Senior Lawyer - SEND

Closing date: 23 June 2026

Salary: Grade 8 - £58,282 per annum (inclusive of a time limited £9,000 recruitment allowance until 30/06/2029)

Role summary:

The Senior Lawyer delivers high-quality legal advice, representation and support to Somerset Council, ensuring services remain compliant and aligned to strategic priorities.

As a senior member of the Legal Services team, you will lead on complex cases and projects, manage a varied caseload, and support the development of junior colleagues. You will also build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, contribute to service improvement, and help maintain high professional standards across the function.

What you’ll do - key responsibilities:

We’re working to improve the lives of people in Somerset – and you’ll be a key part of that.  

We need a specialist Special Education Needs Lawyer with experience in SEND and Education legal work, including advocacy in court.   

Your day-to-day work will involve:   

• To be responsible for a mixed caseload of matters regarding SEND, without supervision.  

• You will provide expert legal advice, representation, and case management on matters relating to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), as well as other aspects of Social Services. 

• You will support the Council’s statutory duties under the Children and Families Act 2014 and related legislation, ensuring lawful, fair and effective decision making in the best interests of Children and young people.  

• Providing legal advice to the Council’s SEND and Education teams on all aspects of SEND law, including Education, Health and Care (EHC), needs assessments, plans, and placement decisions. 

• Representing the Council in SEND tribunals proceedings, including preparing case statements, witness bundles and advocacy at hearings. 

• Advising on judicial reviews, complaints to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, and other legal challenges. 

• Drafting and reviewing legal documents, including settlement agreements, policies and internal guidance. 

• Delivering training and legal updates to the council officers, schools and elected members on SEND legal developments. 

• Supporting the Principal Lawyer and Deputy Principal Lawyer in supervising and supporting more junior staff within the team.  

• Timely and effective liaison with support staff, building and maintaining synergy working.  

• Develop and foster effective working relationships with the Principal Lawyer and other lawyers within the Social Care Legal team, key stakeholders and client departments, acquiring, developing and maintaining a comprehensive understanding of the client’s business needs and objectives and sharing this with the team so these are widely understood. 

What we’re looking for – knowledge, experience & skills:

• Strong knowledge of local government law and practice; Understanding of the public sector context; Demonstrable knowledge of researching complex areas of law and presenting them clearly to clients
• Significant post-qualification experience as a solicitor, barrister, or legal executive; Experience of handling complex legal matters; Experience of supporting or supervising colleagues
• Solicitor, Barrister (Supreme Court of England and Wales/English Bar), Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives, or equivalent relevant qualification with relevant experience
• Excellent analytical, drafting, and advocacy skills; Demonstrable ability to draft legal, transactional, and formal documentation
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; Ability to communicate complex information clearly to a range of audiences
• Ability to manage a varied workload and meet deadlines; Proven ability to work under pressure and meet objectives and targets
• Proven ability to negotiate complex, high-value or high-risk matters; Ability to identify and evaluate risks and enable timely action
• Ability to manage and organise work of others, monitor progress, and ensure quality standards
• Ability to respond positively to change and implement improvements

Desirable

• Knowledge of a specialist area of law relevant to the Council’s functions
• Experience of working in local government or the public sector
• Experience of delivering training or service improvement projects

Additional Information: 

• Permanent, 37 Hours a week.

• Hybrid working
• Relocation package
• Grade 8 - £58,282 per annum (inclusive of a time limited £9,000 recruitment allowance until 30/06/2029)

• 33 day’s annual leave (additional to bank holidays)

• We’re able to offer Skilled Worker sponsorship for this role if you are already residing in the UK. We can also proceed with candidates who already have sponsorship and wish to transfer it.

For an informal chat about this role, please contact Kehinde Awojobi on kehinde.awojobi@somerset.gov.uk.  

A full job description will be provided to shortlisted candidates or on request via recruitment@somerset.gov.uk, quoting reference 1024/WS