Manchester City Council is hiring a Senior Lawyer to join its Legal Services team, with pay of £54,143 to £56,293 a year. The permanent post is full time at 35 hours a week, based at the Town Hall Extension on Albert Square in Manchester, and applications must be in by 13 November 2026.

The council describes the opening as a chance to join one of the largest and most respected local authority legal teams in the country. The successful candidate will work with colleagues across Legal Services, advising on cases that affect public assets, public money and the services residents rely on.

What the job involves

The Senior Lawyer will run a complex and varied caseload and give expert legal advice across a range of litigation. Much of the work is property litigation, covering trespass, nuisance, rights of way, boundary disputes and enforcement action over land. The role also leads on recovering adult social care debt and handling insolvency matters.

The post holder will conduct and manage cases in the County Court, the High Court and tribunals, prepare legal documents, pleadings, witness statements and settlement agreements, and instruct counsel and outside legal support where needed. They will advise internal clients in Adult Social Care, Corporate, Housing and Finance, help senior officers make decisions by spotting and managing legal risk, and supervise and mentor junior lawyers, legal officers and trainees. The role also deputises for the Principal Lawyer.

Who should apply

Applicants must be a qualified solicitor, barrister or Chartered Legal Executive who holds litigation rights and a current practising certificate, with significant experience of litigation practice. The council is looking for substantial experience in civil litigation, strong expertise in property litigation and landlord and tenant matters, and a track record in debt recovery and enforcement.

The advert also asks for excellent advocacy, negotiation and case management skills, and the ability to give clear, practical and solution-focused advice. Experience of local government legal work and adult social care debt recovery would help, but the council says candidates with transferable experience from private practice, central government or other public sector organisations are welcome to apply. The council welcomes applications both from existing Senior Lawyers and from experienced litigators ready to step up.

Pay, hours and benefits

The post is Grade 10, paying £54,143 to £56,293 a year pro rata, with a bar at £55,224. It is a 35-hour week with hybrid working. Benefits include membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme, up to 26 days of annual leave rising to 31 days after five years, the option to buy up to two extra weeks of leave, up to three days of volunteering leave, and enhanced parental and carers leave.

The council says the appointment may be subject to a TUPE transfer to Salford City Council, and that applicants must already have the right to work in the UK, as visa sponsorship is not available for this post.

How to apply

Applications are made through the council's own vacancy page, and the closing date is 13 November 2026. Anyone who wants an informal discussion about the role can contact Alison Ellor or Shaidah Ramzan at the council. The advert says candidates may use AI to help with an application, but all examples must be their own and based on real experience. Apply for the Senior Lawyer post on the Manchester City Council jobs site.