Legal Jobs

JOIN THE CORPORATE AND PROPERTY LAW TEAM

Glasgow City Council's legal team provides strategic direction and operational legal advice across the Council Family. As Scotland's largest local authority, we have around 27,000 employees and services are delivered across the city to over 600,000 citizens. The Council's Legal section is made up of Litigation, Licensing, Corporate and Property law teams.

If you are interested in joining us, we have a number of exciting opportunities currently available within our Corporate and Property law team:  

• Senior solicitor

The posts we are currently seeking to recruit will be based in the Corporate law team, which supports the Council Family by providing expert advice in areas such as procurement, construction, governance, ICT, sustainability, planning, FOI/data protection, and social care to name a few. 

As well as operational activity, we provide legal support for major high-profile projects.  You may have heard about some of these: the Sighthill Transformational Regeneration Area, City Deal infrastructure (including the construction of the new Govan-Partick Bridge), a state-of-the-art Residual Waste Treatment facility at Polmadie, the M8 Footbridge construction, delivery of the UCI World Cycling Championships, the World Athletics Indoor Championships, and the Burrell Renaissance project - all fantastic projects benefiting the people of our city.

Future projects will continue to offer a range of diverse and exciting challenges.  These include the Clyde Metro and a range of climate and sustainability projects aimed at meeting our net-zero carbon ambitions as well as enhancing the economic and social regeneration of the city.  We are also assisting the delivery of substantial innovative ICT related projects.

Corporate lawyers work closely with the Property lawyers in the same team, and we also work alongside Litigation and Licensing teams within the Legal section.

The Property team provides advice and assistance to the Council Family across a wide range of property related matters.  Current major projects and initiatives include Empty Homes, City Deal infrastructure, Community Renewable Energy Framework, Climate and Sustainability, Laurieston, Sighthill and other Transformational Regeneration Areas, as well as emerging projects.  At a business-as-usual level, the team helps to deliver advice on many different issues including common good, disposals, acquisitions, compulsory purchase orders, asset maximisation, capital receipts programme, leases, and associated work with the Council's investment property portfolio for City Property.

The Litigation team advises on all aspects of civil litigation, including arranging representation at courts and tribunals throughout Scotland and the UK. Whether pursuing or defending court actions, subject areas include: commercial and procurement challenges, debt recovery, education, employment and equal pay, fatal accident inquiries, personal injury, property issues, and social work (children and families, adults - mental health and incapacity).

The Licensing team deals with a range of different activities and business sectors including taxis and private hire cars, houses in multiple occupation, street trading, and public entertainment. The team is responsible for the processing of licence applications, including carrying out statutory consultations, and for the development of licensing policy.  Administrative support is given to the Council's Licensing and Regulatory Committee and the Licensing Board. The notification process for public processions is also administered by this team.

The Council's legal teams are also key players in the delivery of Local Government, Scottish Parliament and General Elections.  This interesting and important work, whether it is involvement in the nomination process, at a polling station or at the count centre adds another exciting dimension to working as part of our in-house legal team.

The roles on offer

We currently have a range of exciting opportunities for solicitors and senior solicitors to join and grow our enthusiastic team.  The roles will give you the chance to really enhance your skills in drafting and negotiating commercial contracts as well as analysing complex legal issues that will help you develop your knowledge while working with a friendly, approachable, high-quality team of lawyers.  We are looking for candidates who are solution-driven and can demonstrate a positive attitude to working in-house as part of a busy legal team.

We have an extensive knowledge base and diverse skill set, which we are keen to share throughout our team.  Positive feedback from client services to date include being described as "the jewel in the crown of the Council."

We provide far more than simply legal advice and contract drafting - we add value by sharing experiences to enhance our contribution towards delivering positive outcomes for Glasgow.

We offer good opportunities for getting together informally for social events including charity fund-raising activities.  We provide excellent CPD Training which is made available both in-house and via external organisations.

Our Team

Read on to hear some comments from our fantastic team about their experience of working with us.

"Having worked both in private practice and in-house before joining the Council, I can honestly say that the quality and breadth of work I have been involved in at the Council is incomparable. It combines the knowledge and expertise of private practice with the autonomy and commercial sense of in-house. You are not judged by how much profit you can generate or hours you can bill but rather what you can do to help deliver new and exciting projects for Glasgow. Every day is different, every day brings new, complex and interesting challenges all made tangible by the practical outcomes of the work evidenced all over the city. It is simply a role you won't get anywhere else."

