We are a forward-thinking, modern authority known for our strong financial management. We are ambitious and encourage our employees to be bold and innovative in their work. We have a large in-house corporate legal team consisting of lawyers, trainees and support staff with a key focus on staff training, retention and progression.

Role

We are looking for an experienced solicitor/fellow of CILEX with practice rights to join our busy commercial property team.

The team undertakes a substantial and often highly complex caseload of commercial property transactions and strategic projects for all Council departments and external clients. Much of this work goes beyond routine conveyancing and involves high‑value, multi‑party and legally challenging matters.

All staff in legal services are currently required to attend our offices in Stafford at least once a week or more frequently if there is a business need to do so.

Some of your responsibilities will include:

• Providing complex legal advice to clients on a variety of commercial property transactions including (but not limited to) sales, purchases, leases, development agreements including those to facilitate the delivery of new schools, highways and healthcare facilities, Compulsory purchase, option agreements, overage, lockout agreements.
• Advising on draft Cabinet and Committee reports and attendance at meetings where required.
• Supervising junior staff members and delivering training where necessary.
• Adhering to the Legal Services Unit’s LEXCEL quality standards.
• Contributing to Staffordshire Legal Services’ marketing and selling services.

The minimum criteria that will be used to shortlist for this role will be:

We are looking for you to be a qualified Solicitor/fellow of CILEX with practice rights or Barrister with:

• Proven commercial property experience, within either the public sector and/or private practice. 
• An extensive understanding of the law relating to commercial property.
• Experience in representing and advising clients at high level case related meetings. 
• The ability to clearly and engagingly communicate whether verbally, digitally or in writing. 
• The ability to draft complex legal agreements.

This is a hybrid role so you will be required to attend our offices in Stafford for part of the week.

We’re happy to talk flexible working.  

If you have any queries regarding this role, please contact Mair Young on 01785 276200 or at mair.young@staffordshire.gov.uk or Vanessa Rigby on 01785 854915 or at vanessa.rigby@staffordshire.gov.uk.

Interviews: w/c 9 November 2026

Our Recruitment Process: We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what you’ll bring to the role.

Please note: The minimum essential criteria in the ideal section detailed above will be used if you are applying under one of our Interview Guarantee Schemes.

We are no ordinary county council:

Our Values:

The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.

Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:

We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.

We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too. 

Our benefits:

We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance. 

In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to Our rewards and benefits - Careers at Staffordshire

Our recruitment process:

As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities

As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.