Children's Solicitor – Contract Opportunity

Summary

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee a caseload of intricate Children's Social Care legal matters.
  
  


• Deliver prompt and precise legal advice to Children's Services and senior officers.
  
  


• Provide counsel on:
  
  
  
  • Child Protection
    
    
  
  
  • Pre-Proceedings
    
    
  
  
  • Public Law Outline (PLO)
    
    
  
  
  • Care Proceedings
    
    
  
  
  • Emergency Applications
    
    
  
  
  • Adoption Matters
    
    
  
  
  • Placement Orders
    
    
  
  
  • Supervision Orders
    
    
  
  
  • Special Guardianship Orders
    
    
  
  


• Draft legal documents, applications, pleadings, witness statements, and court bundles.
  
  


• Conduct advocacy when necessary.
  
  


• Represent the Council in Family Court proceedings.
  
  


• Advise Social Workers and managers on safeguarding and legal interventions.
  
  


• Offer legal support from Legal Planning Meetings through to final hearings.
  
  


• Participate in internal meetings, case conferences, and court hearings.
  
  


• Mentor trainee solicitors, legal assistants, and support officers as needed.
  
  


• Maintain accurate case records using legal case management systems.
  
  


• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, regulations, and professional standards.
  
  

Essential

• Qualified Solicitor or Barrister with a current practising certificate.
  
  


• Extensive experience in Children's Social Care Law.
  
  


• Strong knowledge of:
  
  
  
  • Children Act 1989
    
    
  
  
  • Adoption and Children Act 2002
    
    
  
  
  • Family Procedure Rules
    
    
  
  
  • Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations
    
    
  
  


• Experience handling:
  
  
  
  • Pre-Proceedings
    
    
  
  
  • Care Proceedings
    
    
  
  
  • Adoption Applications
    
    
  
  
  • Placement Orders
    
    
  
  
  • Child Protection Matters
    
    
  
  


• Proficiency in drafting court documentation and legal pleadings.
  
  


• Advocacy experience in Family Courts.
  
  


• Experience advising Social Workers and Children's Services professionals.
  
  


• Capability to manage cases from Legal Planning Meetings through to final hearings.
  
  


• Excellent communication, drafting, negotiation, and case management skills.
  
  


• Ability to handle a demanding caseload with minimal supervision.
  
  

Desirable

• Experience in Local Government legal work.
  
  


• Experience advising on private law proceedings, including Section 7 and Section 37 reports.
  
  


• Experience supporting adoption processes from ADM advice through to contested adoption hearings.
  
  


• Knowledge of Deprivation of Liberty matters involving children.
  
  


• Experience attending and advising committees and senior leadership teams.
  
  


• Experience mentoring trainee solicitors or junior legal staff.
  
  

What's on Offer?

• £60.00 per hour (Umbrella)
  
  


• Contract Length to Be Confirmed
  
  


• Bi-Weekly Pay
  
  


• Opportunity to work within a dynamic and supportive Local Authority legal team.
  
  


• Diverse and challenging Children's Social Care caseload.
  
  


• Opportunity to impact outcomes for vulnerable children and families.
  
  


• Exposure to complex safeguarding, adoption, and public law proceedings.
  
  


• High level of autonomy and responsibility.