Role: Legal Counsel

The Labour Party; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A major political organization is seeking a Legal Counsel to provide legal advice and support. Responsibilities include advising on local government law and compliance issues. Candidates must be qualified solicitors or barristers with strong legal research skills and political awareness. This role offers competitive salary and extensive benefits including flexibility and professional development.

Benefits

25-day annual leave

Flexible working opportunities

Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave

Employee assistance programme

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Significant PQE with a track record of handling diverse legal issues.
• Ability to work collaboratively and explain complex legal concepts.
• Experience in sensitive environments and maintaining confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and support to General Counsel.
• Instruct and work with external lawyers on legal issues.
• Assess compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Legal research and analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Political awareness

Judgment in assessing legal risk

Education

Qualified solicitor or barrister

Job description

Salary: £58,084.17 (gross) per annum, with a fixed sum allowance of £1,153. There is the ability to progress to £64,693.99 over the next 2 years. If the role is based in London, there will. If this role is based in London, there will be an additional £3,650 (gross) per annum London Weighting applied.

Location: Head Office – Newcastle or Head Office – London

Duration: Permanent

The Labour Party is looking to recruit a Legal Counsel. The post-holder will be responsible for providing legal advice and support to the General Counsel and such other staff as directed by the General Counsel. To provide specialist legal advice to Labour councillors on their individual rights, duties and obligations under local government law, including standards regimes and related compliance issues. To instruct and work with external private practice lawyers as required for the handling of legal issues. To help continually assess the Party’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

The successful candidate will have:

• Qualified as solicitor or barrister with significant PQE, with a proven track record of quickly getting to grips with diverse legal issues and providing pragmatic, solution-focused advice. In-house legal experience demonstrating the ability to work effectively as part of an organisation is highly desirable.
• Strong legal research and analytical skills with the ability to rapidly develop expertise in unfamiliar areas of law, and sound judgment in assessing legal risk and providing proportionate, practical advice under pressure
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport quickly with diverse stakeholders including elected councillors, work collaboratively at all levels, and explain complex legal concepts to lay audiences
• Political awareness and sensitivity without compromising legal independence, with demonstrable ability to work in sensitive environments, to tight deadlines, and to maintain confidentiality in sensitive political matters

To apply for this post, please complete the application form that you can find here and upload it to the ‘Upload Resume’ section. A fully completed application form must be uploaded for you to be considered for the role. Please leave the section ‘Cover Note’ below blank when providing your details.

To find out more about the role please click here

The closing date for applications is 30 November 2025.

You must have the Right to Work in the UK to apply for this role.

We offer a variety of benefits for our employees that include;

• 25-day annual leave (increases to 30 days after 10 years’ service), pro-rated for part time staff
• Additional 5 days of leave for the office closure period over Christmas and New Year
• All UK bank holidays
• Up to 10 days of annual leave can be carried over into 2025
• Opportunity to join a CARE (Career Averaged Revalued Earnings) benefit scheme
• Flexible working opportunities
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity/Adoption and Shared Parental Leave
• Staff Equality Networks and support: Women’s, BAME, Disability & LGBTQ+
• Employee assistance programme
• Cycle to work scheme (now including electric bikes)
• Season ticket loan
• Free eye test and money towards VDU use glasses

The Labour Party values equality and diversity, and welcomes applications from candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership, or pregnancy and maternity.