Lawyer

Childcare Lawyer in the Social Care Team

About the Childcare Lawyer opportunity:

Are you a public law childcare lawyer or newly qualified childcare lawyer looking for a change? If so, why not consider working for a local authority whose vision is to be one of Europe’s most vibrant waterfront cities, where an outstanding quality of life is enjoyed by everyone.

Plymouth City Council’s Legal team is looking to strengthen its highly respected Social Care Team with the appointment of an experienced Lawyer or a newly qualified lawyer with childcare experience.

Responsibilities of the Childcare Lawyer will include:

• You will deliver expert legal support and advice to client services on complex child protection matters by telephone or at meetings without prior knowledge of the facts.
• The postholder will be required to do some advocacy.
• The postholder will manage a full case load which will include live childcare cases and pre-proceedings cases.

Key requirements of the Childcare Lawyer will include:

You will need to be an enthusiastic Solicitor or a Barrister with a practicing certificate or a Chartered Legal Executive with practice rights and experience of working in childcare work. Post holders will be required to do some advocacy so relevant advocacy experience in the Family Courts is required.

The appointed applicant will work on a hybrid basis and be able to attend some court hearings in person.

You will need to demonstrate professionalism as well as excellent communication and drafting skills together with a flexible and positive approach and an ability to work under pressure. You will have the ability to inspire confidence in clients and the courts.

You will be a team player, building excellent relationships within the immediate team and client departments, as well as having the ability to work on your own.

Benefits of the Childcare and COP Lawyer/Assistant Lawyer positions will include:

• 26 days annual leave rising to 31 days after five years’ service.
• Flexitime scheme.
• Local government pension scheme.
• Employee benefits scheme.

We are a flexible employer and provide a variety of working arrangements tailored to the needs of each role.

Plymouth City Council is an equal opportunities employer. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of age, care experience, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion/belief, sex or sexual orientation.

As part of our commitment to promoting equality we offer guaranteed interviews to those who meet the essential criteria and are considered disabled, care experienced or are an Armed Forces Service Leaver within the last two years.

Where a high number of eligible applicants meet the essential criteria, we may undertake a further shortlisting exercise to identify those who best demonstrate the essential criteria for the role.

Please note, this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship and we can only consider applicants with existing right to work in the UK

Plymouth City Council is proud to be an Age Friendly Employer. We encourage applications from talented people at every stage of their career

How to apply for the Childcare Lawyer positions:

Please apply online (www.plymouth.gov.uk). Please note that interviews will be in person.

For more information or an informal discussion about this exciting opportunity, please contact Leonie Sands, Senior Lawyer (leonie.sands@plymouth.gov.uk) or Lucy John, Senior Lawyer (lucy.john@plymouth.gov.uk) at Plymouth City Council to find out more.

Closing Date: Sunday 22 November