Bracknell Forest Council • Bracknell, Berkshire
About this role
Legal excellence is our standard and innovation is how we deliver it.
This is a chance to join Bracknell Forest Council as a Contracts and Procurement Lawyer and be part of a forward-thinking legal team where high-quality advice, collaboration and innovation go hand in hand. You will work in an environment that values flexibility, supports professional growth and actively embraces modern tools and smarter ways of working to deliver real impact.
At Bracknell Forest, we pride ourselves on being a council which is stable and well-managed where our employees can thrive in a supportive environment. We understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance and offer a variety of flexible working practices, including options for remote working and arrangements that allow you to work from home, dependent on the needs of the service.
The role is full-time and permanent, with an expectation to attend our Time Square office at least one day per week, alongside flexible working arrangements.
About you…
We are looking for a Contracts and Procurement Lawyer who enjoys variety, values high-quality advice and wants to work in a modern local government legal team where learning, teamwork and smart ways of working are genuinely encouraged.
Whether your background is local government, in-house, private practice or a mix, if you are confident advising on contracts and procurement and want to work with visible impact, we would love to hear from you.
About the team…
You will join a collaborative Legal Services team delivering contracts and procurement advice across the council. The team works closely with commissioning and project teams and embraces innovation, including in‑house Microsoft Copilot tools and external platforms such as CoCounsel. The role is based at our Bracknell offices, with flexible and hybrid home‑working arrangements supported.
We are committed to using technology sensibly to improve quality, turnaround and consistency. The council supports the use of Microsoft Copilot (available to all employees) and the Legal Service also uses a specialist legal AI database to support research, horizon scanning and drafting.
Used responsibly and with professional judgment, these tools help us to
streamline first drafts and improve document consistency;
spot issues earlier and strengthen quality assurance;
accelerate research and keep pace with fast-moving change, and
free up time for higher-value work: strategy, negotiation, risk assessment and stakeholder support.
You do not need to be an “AI expert”, we will support you to adopt our tools confidently and appropriately as part of everyday practice.
Key responsibilities…
Provide clear, pragmatic legal advice on contracts, procurement and related governance matters across the council.
Draft, review and negotiate a wide range of documents, including contracts, framework agreements, deeds, notices, orders, consents and letters.
Advise on procurement compliance and route-to-market options, including matters arising from the Procurement Act 2023, PCR 2015, and Provider Selection Regime (where applicable), ensuring solutions are lawful, proportionate and deliverable.
Contribute legal comments on waivers, breach notices and strategic procurement plans and help clients understand risk and options.
Advise on and deal with all legal matters relating to subsidy control.
Work closely with the legal department’s Senior Contracts and Procurement Lawyer in the provision of the service.
Interview date...
Interviews will be held in June 2026 with the exact date to be confirmed.
Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment.
We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.
Please note AI is prohibited during the interview, any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.
Want to ask us a question?
For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact
Helen Brewster - Assistant Borough
Solicitor (Place Team) - Tel
01344 352037
Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment.
We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK.
Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.
No agencies please.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.