Vacancy: Principal Legal Adviser

Location: Edinburgh (Hybrid)

Salary: £96,350 – £108,270

We are seeking to appoint a Principal Legal Adviser who, as our senior solicitor, will provide legal support and guidance to the Chief Executive, Executive Team, Board and Committees, via legal advice and support on both specific technical aspects of legal aid legislation and wider matters of Scots Law.

The role

This is a pivotal moment for our organisation and this role is critical to the re-shaping of the current legal aid system, designed in the 1950’s, to reflect what is needed in current times.

As part of the Executive Team, you will provide robust and reliable legal advice, support and services across the organisation, working to drive SLAB forward to effectively discharge our functions, meet our obligations and deliver our corporate objectives.

This is an important role that will influence and engage across the sector, which will include leading legal engagement with the sponsor division of the Scottish Government in relation to legislative and regulatory development and reform, and the preparation of new legislative instruments.

Requirements

The Principal Legal Adviser will be an enrolled solicitor with a non-restricted practising certificate and substantial knowledge of the Scottish justice system. The post holder will bring an appetite for tackling complex issues and expertise in providing sound technical and strategic advice and guidance to senior stakeholders.

We are a high-impact organisation, committed to making a real difference to the lives of individuals across Scotland. If you are an experienced legal professional with a passion for leadership and access to justice, we would like to hear from you.

For full details, see: Candidate Information Pack

LinkedIn advert: Principal Legal Adviser | Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) | LinkedIn

Applying

To apply for this post, please send a tailored CV and a covering letter (no longer than two pages), highlighting your skills and experience pertinent to the role.

Please send your application by email to ScotlandExecutive@LHH.com using the subject heading ‘Principal Legal Adviser’.

Closing date

Applications should arrive no later than Wednesday 14 January, 2026.

More information

For a confidential, informal discussion about the role, please contact LHH directly on +44 (0)141 220 6460 or email ScotlandExecutive@LHH.com