We are seeking an experienced and capable Senior Professional Support Lawyer (PSL) to support our Disputes Resolution group, with a particular emphasis on our public law and procurement disputes, public inquiries, and complex commercial litigation in the TCC and Commercial Court.
This is an intellectually demanding role at the heart of a nationally recognised public law disputes team. The successful candidate will be instrumental in providing technical legal support, thought leadership, and training across a range and mix of high-profile/high-value matters and more regularly encountered issues, often involving public bodies and regulatory frameworks.
This role requires a lawyer who combines deep legal expertise with a strong sense of strategic insight, a high level of responsiveness, and a collaborative mindset. The PSL will be expected to work closely with partners and fee-earners in the Disputes Resolution Group (and, as appropriate, across the firm) to help ensure the team maintains and develops its market profile.
This is a full-time opportunity but we are open to applications from candidates who wish to work part-time.
Key responsibilities:
1. Legal knowhow and knowledge strategy
- Respond to complex legal and procedural queries across a wide range of contentious public law and commercial matters, including judicial reviews, procurement challenges, statutory appeals, and regulatory disputes.
- Serve as an internal consultant on high-stakes litigation, acting as a sounding board for partners and senior litigators on strategy, developments in case law, litigation tactics, and procedural issues.
- Develop, maintain, and curate a robust and user-friendly knowledge base that includes precedents, guidance notes, case summaries, practice notes, and key external resources tailored to the team’s specialist work.
- Produce and circulate regular legal bulletins and fortnightly digest updates on new case law, legislative developments, and practice directions affecting litigation in the Administrative Court, Commercial Court, and TCC.
- Monitor developments in judicial review, procurement law, and public inquiries, ensuring that the team is well-informed and responsive to emerging risks and opportunities for clients.
- Lead horizon-scanning initiatives across public and commercial disputes, identifying upcoming legal issues, strategic risks, and changes in government policy or judicial guidance likely to affect our practice and clients.
2. Technical training and development
- Design and deliver technical training programmes and masterclasses for lawyers at all levels, covering legal updates, litigation tactics, developments in public law, procurement regimes, and best practice in public inquiries.
- Coordinate knowledge-sharing initiatives across practice groups to ensure cross-disciplinary learning in areas of public law litigation.
- Support junior lawyers and trainees with legal research and drafting support in niche areas of law relevant to the firm’s disputes practice.
3. Fee-earner support and thought leadership
- Assist fee earners in preparing and delivering client training, particularly for central government departments, regulators, statutory bodies, and commercial clients operating in regulated industries.
- Create client alerts, explainers, and strategic guidance notes on topics such as public procurement reform, investigatory processes, litigation funding, and judicial review trends.
- Lead the legal content strategy for relevant BD campaigns, pitches, and tender submissions – particularly those targeting government panels, public authorities, and complex disputes mandates.
- Draft and edit articles, blogs, and legal commentaries that position the team as thought leaders across public law and commercial litigation arenas.
4. Strategic practice development and market positioning
- Work with partners and the wider team to support the long-term strategy for the disputes group, identifying new areas of growth, technical capability, and sectoral alignment.
- Lead the development of technical and legal content for use in marketing campaigns, client briefings, industry commentary, legal directories and awards submissions.
- Ensure consistent high-quality legal messaging across all external and internal content, helping to build the team’s reputation for excellence in handling complex, high-value, and novel disputes.
5. Team leadership, mentorship, and collaboration
- Act as a mentor and knowledge leader for the team, supporting the learning and development of junior fee earners.
- Lead by example in professionalism, collaboration, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
- Foster a culture of curiosity, excellence, and legal rigour within the wider team and across the firm’s contentious practice groups.
6. Legal compliance, risk, and professional standards
- Ensure the team’s legal and procedural materials are aligned with the latest regulatory frameworks, including the Civil Procedure Rules, Procurement Act, SRA Code of Conduct, and relevant inquiry protocols.
- Provide guidance on risk, privilege, confidentiality, and legal process in the context of sensitive disputes and inquiries involving public or high-profile clients.
- Promote compliance with firm-wide governance, equality, and risk management practices.
Qualifications and experience
Essential
- Qualified solicitor (or equivalent) with a minimum of 6–8 years’ post-qualification experience in litigation or dispute resolution.
- Strong and current experience in public law disputes, procurement litigation, or public inquiries.
- Demonstrable track record of dealing with complex litigation in the Administrative Court, Commercial Court or TCC, with a high degree of procedural familiarity.
- Outstanding written and analytical skills, with the ability to convert technical legal concepts into accessible materials for internal and external audiences.
- Strong understanding of the strategic, reputational, and commercial dynamics of disputes involving public sector clients or regulatory scrutiny.
Desirable
- Experience working in a City law firm, central government department / GLD, or national regulatory body.
- Familiarity with public inquiries and investigations, including roles under the Inquiries Act and related procedural rules.
- Strong academic background (minimum 2:1 or equivalent).
- Legal tech literacy, including document management systems and knowledge platforms.
Key attributes and competencies
- A deep commitment to supporting a high-performing disputes team through exceptional legal insight, structured knowledge support, and practical guidance.
- A forward-looking mindset: able to anticipate change, identify legal trends, and support the team in staying ahead of the curve.
- Excellent collaborator, communicator, and strategic thinker, with the confidence to work directly with partners and fee-earners
- Organised, efficient, and calm under pressure—able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a meticulous standard of work.
Why join us?
We have been recognised as an outstanding place to work by Best Companies in 2024, 2023 and 2022 and ranked 1st in 2023 as the best mid-sized company to work for. We are a purpose driven organisation with an active social committee, Corporate Social responsibility committee, Equity and Diversity forum and Wellbeing Leadership Group. We are a signatory to the Mindful Business Charter.
It is central to our values that our teams reflect the diverse community around us and that everyone at Sharpe Pritchard can be themselves and bring their authentic selves to work. Achieving true equality, diversity and inclusion is a core aim and we very much welcome applications from all sections of our diverse community, irrespective of race or racial group, sex, sexual orientation, sexual identity, religion or belief, age or disability. We make reasonable adjustments within the recruitment process and upon joining the firm to support applicants of all abilities.
What you will be getting in return
A generous bonus scheme is on offer alongside a competitive salary. You will gain professional development with a structured path to advancing your career. We provide a generous benefits package that includes but is not limited to;
- Generous annual leave, starting at 28 days leave per annum (two days of which must be taken at Christmas on dates decided by the firm)
- Private Pension
- Private Medical Insurance
- Life assurance
- Income protection
- Aviva Smart health (including virtual GP service)
- Health and wellbeing app
- Individual learning and development and business development budgets
- Hybrid working
Regular team events including:
- Social committee events throughout the year
- Monthly all staff lunches
We are committed to diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community irrespective of race or racial group, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age or disability.
We make reasonable adjustments within the recruitment process and upon joining the firm to support applicants of all abilities.
