Question 1

Where can I find public sector legal jobs?

Accepted Answer

Public sector legal jobs are advertised on specialist job boards like Jobs Go Public, which focuses exclusively on roles with councils, government departments, housing associations, and other public sector employers. You won't find recruitment agency listings here - all vacancies are posted directly by employers.

Local authorities advertise solicitor, legal executive, and paralegal roles through their own websites, but using a dedicated public sector job board lets you search across multiple employers in one place.

LinkedIn and general job boards carry some public sector legal vacancies, but they're mixed in with private practice roles, making it harder to filter. For a focused search, specialist boards give you direct access to in-house public sector opportunities.

Browse current legal jobs to see what's available now.

Question 2

What types of employers hire solicitors and legal staff in the public sector?

Accepted Answer

Public sector legal teams exist across a wide range of organisations. Local authorities are among the largest employers, with in-house legal teams handling planning, contracts, child protection, housing, and employment matters. Most councils employ solicitors, legal executives, paralegals, and legal assistants.

Central government departments recruit through the Government Legal Department, which provides legal services across Whitehall. The Crown Prosecution Service employs prosecutors throughout England and Wales.

Housing associations employ legal staff for tenancy, property, and regulatory work. Other public sector employers include police forces, fire authorities, transport bodies, and regulatory agencies.

Many roles are described as "in-house counsel" or "legal services" positions, offering an alternative to private practice with typically better work-life balance and public service pension schemes such as the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Question 3

Are there part-time or flexible legal jobs in the public sector?

Accepted Answer

Public sector legal roles increasingly offer flexible and part-time options. Looking at recent vacancies on our job board, around 5% of legal roles were advertised as part-time and 33% offered flexible working arrangements. Over half of positions didn't require full-time office attendance, with hybrid and remote options available.

Local authorities and government employers have generally embraced flexible working policies since 2020, and legal teams are no exception. Part-time solicitor and paralegal roles do exist, particularly in larger legal teams that can accommodate varied working patterns.

When searching, use filters for part-time or flexible working, and check individual job descriptions for details on hybrid arrangements. Even roles not explicitly labelled as flexible may consider requests - public sector employers are often required to consider flexible working applications from day one of employment.

86 Legal Jobs

Frequently asked questions

86 Legal Jobs

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find public sector legal jobs?down

What types of employers hire solicitors and legal staff in the public sector?down

Are there part-time or flexible legal jobs in the public sector?down