AMAYA’S EXTRAORDINARY STORY

Legal Services at Westminster is made up of a dedicated and diverse team of legal professionals committed to improving outcomes for families in the local community.

Amaya, a Senior Solicitor, is part of the team that focuses on child protection, adult social care and education. After starting in private practice, she transitioned to public law, working other local authorities for over 20 years, before joining the bi-borough Legal Services seven years ago. Her caseload is very wide-ranging, challenging and stimulating and she has dealt with cases that have involved Hague proceedings, as well as a case before the Supreme Court.

As part of a close-knit and supportive team, Amaya and her colleagues have worked hard for years, and they have built a very good reputation with the local Court (Central Family Court) and the judges. The team is keen to developing the next generation of social care lawyers to continue this important work.  

Westminster staff are encouraged to participate and contribute to more than just their day-to-day role and volunteering opportunities are available. Amaya has contributed to training for Children’s Services and has collaborated with the Family Rights Group. She also actively supports wider council initiatives, including volunteering with the Climate Team, the Language Café, and mentoring care-experienced young people through summer placement schemes.

The Role:

As a Criminal Litigation Solicitor, you can make your own powerful contribution to people across Westminster. Joining our Employment, Commercial and Criminal Litigation Team, you’ll provide expert legal advice on all matters relating to criminal litigation. Working across a caseload of litigation and advisory matters, you’ll conduct litigation proceedings at all levels of criminal court system.

Your day-to-day will be varied and dynamic — including everything from offering robust, risk-assessed advice, to drafting, preparing and collating reports and legal documentation in support of a busy team. You’ll be expected to lead your cases with minimal supervision, but with the opportunity to draw on the expertise, knowledge and experience of supportive colleagues. 

About You:

A qualified Solicitor, Barrister or CILEx fellow (with practicing rights) you’ll have experience managing a caseload of criminal litigation matters. In a previous role you’ll have drafted legal documents, including witness statements, summonses/ charges, pleadings and legal advice notes, and will have demonstrable knowledge of local authority’s duties and powers in relation to the conduct of criminal litigation. Experience of working in local government, and of representation at courts, tribunals and enquiries would be useful, but neither are essential.

Diplomatic, enterprising and a skilled drafter, you’ll be a natural communicator capable of explaining complex legal issues to non-specialist colleagues. On a personal level, you’ll have a keen eye for detail and a solutions focused-mindset, capable of working with a high-degree of political sensitivity. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a dynamic and high performing team with a strong community focus, and to develop your skillset within a fast-moving and challenging political environment. 

Westminster City Council is committed to supporting Care Leavers into the workplace. Care Leavers seeking their first job and who wish to be considered under our scheme, will automatically be invited to interview should they meet the essential criteria for the role.

What We Offer:

Westminster is an amazing place. We are home to more than 200,000 residents from all backgrounds, over 50,000 vibrant and vital businesses and three-quarters-of-a-million people work in Westminster. Westminster City Council is one in which our communities are at the heart of our decision-making and help to determine the city’s future. By working directly with our communities and other partners, we can build a more inclusive city that celebrates our diverse communities, and where residents, workers and visitors from all backgrounds will feel welcome and safe.

At Westminster City Council, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive workplace and employer of choice. We encourage and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that, at all levels, represents the communities we serve. We champion equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, has a sense of belonging and is empowered to be their best, that is Our Westminster Way.

As a forward-thinking Council we appreciate that people work in different ways, therefore our staff benefit from working a range of flexible working patterns as well as Agile working. 

The Council is a Disability Confident Employer. If you have declared a disability in your application, we guarantee an interview if you meet the essential criteria of the job. If you are invited for interview, you will be asked if you need any reasonable adjustments in order to attend, and we will make these wherever possible. 

Closing date: 7 June 2026

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