Location: Carlisle based offices plus travel to committees (where required)
Salary: £51,356 to £52,413 per annum
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
*Internal Only*
We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Lead Lawyer to join our Legal Services team. This is an exciting opportunity to provide high-quality, commercial, and practical legal services on matters of significant complexity and corporate importance, supporting the Council in achieving its lawful objectives and maintaining strong corporate governance.
Key Responsibilities
- Supervise and develop designated team members in line with Legal Services practice standards.
- Manage a caseload of complex, high-risk, and corporately significant files, including representation in courts, tribunals, and other bodies.
- Provide expert legal advice to support strategic planning, policy development, projects, governance, and decision-making.
- Lead in one or more specialist areas of law, ensuring cost-effective delivery of legal services.
- Advise senior managers and elected members on legislative changes, case law, and emerging developments.
- Contribute to service planning and the development of high standards of legal practice management.
Essential Criteria
- Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Chartered Legal Executive (ILEX) with at least 3 years post-qualification experience and a current practising certificate.
- Expertise in at least one specialist technical area relevant to the team and knowledge of local government/administrative law.
- Proven experience managing complex legal matters and providing strategic advice.
- For litigation specialists: experience in court advocacy.
What We Offer
- Opportunity to lead and shape legal services in a dynamic environment.
- Professional development and mentoring opportunities.
- A collaborative and supportive team culture.
This role is available on a Permanent basis.
Who We’re Looking For
We’re looking for individuals who embody our organisation's core values: ambitious,collaborative, compassionate, empowering, and innovative. We believe in the power of these values to drive positive change, deliver excellent public services and shape a better future for our communities.
We’re also about potential over perfection and we can help you grow in the role and thrive in your career.
Be sure to take a look at the post specification (below) for the essential criteria for this role.
Contact
For more information about the role or to arrange an informal chat prior to your application, please contact Elizabeth Hore by email at Elizabeth.Hore@Cumberland.gov.uk
Guaranteed Interviews
We offer a guaranteed interview to the following applicants
as long as your application can demonstrate you meet the essential criteria for the role.
- Those who consider themselves disabled as defined by the Equality Act 2010
- Those in care or who have left care and are aged 24 and under
- Those who identify as a member of the British Armed Forces community (service leavers, veterans, their partners or spouses, reservists, cadets).
If you meet one or more of the criteria above, and wish to be considered for this scheme, select 'yes' to the appropriate question during your application. Find out more.
Diversity, Inclusion & Adjustments
We’re dedicated to enhancing the diversity of our workforce and we encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. That’s why we’re a proud Disability Confident Leader and also an Age Friendly Employer – to provide opportunities for everyone to thrive.
If you need any reasonable adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please let either the hiring manager or our Resourcing Team know by emailing
Resourcing@Cumberland.gov.uk. While adjustments aren’t always guaranteed, we’ll always listen and we’ll try our best to accommodate your needs.
Application and Interview information
Easily apply by submitting your CV and answering a few short questions
- Closing date: 12/12/2025
- Interview date:TBC
Please note this role may close early subject to demand. If you’re interested in applying, you should apply well before the advised closing date. We cannot accept applications once the role has closed.
Please Read The Supporting Information
Please also refer to our Careers site to find out more:
- Our Staff Benefits
- Candidate Support
- About Cumberland Council
