£61,325 - £70,706 per annum

About Us
Three Rivers District in South West Hertfordshire straddles the north west corner of the M25 on the edge of Greater London. The district is a mixture of beautiful countryside, villages and small towns. The area has a diverse range of sectors and businesses and is a centre for the film industry with Warner Brothers at Leavesden forming part of a studio cluster along with Elstree and Pinewood at a short drive away.

At a glance

• 700 historic assets and 22 conservation areas, with 77% of the district in the Green Belt
• 1,914 NNDR registered businesses with the economy providing 39,000 jobs
• Very low crime rate
• The district ranks highly for business registrations and start-ups, with a highly skilled and trained workforce and high employment levels, with GVA and weekly earnings above average

We’re proud that so many people choose to live, work and visit here, and even prouder that our brilliant team loves working here too! In our latest staff survey, 88% said they find their work fulfilling and rewarding, over 90% said they can rely on their colleagues, and nearly 90% felt they have meaningful goals to aim for.

We are now looking for a Principal Lawyer to join us on a full-time, permanent basis, working 37 hours per week.

The Benefits

• Salary of £61,325 - £70,706 per annum
• 29 days’ holiday per annum, rising to 31 days
• Generous employer pension contribution
• Life assurance
• Flexible working
• Career development opportunities
• Free on-site parking
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Discounted leisure centre membership
• Employee volunteering schemes
• Access to discounted activities and days out

This is an exceptional opportunity for a senior-level, fully qualified Solicitor or Barrister with substantial experience in commercial contracts and procurement law, as well as public sector expertise, to join our ambitious Council.

You’ll have the chance to take on one of the most influential senior legal roles within the Council, leading on complex commercial and procurement matters while providing trusted advice to senior officers and Elected Members.

What’s more, you’ll join a council where people feel supported, valued and genuinely fulfilled in their work, with flexible working and a strong all-round benefits package contributing to a positive working environment.

So, if you’re ready to bring your expertise to a role with real strategic influence, read on and apply today.

The Role 
As a Principal Lawyer, you will provide specialist legal advice on commercial contracts, procurement and governance.

Leading complex commercial and contract matters, you will advise on procurement, subsidy control, contract management and strategic commissioning while managing a varied caseload and resolving contractual disputes.

You will also provide commercially focused legal advice that balances legal risk with operational priorities, supporting the Council in securing effective contractual arrangements.

Additionally, you will:

• Support the Monitoring Officer and act as Deputy Monitoring Officer where required
• Advise departments and elected Members on the Council's legal powers, duties and functions
• Provide legal advice on employment law matters
• Monitor legislative and policy changes and advise on their implications
• Prepare and review committee reports and provide legal advice at meetings
• Deliver legal training and guidance to officers and Members
• Support the supervision and mentoring of junior legal staff

About You
To be considered as a Principal Lawyer, you will need:

• To be a qualified Solicitor or Barrister, entitled to practice in England and Wales, with substantial post-qualification experience in commercial contracts and procurement legislation
• Considerable experience in a senior legal position
• Extensive experience advising on contracts and procurement matters within a complex organisation
• Significant experience drafting and negotiating a wide range of contracts
• Experience drafting and advising on construction, building, and engineering contracts
• Experience advising senior officers, elected members, and other stakeholders on complex legal issues
• Experience supervising, mentoring, or developing junior staff
• Experience managing a substantial and complex caseload and competing priorities
• Detailed knowledge of public procurement law and practice, including the Procurement Act 2023 and associated legislation
• Good knowledge of subsidy control legislation and its application to local government activities
• Broad knowledge of local government law, governance, decision-making and the statutory framework within which local authorities operate

A DBS check will be carried out for this post.

Other organisations may call this role Senior Lawyer, Senior Solicitor, Commercial Lawyer, Commercial Contracts Lawyer, Solicitor, Barrister, Contracts and Procurement Lawyer, Procurement Lawyer, Local Government Lawyer, In-House Solicitor, or Senior Legal Counsel.

Webrecruit and Three Rivers District Council are equal opportunities employers, value diversity and are strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business and we believe that the more inclusive our environments are, the better our work will be.

So, if you’re looking for an influential role as a Principal Lawyer, please apply via the button shown. This vacancy is being advertised by Webrecruit. The services advertised by Webrecruit are those of an Employment Agency.

Closing date: 26 July 2026

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