Senior Solicitor (Licensing and Highways) WCC621091

Job Details:

Salary range: £54,684 - £74,487 per annum 
Work location: Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, Westminster, SW1E 6QP
Hours per week: 36 
Contract type: Permanent  
Closing date: 8 June 2025
Interview date: 18 June 2025

About Us:

THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF ARUNA’S DEDICATION TO TRANSFORMING LIVES

The Bi-Borough Legal Services Department at Westminster City Council is a world of extraordinary stories. Where people like Aruna work on projects that are helping to regenerate our borough and transform residents’ lives.

The Church Street Estate is an exciting, vibrant area and home to a diverse range of people, but has a number of issues that have led to social and economic exclusion for many. So a few years ago we decided to create a masterplan with the aim of improving the lives of everyone who lives and works here, while building on the unique qualities of the neighbourhood.

Our ambition is to improve the quality of life for everyone in the area, and we aim to do this by building 1,750 high quality homes, creating new green spaces and playgrounds, and providing services that will support the community’s health and wellbeing.

But such massive changes bring worry and conflict. Flats and houses will have to be demolished to make way for the new, and as many people have lived in their homes for decades they don’t want to say goodbye to cherished memories and familiar surroundings. Which is where Aruna and her team came into their own.

In the summer of 2024 a public inquiry was held into the compulsory purchase order made for Site A of Church Street, and it was her role to support the development team as they put forward the case for regeneration. Many of the people who objected were understandably afraid at the prospect of losing their homes, but Aruna was passionate in her defence of the project and stressed the fact that everyone in the area deserves better. And she was reassuring too, as she explained that compulsory powers would only be used as a last resort and anyone who is moved out of their current home has a range of options to remain in the area should they wish to, and the regenerated Church Street will offer unique opportunities, new jobs and an exciting feeling of optimism. 

Aruna’s commitment to a positive world of renewal for our residents is Westminster City Council’s commitment too, and the Church Street of the future will hopefully be a blueprint for progressive regeneration throughout our city.

To learn more about our plans, visit churchstreet.org

The Role:

As a Senior Licensing Lawyer, you can make your own powerful contribution. Your main role will be to provide expert professional, procedural and technical legal guidance to  Members and Officers on a wide range of applications and cases relating to hospitality licensing, gambling, and highway matters.  A key part of your role will be acting as one of the Legal Advisors to the weekly Licensing Sub-Committees, for both councils.  You will need to have proven licensing experience and be able to provide robust advice on the law, regulations and procedures during hearings.  

Working alongside the Licensing and Highways Team you will undertake both routine and complex cases – including those that might be high profile, politically sensitive or financially weighted. You’ll defend licensing appeals in the Magistrates’ and Crown Courts; and undertake and defend judicial reviews, High Court challenges and before other Tribunals and appear as the advocate at Case Management Hearings. 

Part of the role includes drafting, preparing and finalising licensing decisions within tight timeframes as well as collating and amending statements and other legal documentation, as well as advising on law and evidence, interviewing witnesses and drafting statements and affidavits.

Please refer to the Job Description for more information. 

About You:

A qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of CILEx with at least five years of relevant post qualification experience, you’ll have demonstratable experience of dealing with and advising on local authority’s duties and powers in relation to Licensing and Highway cases and functions. 

With a proven knowledge of a wide range of licensing legislation, regulations and procedures including the Licensing Act, the Gambling Act, and Sex Entertainment legislation, the Business and Planning Act and broad knowledge of Local Government law, and the ability to work constructively with Council members to a high degree of political sensitivity.  You’ll be capable of effectively communicating standard and complex legal issues to Members and officers, and of providing cogent legal advice accordingly.

On a personal level, you’ll be a natural communicator with excellent negotiating and influencing skills. You’ll be diplomatic, enterprising and detail focused, with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. This is a fantastic opportunity to put people across Westminster first, and to supercharge your career in the process. 

Westminster City Council is committed to supporting Care Leavers into the workplace. Care Leavers seeking their first job and who wish to be considered under our scheme, will automatically be invited to interview should they meet the essential criteria for the role. 

The Council is committed to achieving diverse shortlists to support our desire to increase the number of staff from underrepresented groups in our workforce. We especially encourage applications from a Global Majority (GM), people who are Black, Asian, Brown, dual-heritage, indigenous to the global south, and or have been racialised as 'ethnic minorities' (formally known as B.A.M.E , Black, Asian and multiple ethnic) background and, while the role is open to all applicants, we will utilise the positive action provisions of the Equality Act 2010 to appoint a candidate from a global majority background where there is a choice between two candidates of equal merit. If you are from a Global Majority background you can self-declare this to the hiring manager as part of our positive action commitments. 

What We Offer:

Westminster is an amazing place. We are home to more than 200,000 residents from all backgrounds, over 50,000 vibrant and vital businesses and three-quarters-of-a-million people work in Westminster. Westminster City Council’s strategy is to work towards a Fairer Westminster. A Fairer Westminster is one in which our communities are at the heart of our decision-making and help to determine the city’s future. By working directly with our communities and other partners, we can build a more inclusive city that celebrates our diverse communities, and where residents, workers and visitors from all backgrounds will feel welcome and safe.   
 
At Westminster City Council, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive workplace and employer of choice. We encourage and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that, at all levels, represents the communities we serve. We champion equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, has a sense of belonging and is empowered to be their best, that is the Westminster Way. To find out more about how we do this visit  https://www.westminster.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/public-health-strategy-policies-and-reports/equality-duties  
 
As a forward-thinking Council we appreciate that people work in different ways, therefore our staff benefit from working a range of flexible working patterns as well as Agile working.  
 
The Council is a Disability Confident Employer. If you have declared a disability in your application, we guarantee an interview if you meet the essential criteria of the job. If you are invited for interview, you will be asked if you need any reasonable adjustments in order to attend, and we will make these wherever possible.