Welcome to the latest edition of our North East Jobs Thursday Spotlight page!

Spotlight is your weekly focus of some of the fantastic positions available across our region.

Each week, we highlight some of the best and most interesting new vacancies listed on our site, and also speak to people from different local councils and public sector organisations from around the North East to find out more about what it's like to work in the public sector.

This week we are taking a close look at some legal vacancies from around the north east.

THIS WEEK'S SPOTLIGHT

Director of Law and Corporate Governance (Monitoring Officer)
Northumberland County Council
Salary: £140,656 - £158,197 • Closing date: 8th November

Northumberland County Council are seeking an outstanding, credible leader to become their next Director of Law & Corporate Governance and Monitoring Officer. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, you'll provide strategic legal and governance leadership across one of England's largest unitary authorities, acting as a highly trusted adviser to elected members and senior officers.

You're a highly accomplished legal professional with a calm, collaborative approach who can confidently navigate complex, sensitive issues. By maintaining the highest standards of governance and supporting effective decision-making, you'll help drive forward a high-performing, resident-focused council and ensure the best outcomes for Northumberland's communities.

Commercial Solicitor
Gateshead Council
Salary: £49,817 - £53,051 • Closing date: 2nd November 2026

Gateshead Council are looking for a solutions-focused Commercial Solicitor to provide clear, expert legal advice on commercial contracts and public sector procurement. You'll handle a diverse portfolio of specialist work—from construction and IT contracts to grants, joint ventures, and subsidy control—ensuring absolute compliance with legislation and the council’s governance framework.

You're an expert legal thinker who excels at managing your own procurement caseload and building strong relationships with stakeholders and senior officers. By securing lawful, effective, and value-driven commercial activity, you'll play a vital role in protecting the council's interests and making Gateshead a place where everyone can thrive.

Paralegal (two roles)
Tees Valley Combined Authority
Salary: £35,570 - £38,510 • Closing date: 2nd November 2026

Tees Valley Combined Authority are expanding their Legal Services team and looking for two proactive individuals to provide vital legal and administrative support. Working closely with lawyers and internal clients, you'll dive into a broad range of legal work, assisting with case management, thorough legal research, document preparation, and file administration.

You're a collaborative, highly professional individual looking to develop your practical legal experience within a supportive environment. By helping lawyers manage complex workloads and delivering timely advice, you'll ensure the organisation achieves its strategic objectives in a lawful, effective, and well-governed way.

Senior Lawyer (two roles)
Tees Valley Combined Authority
Salary: £66,947 - £69,649 • Closing date: 2nd November 2026

Tees Valley Combined Authority are seeking two experienced Senior Lawyers to deliver high-quality, commercially focused legal guidance across the organisation. Acting as a technical lead, you'll manage a varied and complex caseload, represent Legal Services on high-profile projects, inquiries, and hearings, and provide expert strategic advice to senior officers and elected members.

You're a pragmatic legal practitioner with strong line management experience, ready to mentor legal assistants and champion continuous service improvement. By building collaborative relationships and identifying risk, you'll provide the constructive challenge needed to support strong governance and ensure the successful delivery of organisational priorities.

Legal Clerical Assistant (part-time)
Durham County Council
Salary: £27,274 - £29,542 pro rata • Closing date: 25th October 2026

Durham County Council are looking for an organised administrative professional to deliver vital, high-quality support across a diverse range of litigation and governance areas. Your day-to-day duties will be incredibly varied, encompassing everything from preparing professional court bundles and executing road closure notices to leading FOI administration and coordinating critical governance meetings.

You're an enthusiastic clerical assistant looking to build your skills in a supportive, professional legal environment. By seamlessly managing financial billing, executing legal formalities, and keeping complex documentation on track, you'll do meaningful work that directly impacts the local community.

Legal Officer
Newcastle City Council
Salary: £30,023 - £32,046 • Closing date: 4th November 2026

Newcastle City Council are seeking an enthusiastic Legal Officer to join their Housing & Litigation Team on a temporary fixed-term basis. This brand-new role focuses on vital debt recovery work for unpaid civil penalties—specifically covering the Clean Air Zone, Bus Lane Enforcement, and Parking—ensuring efficient and accurate case progression.

You're an experienced professional with excellent drafting skills, strong IT capabilities, and the ability to manage your own complex caseload to strict deadlines. Working within a highly supportive environment, you'll apply your exceptional attention to detail to drive fair, effective debt recovery processes that directly support the city's regulatory functions.
Find out more about each role and apply from the links below: