Senior Lawyer

Senior Lawyer (Property)

Derbyshire County Council is currently seeking a highly skilled and motivated property lawyer to join our legal team.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work in a dynamic and progressive local authority, providing legal advice and support to the council and its various departments. Working in local government is a highly satisfying and rewarding experience in so many ways, in this role, you will play a vital role in ensuring that the Council operates within the legal framework and delivers high-quality services to the residents of Derbyshire.

This is an exciting time to join and lead our legal team, giving you the opportunity to really make this role your own and have a strong influence on how we deliver our services. So, if you’re looking to work for a forward thinking and innovative authority, joining this ambitious and dynamic team could be the perfect opportunity for you to really make a difference.

At Derbyshire County Council, we recognise that our workforce is our greatest asset, and we are currently looking for inspired and proactive people who are committed to new ways of thinking and working and you will enjoy an excellent range of benefits at Derbyshire County Council. 

Key responsibilities of this role are:

• You will be a practising lawyer (Solicitor Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive)with substantial knowledge of property law
• Providing specialist advice and guidance in relation to property matters to client departments and others and to represent them at meetings, resolving any issues arising.
• Undertaking special projects particularly relating to property as required by the Principal Lawyer (Commercial and Property) and Assistant Director of Legal Services and to prepare reports and other advisory documents as may be required.
• Assisting the Principal Lawyer (Commercial and Property) in supervising the work undertaken by the Section.
• Joining a dedicated and supportive team in Legal Services, you’ll be committed to working efficiently to deliver timely accurate and effective advice.

What skills and experience do you need to have:

• Substantial experience of advising in areas of property law
• Knowledge of current legislation and case law relating to areas of property law.
• To be a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive (FCILEx)
• The ability to give clear and accurate legal advice, including training.
• The ability to advise and guide team members and to lead, organise, develop, and motivate them
• A high level of communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to negotiate and influence across a range of audiences.

These lists are not exhaustive, take a look at our comprehensive job profile for more detail.

What we offer you: 

• 27 days of annual leave plus another 5 with 5 years of continuous service
• Flexi time, allowing flexible working hours and up to an additional 2 days of leave per month
• Generous local government pension scheme
• Guaranteed incremental annual pay increases
• Cycle to work scheme
• A supportive working environment
• Commitment and investment in your continuing professional development. 
• Discounts at selected county leisure centres
• and much more!

Our Legal Team is contractually based in Matlock, Derbyshire, but we work on a flexible basis which includes options for home working.  There’ll be an opportunity to discuss future working arrangements at interview.

Derbyshire County Council is going through a period of positive development and transformation so it’s a great time to join and drive change.

Important: Derbyshire County Council holds a sponsorship licence, but this role does not offer visa sponsorship. Please apply only if you already have the right to work in the UK without sponsorship, as applications that do not meet this requirement will be rejected.

We welcome applications from individuals who share our values — being Collaborative, Innovative, Empowered and Accountable. These values describe who we are and what we stand for as a council. They help shape our culture, encourage consistent behaviour and guide how we work together to make a positive difference for both our employees and the residents we serve.

For an informal discussion about this role please contact Julia Gale, Principal Lawyer julia.gale@derbyshire.gov.uk

How to Apply:

Complete and submit the application form.

 Provisional Interview Date: week commencing 10 November 2025