We are looking for a Principal Lawyer (Housing and Property) to join our vibrant in-house Legal Team. This role would be suitable for a practitioner who can demonstrate the ability to deal with a complex caseload of Housing and Property matters as well as lead a small team of lawyers working in this area.

Milton Keynes Council Legal Services have a non-hierarchical philosophy and a focus on mentoring and personal development.  We work as a team with our clients to support the Council to achieve value for money throughout the services we deliver. 

We recruit strongly on value and behaviours. As a forward-thinking legal department, we place emphasis on proactivity, commercial mindedness and pushing the boundaries. If you’re looking for an opportunity to contribute to an iconic town’s growth, as well as enhancing your own legal career, please contact us to find out more.

If you are not familiar with Milton Keynes watch our short video https://youtu.be/UZkI_1TKFHQ

Role Profile

• To lead a team of lawyers responsible for a mixed caseload of complex and routine matters. Ensuring through appropriate delegation and supervision that all work is both of the correct quality and performed in a timely manner. All work will be undertaken with the purpose of assisting the Council to achieve its business objectives.
• Ensure through robust performance management the delivery of value for money services to high practice standards within a culture of continuous improvement.
• To ensure the team assists and supports the Council in achieving its outcomes successfully. To ensure the team has the skills and competencies to advise on all relevant matters within agreed resources.Success will be determined through agreed and measured timely quality outcomes.
• To establish and maintain an understanding of the clients business needs and objectives through building and maintaining professional relationships. Mentoring and encouraging more junior team members so that the client’s objectives are understood and shared throughout the team.
• To ensure through proper delegation and professional supervision arrangements that work is undertaken in the most efficient manner. To ensure that the use of external advice and support is only procured in accordance with agreed procedures and is focused on achieving best value.
• To work with clients to ensure that where practicable activity is moved into client functions where that represents a more effective arrangement.
• As a Principal Lawyer to be the Council’s legal expert (or one of the Council’s legal experts) in one or more core areas of legal work dealt with by Legal Services.
• Be an integral part of the Management Team of Legal Services demonstrating a personal commitment to the Council’s Values and encouraging and holding to account those values throughout their team.
• To deputise for the Director of law and Governance, Head of Legal Services or other Principal Lawyers at Committee meetings, meetings with Senior Officers or other important meetings with Councillors and external stakeholders.
• To hold the budget responsibility in their core areas of work e.g. Housing and Property, for the provision of external legal suppliers.

Milton Keynes Council Benefits

Use your skills to benefit the local community and experience a rewarding, interesting environment and attractive employment package such as:

    • Local Government Pension Scheme, considered to be one of the best employer  
       contribution  rates
    • A generous minimum holiday entitlement of 27 days per year in addition to statutory  
       and public holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years
    • Option to buy more annual leave
    • A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced Maternity, Adoption and
       Paternity entitlements
    • Excellent in-house management development programmes endorsed by the Institute of
       Leadership and Management
    • Flexibility – with full time, part time and term time working options
    • Fair pay and a commitment to a minimum Living Wage
    • MK Advantage benefits package – a range of savings including retail, travel and leisure
      discounts as well as a suite of salary sacrifice benefits.