Childcare Lawyer
Posted 53 minutes 11 seconds ago by Sellick Partnership
Salary: £49,871 - £55,224 per annum
Location: South East England - hybrid working, though can consider flexible attendance and remote applicants
Contract: Permanent
Sellick Partnership is currently working with a Local Authority based in South East England who are looking to recruit a Lawyer specialising in Children's Social Care to join their Legal Services team.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Childcare Lawyer to join a supportive and collaborative legal team, managing a varied caseload of children's social care matters and providing high-quality legal advice and representation to the Council.
The role offers hybrid working, with a maximum expectation of attending the office once a week. However, the Council can offer flexibility around office attendance, meaning candidates based further afield may also be considered and even fully remote applicants.
Key responsibilities of the Childcare Lawyer will include:- Managing a varied caseload of medium and occasionally high-complexity Children's Social Care matters, ensuring work is delivered to a high standard and within agreed timescales.
- Providing high-quality legal advice, guidance and support to Council departments on a range of childcare matters.
- Undertaking advocacy and representing the Council in court proceedings, tribunals and other contested hearings.
- Drafting legal documents, applications, statements and other formal documentation.
- Researching complex areas of law and presenting clear, practical and accessible legal advice to clients.
- Building and maintaining effective working relationships with internal departments, external organisations and partner agencies.
- Providing training and guidance to client departments and colleagues within the legal team.
- Supporting and supervising Trainees and Paralegals where required.
- Contributing to the achievement of team performance targets and the continuous improvement of legal services.
- Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive (CILEX), or equivalent qualification with relevant experience.
- Established knowledge and experience of local government law, particularly Children's Social Care matters.
- Previous experience handling a Children's Social Care caseload, ideally within a Local Authority or relevant private practice environment.
- Experience drafting a range of legal documents and providing clear, practical legal advice.
- Ability to undertake advocacy and represent clients in court proceedings and contested hearings.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with a range of stakeholders.
- Ability to manage a varied caseload independently, prioritise competing demands and work to deadlines.
- A proactive approach to identifying legal risks and developing practical solutions.
This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Childcare Lawyer looking to join a supportive Local Authority legal team, with the flexibility of hybrid working and the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to services supporting children and families across the region.