L76-Senior Solicitor - Planning, Property, Contracts and Procurement - Job Description

Sep 13, 2026

The role of L76 Senior Solicitor within the MON Monitoring Officer Directorate’s Legal Services division focuses on delivering accurate, timely legal advice and supporting effective delivery across Planning, Property, Contracts and Procurement. Core responsibilities include advising officers and Members to ensure lawful council action under the Constitution, attending and advising committees and governance bodies, deputising the Principal Solicitor, and producing legally robust comments for reports within deadlines. The position also covers commercial transaction risk and vires advice, electoral service support, governance and conduct investigations, case management modernization, staff coaching, ICT proficiency, equal opportunities compliance, and attendance at meetings outside normal hours.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResumes

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time1 min

AccessFree to download

Main Purpose

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Designated Car User

Special Conditions and Restrictions

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JOB DESCRIPTION Directorate: MON – Monitoring Officer Directorate Division: Legal Services Post No & Job Title: L76-Senior Solicitor (Planning, Property, Contracts and Procurement) . Grade: 12 Responsible to: Principal Solicitor (L9) Responsible for: No direct responsibility for staff Main purpose of the job: The post holder is responsible for providing legal advice and effective delivery of Legal Services with a particular focus on Planning, Property, Contracts and Procurement functions Main Duties and Responsibilities: 1. To provide accurate and timely legal advice on Planning, Property and all other noncontentious work including Contracts and Procurement to internal officers and Members as necessary. To ensure the Council acts lawfully and within its agreed Constitution, in particular on Planning, Property, Contracts and Procurement matters. 2. Attend the Council’s Planning Committee as the legal advisor to the Committee and to attend and represent the Council at various meetings, Committees, Cabinet or full Council where required by the Principal Solicitor in order to provide a legal or governance advice and advice on interest issues, as may arise. 3. To deputise for the Principal Solicitor as necessary. 4. To provide necessary legal comments and advice on Committee, Cabinet, full Council reports within the required Committee deadlines to ensure the democratic services deadlines are achieved. 5. To consider and deal with all instructions relating to the Economic Development and Levelling Up instructions including but not limited to drafting/advising on contracts, conducting searches, general enquiries and investigation of title and represent Legal Services at the group meetings. 6. To consider and undertake all instructions relating to the Housing Delivery Plan including but not limited to drafting reports on title, conducting searches and investigation of title, purchase of commercial properties and represent Legal Services at the group meetings. 7. To provide advice and support to junior and less experienced legal staff and any other less experienced legal staff and assist with their training requirements. 8. To advise on the vires, legality and prudence of the Council’s commercial transactions including the drafting and advising on renewal of contracts. To ensure advice on implications and risks of entering contracts are fully understood and that the interests of the Council are protected. Ensuring compliance with Financial Regulations rules, as set out in the Council’s Constitution are fully adhered to. 9. To represent the Council on such outside bodies as required in support of the Principal Solicitor, including joint committees and private companies which may from time to time be owned by the Council and promote good external relations, effective partnership working and a positive image of the Council. 10.To fully utilise the legal case management system and ensure it is fully embedded to continuously modernise the service through effective case management. 11.To undertake performance of the day to day Legal Services work, including contentious instructions as required, to support service delivery, implementation of business plans, personal action plans and professional standards in accordance with the Council’s policies and corporate goals. , To advice and represent as necessary on litigious matterson behalf of the Council in the Magistrates and County Court, If necessary to support service delivery. 12.To assist the Head of Legal in delivering an efficient electoral service which complies with electoral legislation and meets the performance standards set by the Electoral Commission for electoral registration and elections. 13.To support and advice as necessary on Governance and constitutional issues including processing and assisting with Code of Conduct complaints and investigations, as necessary 14.To maintain continual development training and experience in order t

FAQs

What is the main purpose of the L76 Senior Solicitor role?

The postholder provides legal advice and ensures effective delivery of Legal Services with a focus on Planning, Property, Contracts and Procurement functions.

What are the key legal duties regarding council governance and planning?

The role includes timely legal advice to officers and Members, attending the Planning Committee as legal advisor, and providing legal comments on committee, cabinet, and council reports within required deadlines.

How does the position support commercial and housing-related work?

The role advises on vires, legality, and prudence of commercial transactions, including contract renewal, and supports Housing Delivery Plan instructions such as drafting reports on title, conducting searches, and investigating title.

Sep 13, 2026

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