Senior Lawyer

Senior Lawyer (Litigation) - Swindon Borough Council

£57,800 | Permanent | Hybrid Working (1 day a week in the office)

At Swindon Borough Council, we are building a legal service that people genuinely want to be part of. A team where colleagues support each other, where development is taken seriously, and where lawyers are trusted to do high-quality work that has a visible impact on the community around them. We are now looking for a Senior Lawyer to join our Litigation team.

The Role

This is a broad and engaging litigation role offering exposure to a wide range of contentious matters across the Council’s responsibilities. The work includes areas such as: regulatory enforcement, trading standards, anti-social behaviour, housing litigation and disrepair, landlord and tenant matters, licensing, debt recovery, governance and data protection issues.

You will manage your own caseload with a high degree of autonomy whilst working closely with officers, senior stakeholders and elected members across the organisation. Advocacy experience is welcomed, and you will have the opportunity to represent the Council in courts, tribunals and hearings where appropriate.

Why Swindon?

There is a real momentum around the Council at the moment. Swindon was shortlisted for “Most Improved Council” at the 2025 LGC Awards, whilst Chief Executive Sam Mowbray was shortlisted for “Chief Executive of the Year”. Behind those awards is a genuine focus on improvement, collaboration and long-term vision.

For lawyers, that translates into a legal team that is well-supported, well-regarded internally, and invested in its people. Some of the things current lawyers value most include:

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• A genuinely collaborative and supportive culture
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• Hybrid working, one day a week in the office plus court attendance
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• Formal mentoring and development support
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• A strong practice management team
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• Excellent legal research and case management systems
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• High-quality and varied public sector work
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• A team open to people stepping up or changing specialism
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About You

We are open to hearing from lawyers from a range of backgrounds, including both local government and private practice. You might already be working within a local authority environment, or you may be looking to bring transferable litigation experience into a role with broader impact and better balance. Most importantly, we are looking for someone who:

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• Enjoys collaborative working
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• Has strong judgement and communication skills
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• Is comfortable managing complex matters
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• Wants to be part of a positive and evolving team culture
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• Takes a pragmatic, solutions-focused approach
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Package

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• Salary of £57,800
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• Generous Local Government Pension Scheme
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• Excellent annual leave entitlement
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• Option to purchase additional leave
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• Paid family, carers’ and volunteering leave
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• Free on-site parking
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• A genuinely supportive and people-focused culture
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Interested?

For a confidential conversation or to find out more, please get in touch directly. Applications from candidates looking to make a move into local government are actively encouraged.