Lawyer/Solicitor (Adults & Litigation)
Job Summary
Working Pattern:
Full time
Advert Start Date:
07/10/2026
Advert End Date:
18/10/2026 23:59
Salary:
£39,481 - £51,928
Employment Location:
Stockton-on-Tees
Further Information
Career Grade K-N £39,481 - £51,928 | Up to 37 hours per week | Flexible and Agile Working | Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
Are you looking to grow your legal career in a supportive, forward-thinking local authority with a strong commitment to flexibility, development and professional growth?
Would you like to pick your hours and working pattern to achieve true work/life balance?
In this varied role, you’ll manage your own caseload, giving clear and practical legal advice across areas such as Adult Social Care, Education/SEND, Licensing, Regulatory services and Prosecutions. You’ll prepare and progress cases, draft documents and support services to make informed decisions. While the role offers a broad mix of work, we are particularly keen to hear from applicants who enjoy, or are looking to develop, the litigation side of practice. This includes prosecutions work, housing litigation and county court matters, supported by experienced colleagues.
You’ll represent the Council at court, tribunals, appeals and Licensing Committees, developing your advocacy skills with support where needed. Collaboration is key - you’ll work closely with colleagues across the Council and external partners to move cases forward and contribute to wider projects and policies.
Staying up to date with changes in legislation is part of your routine, as is taking part in ongoing training, mentoring and development opportunities.
Why join us?
Choose how you work
You can shape a working pattern that truly fits your life. We offer up to 37 hours per week, and you decide how to structure them.
Work from:
- Home
- Court locations across the region
- Our modern HQ at Dunedin House - bright, modern, with excellent transport links and free parking
We trust skilled professionals to work where they are most effective.
Career Grade K-N: Real progression in practice
Our career-grade structure means your role grows as you do:
- Grade K: ideal for those still developing or working towards full qualification
- Grades L-N: for qualified practitioners ready to take on greater independence, advocacy, and complex casework
You’ll progress based on competency, contribution, and experience; not simply time served.
Learn from a wide-ranging legal specialism
You’ll work closely with experienced colleagues and specialist solicitors spanning multiple disciplines. Your caseload will never be one-note; expect variety, challenge and ongoing opportunity to broaden your practice.
A genuine commitment to development
We invest heavily in ongoing training, CPD, mentoring and structured skill-building. Whether you’re newly qualified, developing your advocacy skills, or preparing for senior progression, you’ll receive tailored support and professional supervision from a senior Legal Professional.
Who we’re looking for:
We welcome applications from:
- Qualified solicitors, barristers or FCILEX or
- Part-qualified or aspiring lawyers looking for a supported development route
- Individuals with an interest in Education, SEND or Regulatory services (experience is welcome but not essential)
- Individuals with experience in one or more of the relevant areas
- Those passionate about public service, collaboration and making a difference to our communities
Want to chat first?
Contact Rebecca Jackson (Rebecca.jackson@stockton.gov.uk)
Ready to apply?
Join a legal team where your growth, wellbeing and career matter.
Apply now and shape the future with us.
Please note that we’re unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role, so candidates will need to have an existing right to work in the UK.
Important Applicant Guidance
Accuracy and Use of AI Tools: You must ensure that anything submitted in your application is factually accurate. Plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. Whilst we accept candidates may use AI tools within job applications; submissions must be truthful and relevant to your own experience.
Application Updates and Communication: All updates regarding your application, including interview invitations, will be sent from ‘DONOTREPLY@NORTHEASTJOBS.ORG.UK’ to the email linked to your North East Jobs account, and will also appear in the ‘My Messages’ section of your account.
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exemptions): This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended). Applicants are therefore required to disclose all criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings, including those which would normally be considered spent, subject to the filtering rules applicable under current legislation.
Right to Work: All applicants must provide valid proof of their right to work in the UK in accordance with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s statutory employment checks. Employment cannot commence or continue unless this has been verified.
Council Principles: The Council’s recruitment principles require fairness, transparency, and a commitment to attracting and developing local talent.
Limitations: Where an individual cannot demonstrate a valid right to work in the UK, the Council will be unable to progress or continue the appointment. This includes cases where an existing employee’s visa is due to expire and sponsorship is not granted.