Specialist Governance Lawyer

At Southwark Council, our vision is to be the council’s first choice provider of legal services, offering a high-quality, sustainable, responsive and efficient value for money service to the council and the communities of Southwark.
We support the council and its residents by ensuring that our legal frameworks and operations comply with statutory and regulatory requirements. As a Lexcel accredited legal practice, we pride ourselves on maintaining excellence and integrity in all that we do.
What does a Specialist Governance Lawyer do at Southwark Council?
As a Specialist Governance Lawyer, you will be responsible for delivering complex legal advice to various stakeholders which include, council officers, Cabinet members, Committees, other council bodies, and elected members.
Your expertise in local authority governance and public law will be pivotal in advising on complex governance issues, constitutional issues and the legislative impacts on council services. Supporting the Monitoring Officer and Deputy Monitoring Officers to fulfil their statutory duties, you will play a part in ensuring that council decision making upholds the principles of good governance.
Guiding a team of dedicated information governance specialists, you will manage and respond to legal issues arising from freedom of information requests, subject access requests, and regulatory complaints with precision and efficiency.
Additionally, your contributions will be integral to the development and implementation of the corporate strategies, and operational plans, where your legal acumen and strategic insight will make a significant impact on our community.
About Southwark Council
Southwark Council is the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues such as The Shard, The Tate Modern and Borough Market along with many social enterprises and we have a young, diverse, and growing population.
At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities.
Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.
Southwark’s Legal Service
Our vision is to be the council’s first choice provider of legal services, offering a high-quality, sustainable, responsive and efficient value for money service to the council.
Our team is a friendly and well respected in the planning industry. Their fantastic work makes a key contribution to the council’s overarching goal to deliver positive outcomes for our residents, businesses, and partners in terms of housing, office space and the council’s other plans for the local area identified in the Southwark Local Plan.
Benefits and more information:
Working for Southwark Council – Southwark
Salary Range: £56,271 - £69,990
This post attracts an additional benefit to the value of £2,327 PA for staff to use for Gym membership, health insurance, season ticket purchase, bicycle purchase, additional voluntary contribution to pension, subscriptions and professional fees