Head of Law in Greater London

Job description

Interim Head of Law (People)

Day Rate: £550 - £600.00 (Inside IR35 Umbrella)

Location: London (Hybrid Working)

Sector: Public Sector

Duration: 4–5 months

Interviews: Taking place ASAP, with a view to an immediate start

Head of Law (People) – Contract Role

• Rate: £550–£600 per day (Umbrella, Inside IR35)
• Hybrid working: Two days in the office, rest remote
• Contract: 4–6 months (possibility to extend or become permanent)
• Start: 01 November 2025 (Interviews happening now)
• Reports to: Director of Law Services

We’re looking for someone with solid experience in housing law and a strong litigation background to take on the Head of Law (People) position for a local council legal team. You’ll be leading a team - with the heads of the legal divisions reporting directly to you. It will be your responsibility to ensure legal services run smoothly across Social Care, Housing, and Litigation. You’ll report to the Director of Law Services and work closely with senior managers and directors across the council.

What you’ll do:

• Run and manage the People Division’s legal team, covering housing, social care (adults and children), and litigation.
• Take the lead on complex and sensitive cases, especially those related to housing and contentious litigation.
• Allocate work across your team, supervise senior lawyers, and keep standards high.
• Manage the division’s budget and resources, and make sure the service is running efficiently.
• Build good working relationships with senior officers, offer clear advice, and help solve problems.
• Oversee the use of external legal advisers and barristers when needed.
• Support new ways of working and service improvements when opportunities arise.
• Make sure your team follows Council policies on safeguarding, diversity and inclusion, and flexible working.

Who we’re looking for:

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Fellow of CILEX (able to practise in England and Wales)
• Extensive experience in housing law—essential for this role.
• Proven track record handling litigation cases.
• Experience leading or managing a legal team—ideally in local government or the public sector.
• Confident giving advice to senior professionals and handling challenging issues.
• Comfortable managing budgets, resources, and team performance.
• Strong communicator, organised, and able to build trust with others.

This is a contract role with the option to extend or become permanent later on. You’ll be based two days a week in the office, with the rest remote. We’re hiring quickly—that means interviews will be set up straight away for the right candidate, with a planned start date of 1 November.

Sound like you? Send over your CV as soon as possible to be considered.

Qualifications and Experience

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Fellow of CILEX licensed to practise in England and Wales
• Recent substantial experience in housing law (must-have)
• Strong litigation background, able to handle contentious matters
• Track record of leading a legal team—ideally within a council or public sector organisation
• Confident, practical communicator with good organisational and budgeting skills

Apply Now

This is a quick-turnaround hire, with interviews set as soon as possible and a start date of 1 November planned. This role is of interest please submit your CV over today.

Extra information

Status

Open

Education Level

Secondary School

Location

Greater London

Type of Contract

Part-time jobs

Published at

19-10-2025

Full UK/EU driving license preferred

No

Car Preferred

No

Must be eligible to work in the EU

No

Cover Letter Required

No

Languages

English