THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF ARUNA’S DEDICATION TO TRANSFORMING LIVES

The Bi-Borough Legal Services Department at Westminster City Council is a world of extraordinary stories. Where people like Aruna work on projects that are helping to regenerate our borough and transform residents’ lives.

The Church Street Estate is an exciting, vibrant area and home to a diverse range of people, but has a number of issues that have led to social and economic exclusion for many. So a few years ago we decided to create a masterplan with the aim of improving the lives of everyone who lives and works here, while building on the unique qualities of the neighbourhood.

Our ambition is to improve the quality of life for everyone in the area, and we aim to do this by building 1,750 high quality homes, creating new green spaces and playgrounds, and providing services that will support the community’s health and wellbeing.

But such massive changes bring worry and conflict. Flats and houses will have to be demolished to make way for the new, and as many people have lived in their homes for decades they don’t want to say goodbye to cherished memories and familiar surroundings. Which is where Aruna and her team came into their own.

In the summer of 2024 a public inquiry was held into the compulsory purchase order made for Site A of Church Street, and it was her role to support the development team as they put forward the case for regeneration. Many of the people who objected were understandably afraid at the prospect of losing their homes, but Aruna was passionate in her defence of the project and stressed the fact that everyone in the area deserves better. And she was reassuring too, as she explained that compulsory powers would only be used as a last resort and anyone who is moved out of their current home has a range of options to remain in the area should they wish to, and the regenerated Church Street will offer unique opportunities, new jobs and an exciting feeling of optimism.

Aruna’s commitment to a positive world of renewal for our residents is Westminster City Council’s commitment too, and the Church Street of the future will hopefully be a blueprint for progressive regeneration throughout our city.

The Role:

As a part-time Solicitor in the Contracts & Procurement Team, you too can make a powerful contribution. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced lawyer with a passion for public procurement law to work across a range of projects, from service contracts to major regeneration construction. You’ll be joining our growing team which provides legal services to our local authority clients, Westminster City Council and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Each council has its own priorities to deliver. Given the locations that we cover, working in our legal services team is unlike any other local authority — and you’ll work on innovative, high-profile projects.

You’ll bring your energy and expertise to a varied caseload, building strong relationships with client directorates and legal colleagues. This will include work across grants, governance and other commercial matters.

We’ll expect you to bring extensive knowledge and experience in contracts and public procurement, along with strong commercial acumen and an awareness of the political and corporate implications of decisions.

You’ll have a strong interest in public sector legal services, enabling you to support our clients through a range of legal situations. Alongside managing your own caseload, you’ll support more junior team members with theirs and act as a key bridge with Legal Services Business Support to ensure agreed actions are delivered on time.

As an excellent communicator and problem solver, you’ll be able to negotiate and collaborate with Council members, officers and other stakeholders. You’ll ensure that your advice is clear, consistent, and professional. We’re a deadline‑orientated team, often juggling multiple matters while adhering to strict compliance processes, so you’ll bring strong time management skills.

Our working environment is supportive, inclusive and flexible. In joining us, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to develop your skillset and to help others progress. Our team is unified by shared values and the ambition to help our clients get their desired legal outcome, while keeping residents at the heart of all that we do.

Please note that this is a part-time role, requiring two days of work each week. 

About You:

To be a good fit for the role, you’ll bring strong knowledge and experience in contracts and procurement law, including Public Contracts Regulations 2015, the Procurement Act 2023, related legislation and case law.  You can confidently review and comment on governance reports, as well as draft legal documentation, such as service contracts, deeds of variations and grant agreements.

A clear communicator, you can explain complex legal issues and provide advice to members and officers. You’re also mindful of how issues may be politically sensitive and have a broad knowledge of navigating local government law. When it’s called for, you can be influential and negotiate well.

You’ll have a flexible, logical and proactive attitude to problem solving. Paired with an ability to work with minimal supervision, manage your own workload, and meet competing urgent demands.

It would be advantageous if you’ve worked within or for local government before.

To be eligible, you’ll be a qualified Solicitor entitled to practice in England and Wales. 

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.

The Council is committed to achieving diverse shortlists to support our desire to increase the number of staff from underrepresented groups in our workforce. We especially encourage applications from a Global Majority (GM), people who are Black, Asian, Brown, dual-heritage, indigenous to the global south, and or have been racialised as 'ethnic minorities' (formally known as B.A.M.E, Black, Asian and multiple ethnic) background and, while the role is open to all applicants, we will utilise the positive action provisions of the Equality Act 2010 to appoint a candidate from a global majority background where there is a choice between two candidates of equal merit. If you are from a Global Majority background you can self-declare this to the hiring manager as part of our positive action commitments.

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.