Overview
Join our Legal and Governance Service – OX1 1ND
Number of Positions: 14
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £34,434 – £67,003 Role Dependent
Working Hours: 37
Location: Oxfordshire
Business Unit: Law & Governance
Join Our Expanding Legal & Governance Service
Multiple Opportunities Across Legal Services – From Paralegals to Senior Solicitors, Team Leaders & Legal Finance
Location: County Hall, Oxford / Hybrid
Hours: 37 per week (flexible working available)
Service Area: Legal Services, Oxfordshire County Council
Salary Range: £34,434 – £67,003 depending on role
About Us
Oxfordshire County Council’s Legal & Governance Service is an ambitious, highly respected and forward‑thinking in‑house legal team supporting a wide range of essential public services. Our work has meaningful impact on the lives of residents and local communities, and we pride ourselves on delivering timely, high‑quality legal advice, representation, and governance support.
We cover a diverse range of legal disciplines, including:
- Adult Social Care (ASC)
- SEND & Education
- Children & Families / Safeguarding
- Employment Law
- Civil and Criminal Litigation
- Contracts & Procurement
- Property
- Regulatory – Planning, Highways, Environmental and Licensing
- Corporate and Governance matters
- Practice Management & Finance
Our culture is driven by our values:
Always learning | Be kind and care | Equality & integrity | Taking responsibility | Daring to do it differently
You’ll join a supportive, inclusive, friendly, and professional environment where development is actively encouraged, and progression is achievable at every level.
About the Roles
To prepare for the future, we are recruiting to multiple roles at all levels, from early‑career Paralegals to specialist Solicitors and Senior Leaders.
Legal Finance Officer (Grade 9 | £34,434–£37,280)
A key role within our Practice Management function, responsible for ensuring accurate, timely and compliant financial processes across the Legal & Governance Service.
Key responsibilities include:
- Managing daily financial transactions, income reconciliation and financial recording
- Preparing monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports and projections
- Maintaining and improving financial systems, spreadsheets and forecasting tools
- Supporting audits, invoicing, journals and cost recovery
- Ensuring staff understand and follow financial and banking procedures
- Contributing to budget monitoring and year‑end activity
A strong eye for detail, analytical skills and the ability to manage competing priorities will help you thrive in this role.
Paralegal – ASC, SEND & Education (Grade 10 | £38,220–£40,777)
Ideal for those progressing a legal career, this role supports solicitors with the preparation, research, management and progression of cases across social care and education law.
Key responsibilities include:
- Carrying a supervised caseload of varied legal matters
- Preparing court documents, bundles and instructions to Counsel
- Liaising with clients, counsel and courts
- Supporting hearings, minute‑taking, research and evidence gathering
- Using specialist systems (e.g., Iken, CaseLines) to manage cases
This role offers strong development pathways towards qualification.
Solicitors / Lawyers – Career‑Graded (Grades 12–14 | £41,496–£57,864)
We have vacancies across specialist areas:
Adult Social Care, SEND & Education
Advising on a full range of ASC, SEND and Education matters, including:
- Care Act duties and challenges
- Education Act matters and SEND tribunal support
- Court of Protection and DoLS
- General advisory, policy and governance support
The roles include drafting, advocacy, complex casework and supporting organisational priorities.
Children & Families/Safeguarding Team
Work includes:
- Pre‑proceedings and care proceedings
- Adoption
- Deprivation of Liberty/Court of Protection and secure accommodation applications
- Discharge of care orders
- Advocacy across courts and tribunals
You will provide high‑quality advice directly supporting children’s safeguarding outcomes.
Employment Solicitor/Lawyer
Providing employment law expertise across the Council and related services. Work includes:
- Conducting Employment Tribunal litigation
- Employment advisory support including grievances, disciplinary cases, restructures, TUPE, whistleblowing
- Drafting and reviewing employment agreements
- Working alongside HR to deliver practical solutions
Civil & Criminal Litigation Solicitor/Lawyer
Managing caseloads across:
Criminal and regulatory matters including trading standards, fraud, environmental, education, blue badge misuse, etc.
- Civil litigation including judicial review, injunctions, contractual disputes, debt recovery, insolvency, and property litigation matters
You’ll conduct litigation, advocacy, negotiations, and support complex case strategy.
Contracts Solicitor/Lawyer
Advising on a wide range of contractual and procurement matters including:
- Contracts for services, supplies and works (construction)
- Grant funding agreements
- Procurement documentation and procurement law
- Contract variations and exit strategy advice
You’ll work closely with services across the Council to facilitate high‑value procurement and contract management.
Senior Solicitors / Lawyers (Grade 16 | £63,576–£67,003)
We have opportunities at senior level across two main portfolios:
Senior Solicitor & Team Leader – Adult Social Care, SEND & Education
Leading on the Council’s highest‑risk and most complex legal matters in these areas. Responsibilities include:
- Providing authoritative specialist advice
- Overseeing complex casework and governance matters
- Line managing solicitors, paralegals and team members
- Driving service improvement and “one legal” culture
- Representing Legal Services in internal leadership forums
Senior Solicitor & Team Leader – Litigation, Employment & Property
A leadership role combining technical expertise with operational team management.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading specialist advisory areas (Litigation, Employment & Property)
- Managing and supervising a team of lawyers
- Overseeing governance, decision‑making and high‑risk matters
- Representing the Council at hearings, inquiries and leadership boards
- Contributing to service planning, training and improvement programmes
About You
Across all roles, we’re looking for people who can demonstrate:
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- Strong organisational skills and ability to manage competing deadlines
- The ability to build good relationships at all levels
- Professionalism, integrity and discretion
- A proactive, solution‑focused approach
- Commitment to inclusive and values‑led working
- Enthusiasm for public sector impact and continuous learning
Specific qualifications and experience vary by role (Solicitor/Barrister/CILEX Lawyer for legal roles; financial experience for the Legal Finance Officer; legal procedural experience for Paralegals).
Our commitment to:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.
Our commitment to:
Guaranteed Interview Schemes
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.
Our commitment to:
Safeguarding
Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.
Our commitment to:
Flexible Working
We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.
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IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
