Jobs

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).

Ourcommitmentto:
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 peersupport, education and safe spaces for all.

Ourcommitmentto:
Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a DisabilityConfidentemployer, 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 alsocommittedto helping andsupportingthose transitioning from HM ArmedForcesto civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Ourcommitmentto:
Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council arecommittedto safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers tosharethiscommitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Ourcommitmentto:
Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, jobsharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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Company: Oxfordshire County Council

Salary: £34,434 - £67,003 Role Dependent

Location: Oxford, Oxfordshire

Sector: Public and Third sector

Sector: Regional Bodies

Job Role: Solicitor