Senior Solicitor

"Working in the Corporate Law department provides the opportunity to become involved in interesting and challenging areas of local government law, working closely with different teams across the Council and also with external organisations. The variety of legal work I have been involved in over the years has helped develop my knowledge and skills, while providing great job satisfaction."

Senior Solicitor

"In 2004 I joined the Council as a trainee solicitor which allowed me to gain experience across all the different legal sections in the Council.  I secured a position as a solicitor advising Social Work Services at the end of my traineeship.  In 2009 I became a Senior Solicitor with a focus on public procurement and commercial contracts.  During my time in this role I was seconded to work within the Council's Corporate Procurement Unit gaining hands on experience of the procurement process and further developing my legal skills.  In 2014 I was successful in becoming the Legal Manager for procurement and for the next ten years I worked on a variety of procurements from museum displays, to bins, to bridges and everything in between.  I have recently been appointed to the role of Executive Legal Manager for Governance and Property Law. I have been very lucky to have had the opportunity for such a rewarding and diverse legal career and one which continues to challenge me every day to do my best for this amazing City and its people."

Executive Legal Manager

"I joined Glasgow City Council in 2005 as a solicitor in the Corporate and Property Law Team.  I became a Legal Manager in 2007 and was lucky to work with lots of different clients across the Council family, including Development & Regeneration Services, Strathclyde Pension Fund, the Corporate Procurement Unit and one of our Arm's Length External Organisations, City Building.  I have always had an interest in information law and in 2018 I took over the management of the Council's Information and Data Protection Team.  This was an amazing opportunity to work with a customer facing service.  In January of this year I was appointed as the Council's Head of Legal and Democratic Services.  I am very excited to lead our talented and dynamic legal team as we continue to deliver our services for the citizens of Glasgow".

Head of Legal and Democratic Services

Interested in joining us?

If this sounds like the role for you and you meet our essential criteria, we would love to hear from you!  Our current opportunities are advertised here:
View our vacancies (opens new window)

Working For Us

We recognise our most valuable assets are our people and strive to be an employer of choice offering competitive salaries and a range of excellent benefits, some of which are outlined below:

• Annual Leave and Public Holidays - 26 days (182 hours) annual leave, rising to 29 days (203 hours) after five years' continuous service. You'll also receive 12½ days (87½ hours) public holidays per year. (Pro-rata for nonstandard working patterns).
• Buying Additional Annual Leave - You can purchase up to a maximum of 15 days (105 hours) in any leave year (pro-rated for nonstandard working patterns).
• Contributory Pension Scheme - The opportunity to join the Strathclyde Pension Fund, one of the largest funds in the UK delivering a pension based on career average revalued earnings (CARE). In addition to what you pay in we also make contributions equivalent to 19.3% of your salary.
• Employee Assistance - Access to free counselling, information, debt management and legal help 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.
• Life and Personal Accident Insurance - A free Life Assurance Scheme for those employees who are not members of the Local Government Pension Scheme in addition to Personal Accident Insurance for all employees.
• Occupational Health Benefits - Access to practical advice, guidance and support in addressing health issues at work.
• Occupational Sick Pay Scheme - A generous occupational sick pay scheme in addition to Statutory Sick Pay
• Staff Benefits - Including competitive rates for parking at selected city centre car parks run by City Parking and discounts at Glasgow Life Museum shops.
• Staff Health and Wellbeing Strategy - A comprehensive framework outlining our commitment to the health and wellbeing of our employees and what we do to support this, for more information read our Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2021 to 2024.
• Work Life Balance & Family Friendly options - A range of Flexible Working options and Family Friendly policies to help you balance the demands of work and home

Why Glasgow?

Glasgow is the Clydebuilt city and Scotland's metropolis. Port of culture, ideas and inventions. A city shaped by its proud heritage in science, engineering and design. It is the engine of the country's economy and the world's original creative capital. It is ambitious, innovative and entrepreneurial - a city internationally recognised for its openness, resilience, trust and friendliness. It ranks in the UK's top two most attractive technology locations and is a natural focus for the knowledge economy.