At West Northants Council, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As a Senior Lawyer (Employment), you’ll play a key role in helping the Council create and maintain a positive, legally compliant working environment for our workforce. Working within our Law and Governance service, you’ll provide expert legal advice on a wide range of employment matters, supporting leadership teams and HR colleagues to navigate complex issues with confidence.
This is an exciting opportunity to join one of England’s newest and largest unitary councils and be part of a modern, forward-thinking legal team. Whether you are already working in local government, looking to move from private practice or returning to the profession after a career break, you’ll find a supportive environment where your expertise can make a genuine difference and where your career development is encouraged.
What will you be doing?
You’ll manage a varied caseload of employment law matters, providing practical and commercially focused legal advice on issues including disciplinary and grievance processes, discrimination claims, whistleblowing concerns, restructures, TUPE transfers, recruitment matters and exit arrangements. You’ll work closely with Human Resources and senior officers, supporting them to make informed decisions while ensuring legal risks are effectively managed.
A key part of the role will involve managing Employment Tribunal cases on behalf of the Council, including liaising with ACAS, drafting responses to claims and undertaking advocacy where appropriate. You’ll also advise on member and officer conduct matters, support organisational projects and contribute to the development of policies, procedures and best practice. As a senior member of the team, you’ll help develop colleagues through mentoring, guidance and knowledge sharing, while contributing to the continued growth of a high-performing and customer-focused legal service.
It’s an exciting time to join our legal team as we continue to develop and strengthen our services.
About you
You’re a qualified Solicitor with strong employment law experience and a passion for delivering high-quality legal advice. You’re comfortable managing complex and sensitive matters, representing clients in tribunals and providing clear, pragmatic guidance that supports positive outcomes.
You bring excellent communication and advocacy skills, strong legal judgement and the ability to build effective relationships with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels. You enjoy working collaboratively, thrive in a fast-paced environment and are committed to continuous learning and service improvement. Local government experience is welcomed but not essential; what matters most is your ability to provide expert employment law support and your commitment to making a positive impact.
West Northants is a great place to build your career. With a focus on wellbeing, flexibility, mentoring, coaching and professional development, we are committed to helping our people thrive. Above all, you’ll share our THRIVE values and our ambition to deliver excellent legal services that support our colleagues, services and communities
