£51,356 - £54,495 per annum

As a Principal Legal Officer you’ll thrive on playing a significant role in providing employment law advice at a senior and strategic level and leading on the Council’s most complex employment litigation. 

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you
As a Principal Legal Officer you will:

• Be a solicitor or barrister holding a practising certificate or FCILEx with a keen interest in Employment Law.
• Be values-driven, enthusiastic and outcome focussed;
• Come with fresh thinking, energy and compassion for people;
• Demonstrate a commitment to building relationships with Council services, the Courts and partner organisations.

About the role
As a Principal Legal Officer you will undertake a substantial complex personal caseload of legal professional work in the area of Employment law. You will be expected to deal with complex advice and complex contested hearings in the Employment Tribunal. They would be expected to attend committee/board meetings and members briefings as requested to advise. 

What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please upload your CV and complete a personal statement explaining how you meet the criteria set out in one of the Job Descriptions.

Previous applicants need not apply. 

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Amy Walker (Team Leader) on 0113 378 9153 or via email at Amy.Walker2@leeds.gov.uk. 

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.  

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.  

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.  

Closing date: 11 May 2026

For further information or to apply, please click on the 'Enquire/Apply' button below.