Lawyer

Legal Services aims to give the best possible legal and insurance service to the Council. As an organisation, we have a simple goal – to deliver the best possible services to the people of West Sussex.

Salary: £44,075 to £47,181per annum

Working Pattern: Full time,37 hours per week

Location: Based at County Hall, Chichester and hybrid working from home

Interview date: Thursday 26 February 2026

We're on the lookout for a skilled and dedicated Lawyer to join our friendly legal service within the People Services team. In this role, your primary focus will be to provide clear and balanced advice in relation to school admission and exclusion appeals. This means that you must be able to travel independently to different venues in West Sussex advising panels.

You will also provide legal advice to the Learning Service and schools across West Sussex and assist with delivering training when required.

You will undertake technical and complex analysis of evidence and information as well as drafting reports, letters and legal documents. You will be responsible for the progress of matters ensuring that all technical requirements and deadlines are met, whilst handling a full and varied caseload.

If you are passionate about making a difference in education law and want to be part of a supportive team, we would love to hear from you.

This role is within a career progression scheme which is aimed at lawyers from first qualification up to five years post-qualification. Solicitors will be expected to complete any formal post qualification training and examination required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Progression through the grade will be achieved by successful performance of specific and general work areas.

In addition to having an interest in education law, you will:

• Be able to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Have good IT skills and the ability to use the case management system and digital court processes.
• Keep up to date and compliant with all relevant organisational procedures, policies and professional codes of conduct
• Be willing to travel independently to various offices and schools in the County and any relevant tribunals.
• Undertake research which requires developed interpretation and analysis skills as well as partnership working with both colleagues and clients in order to deliver a solution to a range of issues.
• Be engaged in interesting work within an experienced, supportive team which develops and values its staff.
• Be flexible and adaptable within the range of work for the team.

For more information on the Key Skills as well as the Qualifications and/or experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached.

As well as adding real value to our service users and our communities, as an employer we recognise our employees are central in being able to achieve this. To recognise this we want to help support your development and provide a great place to work ensuring you can fulfil your full potential, have access to a range of benefits including:

• an excellent local government pension scheme
• generous holiday entitlement of 30 days (plus opportunity to buy additional leave)
• a range of flexible working options, depending on your job role
• maternity, paternity, dependency and adoption leave
• volunteering opportunities
• training and development opportunities, including coaching and mentoring
• a range of discounts giving our staff access to hundreds of offers; groceries, travel, cinema tickets, days out, leisure activities, high street retailers and the opportunity to save over £1,000 a year through our West Sussex Choices benefits platform (see our Staff discounts page if you are a business looking to offer a discountli>
• health and wellbeing benefits including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and Voluntary Health Cash Plans

For a full list this can be found at our Rewards and Benefits page.

The reference number for this role is CRS
01010
.

For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact Fiona Gardiner (Principal Solicitor) at Fion
. For issues or…