We are currently partnering with a local government in London, who are recruiting for a Senior Childcare Lawyer and Senior Childcare Advocate to join their growing team on a permanent basis.
This is a full-time position with a salary band of £49,083 to £61,619 (subject to experience) and the start date is subject to notice.
You must hold a current practising certificate as a Barrister, Solicitor, or Legal Executive with strong experience in children’s social services law.
Duties will include (but are not limited to):
* Confidently lead and manage a team to deliver high performance and operational excellence, including improving staff capability and providing supervision, guidance, and training to team members
* Provide high-level specialist legal advice on childcare matters to the Council
* Undertake complex casework, conduct litigation, and perform advocacy as required
* Contribute to the development and implementation of Council policies and strategies, ensuring alignment with the Council’s vision, values, and performance framework. Lead on policy and best practice in the area of responsibility
* Draft and review committee reports, attend committee meetings, and handle corporate complaints and Member enquiries
* Stay up to date with developments in legal services and best practices to maintain high service standards. Provide cover for other areas within the legal team as necessary, including advising on information governance law
* Carry out duties with due regard to the Council’s policies on customer care, equal opportunities, data protection, and health and safety
Experience required:
* Extensive experience as a Senior Advocate (Higher Rights of Audience) attending County Court, Magistrates Court, Single Family Court, and Crown Court, including all hearings up to trial
* Proven track record of successfully managing high-level and complex casework, including high-risk cases in the area of expertise
* Significant experience providing legal advice to Council Members or Board Members in public meetings, through presentations, briefing reports, and other formats
* Actively contributed to corporate decision-making processes and the development of corporate policies and strategies
* Demonstrated experience managing or supervising staff effectively
* Evidence of significant Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in relevant legal areas
Skills, knowledge and expertise required:
* Full understanding of risk management in the context of corporate governance
* Detailed knowledge of childcare and other relevant area of law
* Comprehensive knowledge of the law affecting local government and its trends in the UK
Rewards and Benefits:
* Local Government pension scheme
* Bike loan and season tickets
* Discounts in local cafes, shops and restaurants
* Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave
* Access to a health insurance scheme
* Supportive staff networks
* Flexible working arrangements
* Consideration of funding to obtain qualification of Higher Rights of Audience
Working hours:
36 hours per week
Monday – Friday
Open to condensed hours
Please note that you require recent experience to apply for this role.
James Andrews is acting as an employment agency and business in relation to this role.
At James Andrews Recruitment Solutions we try to respond to all applications personally, however, due to the high volume of applications this is not always possible. If you have not heard back from us within 72 hours, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
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