Locum Senior Lawyer (Contracts & Procurement)

Locum Senior Lawyer (Contracts & Procurement)

Duration: Approx. 3 months (until permanent Senior Lawyer commences)

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Locum Senior Lawyer (Contracts & Procurement) to provide short-term support to our Commercial Legal Team pending the arrival of a permanent appointment.

The successful candidate will be expected to join an established local authority legal team and manage a varied commercial and procurement caseload with minimal supervision from day one.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced local government lawyer who can quickly integrate into an existing team and provide high-quality legal support across a range of commercial matters.

Main Responsibilities

• Manage a complex caseload of commercial contracts and procurement matters.
• Advise Council officers and senior stakeholders on procurement and commercial legal issues.
• Draft, negotiate and advise on a wide range of commercial agreements.
• Advise on public procurement, contract modifications, governance and procurement strategy.
• Support major projects, regeneration initiatives and service procurements.
• Advise on contract disputes and associated risk management issues.
• Attend client meetings and provide practical, solution-focused advice.
• Provide support and guidance to junior members of the team where required.

Essential Experience

Candidates must demonstrate:

• Significant experience advising on commercial contracts and public procurement matters.
• Recent local government or wider public sector legal experience.
• Strong knowledge of the Procurement Act 2023 and/or PCR 2015.
• Experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements.
• Ability to manage a substantial caseload independently with minimal supervision.
• Experience advising senior officers and stakeholders.
• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or FCILEx with a current practising certificate.

Desirable Experience

• Construction, housing, regeneration or infrastructure project experience.
• Subsidy Control experience.
• Grant funding agreements.
• JCT and/or NEC contracts.
• Experience advising on contract modifications and procurement challenges.
• Experience of local authority governance and decision-making processes.

Key Attributes

We are looking for someone who can:

• Hit the ground running.
• Work independently.
• Deliver pragmatic, commercially-focused advice.
• Build effective relationships with clients and colleagues.
• Operate confidently in a local government environment.JD

Location: Remote