Contract Lawyer

A leading legal organisation is seeking experienced Contract Lawyers at Senior Associate level to join their renowned Public Inquiries, Inquests and Public Law Team in London.

This is an exciting opportunity for you to play a pivotal role in high-profile statutory and non-statutory inquiries, supporting critical investigations and providing expert legal advice. The assignment is initially for three months, with the possibility of extension, offering you the chance to work on complex, multi-disciplinary projects that impact public policy and governance. You will be part of a knowledgeable team that values collaboration, inclusivity, and professional development. The role is full-time and office-based, requiring your presence in London throughout the contract period. If you are passionate about public law, thrive in document-heavy environments, and enjoy nurturing junior colleagues while delivering exceptional client service, this could be your next career move.

What you'll do:

As a Contract Lawyer – Public Inquiries, Inquests and Public Law, you will immerse yourself in a variety of challenging assignments that require both technical expertise and interpersonal sensitivity. Your day-to-day responsibilities will involve acting as a trusted advisor during statutory and non-statutory inquiries—guiding teams through complex investigative processes while managing relationships with diverse stakeholders including legal representatives, core participants, witnesses, and document providers. You will be responsible for overseeing large-scale disclosure exercises as well as handling intricate public law challenges such as judicial review claims. Your role will also include advising on litigation matters related to national security issues. Success in this position requires you to establish robust programmes of work for inquiry projects; provide clear instructions to witnesses; support them before oral evidence sessions; supervise junior colleagues; delegate tasks effectively; and collaborate across multiple workstreams. By leveraging your experience in document-heavy environments and your commitment to nurturing others within the team, you will help deliver high-quality outcomes that meet client needs.

• Act as a supporting Solicitor to both statutory and non-statutory inquiries by providing expert legal guidance throughout all stages of the process.
• Undertake internal investigations and independent reviews with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring thoroughness and accuracy in every aspect.
• Provide comprehensive legal advice to Inquiry Teams while contributing to senior relationship management with recognised legal representatives, core participants, witnesses, and document providers.
• Handle or lead complex, multi-disciplinary professional environments involving large-scale projects such as disclosure exercises, e-disclosure processes, document production, and information management.
• Advise on public law challenges by assessing the merits of defending judicial review claims and identifying grounds for issuing judicial review challenges.
• Offer strategic counsel on litigation related to national security matters by planning, defining, and implementing effective strategies tailored to client needs.
• Lead and project manage document-heavy review processes to identify key relevant materials efficiently while maintaining high standards of quality control.
• Establish defined programmes of work for inquiry-related projects and monitor delivery against agreed timelines and objectives.
• Give clear and detailed instructions to witnesses to ensure delivery of high-quality evidence while supporting them in advance of giving oral testimony.
• Supervise delegated work within the team by adopting a supportive approach that fosters collegiate development among colleagues; work flexibly across multiple workstreams to drive efficiency and maximise available resources.

What you bring:

The ideal candidate for the Contract Lawyer – Public Inquiries, Inquests and Public Law role brings a wealth of proven experience from previous litigation assignments—particularly those involving large-scale disclosure exercises or commercial litigation projects. Your background demonstrates not only technical proficiency but also an empathetic approach when dealing with sensitive matters such as public law challenges or national security litigation. You excel at managing multiple concurrent projects thanks to your organisational skills; your creative problem-solving abilities ensure swift resolution of critical issues. As someone who thrives within collaborative teams yet can initiate actions independently when needed, you foster an inclusive environment where junior colleagues feel supported in their development. Your interpersonal strengths allow you to build dependable relationships across all levels—from clients through core participants to external partners—while your flexible working style ensures efficient delegation of tasks across varied workstreams. Having lived in the UK for at least five years equips you with essential context for current inquiries.

• You must be a Qualified Solicitor registered with either the SRA or Law Society.
• You possess at least two years of proven litigation experience with strong skills in managing large-scale disclosure exercises or working on substantial commercial litigation projects.
• Your creative approach enables you to solve problems quickly while managing critical issues effectively under pressure.
• You have demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects concurrently without compromising quality or deadlines.
• You are a keen team player who can self-start initiatives while engaging collaboratively with fee earners across the business.
• You contribute actively to a supportive culture by assisting in the development of junior team members through mentoring or supervision.
• You bring excellent project management skills that allow you to plan strategically for complex legal assignments involving multiple stakeholders.
• Your interpersonal skills enable you to build trustful relationships with clients, colleagues, witnesses, and external partners alike.
• You are comfortable working flexibly across different workstreams—delegating tasks efficiently while maximising available resources within the team.
• You have resided in the UK for at least five years due to necessary requirements associated with current inquiries.

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates