood at a short drive away.

At a glance

• 700 historic assets and 22 conservation areas, with 77% of the district in the Green Belt
• 1,914 NNDR registered businesses with the economy providing 39,000 jobs
• Very low crime rate
• The district ranks highly for business registrations and start-ups, with a highly skilled and trained workforce and high employment levels, with GVA and weekly earnings above average

We’re proud that so many people choose to live, work and visit here, and even prouder that our brilliant team loves working here too! In our latest staff survey, 88% said they find their work fulfilling and rewarding, over 90% said they can rely on their colleagues, and nearly 90% felt they have meaningful goals to aim for.

We are now looking for a Principal Lawyer to join us on a full-time, permanent basis, working 37 hours per week.

The Benefits

• Salary of £61,325 - £70,706 per annum
• 29 days’ holiday per annum, rising to 31 days
• Generous employer pension contribution
• Life assurance
• Flexible working
• Career development opportunities
• Free on-site parking
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Discounted leisure centre membership
• Employee volunteering schemes
• Access to discounted activities and days out

This is an exceptional opportunity for a qualified criminal and civil litigation Solicitor or Barrister with substantial experience in licensing and local government law to join our ambitious Council.

You’ll have the chance to take on one of the most influential senior legal roles within the Council, applying your expertise and using your legal judgement to help shape vital outcomes across a wide range of functions.

What’s more, you’ll join a council where people feel supported, valued and genuinely fulfilled in their work, with flexible working and a strong all-round benefits package contributing to a positive working environment.

So, if you’re ready to bring your expertise to a role with real strategic influence, read on and apply today.

The Role 
As a Principal Lawyer, you will lead our litigation and licensing legal work, providing expert legal advice, advocacy and representation.

Managing a complex caseload across criminal and civil litigation, you will represent the Council at court proceedings, enforcement action and appeals, while providing specialist advice on licensing and regulatory matters.

You will also act as Legal Adviser to the Licensing Authority and Licensing Sub-Committee, ensuring robust and legally compliant decision-making across a broad range of regulatory functions.

Additionally, you will:

• Support the Monitoring Officer and act as Deputy Monitoring Officer where required
• Advise Members, senior officers and departments on local government law and governance
• Lead the interpretation and implementation of new legislation, case law and regulatory developments
• Prepare reports, legal opinions and recommendations for committees and officers
• Develop legal procedures and documentation arising from legislative change
• Deliver legal training and guidance to Members and officers
• Support the supervision and mentoring of junior legal staff

About You
To be considered as a Principal Lawyer, you will need:

• To be a qualified Solicitor or Barrister, entitled to practice in England and Wales, with substantial post-qualification experience in litigation, licensing and local government law
• Significant post-qualification experience in criminal and civil litigation
• Extensive experience advising on licensing and regulatory matters
• Experience of advocacy before Magistrates' Courts, County Courts, tribunals, and quasi-judicial committees
• Experience advising elected Members, senior officers, and departments on complex legal issues
• Experience instructing and managing counsel and external legal advisers
• Experience within a legal practice or local government legal environment
• Experience managing a substantial and complex caseload and competing priorities
• Detailed knowledge of criminal litigation, prosecution practice, and court procedures
• Detailed knowledge of civil litigation and the Civil Procedure Rules
• Detailed knowledge of licensing law, licensing committee procedures and regulatory enforcement
• Good knowledge of housing and anti-social behaviour legislation and related enforcement powers
• Broad knowledge of local government law, governance, decision-making and the statutory framework within which local authorities operate
• A sound understanding of current legislation, case law and regulatory developments affecting local government functions

A DBS check will be carried out for this post.

Other organisations may call this role Senior Lawyer, Senior Solicitor, Solicitor, Barrister, Litigation Lawyer, Licensing Lawyer, Local Government Lawyer, In-House Solicitor, or Senior Legal Counsel.

Webrecruit and Three Rivers District Council are equal opportunities employers, value diversity and are strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business and we believe that the more inclusive our environments are, the better our work will be.

So, if you’re looking for an influential role as a Principal Lawyer, please apply via the button shown. This vacancy is being advertised by Webrecruit. The services advertised by Webrecruit are those of an Employment Agency.

Closing date: 26 July 2026

For further information or to apply, please click on the 'Enquire/Apply' button below.