Legal Practitioner

Internal only.

This vacancy is only open to North Somerset Council employees and agency workers contracted to North Somerset Council.

About us.

North Somerset Council is committed to providing high-quality services to our community. We are committed to creating a fair, green, and more inclusive environment for all our residents. Join us and contribute to making a positive impact on our community.

The role.

We are seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Child Protection Legal Practitioner to join our Legal Team. The Child Protection Legal Team are responsible for all aspects of legal work arising from Children’s Services with an emphasis on child protection advice and conducting childcare cases through both a pre-proceedings process and the Court.

This is a progression grade post (Level 5 – Level 7) and the successful candidate will be appointed at the grade commensurate with their qualifications, skills and experience, which is anticipated to be at least a Level 6 due to the current work demands on the team. This is an exciting internal opportunity to excel and progress in a dynamic and high performing team. You will need excellent verbal and written communication skills, competent ICT skills, be self-motivated and demonstrate a high level of commitment to this demanding area of law.

In this role, you will assist the team:

• to deliver high quality and effective legal services to actively support the Council’s aims, objectives and priorities;
• to manage a case load of pre-proceedings cases and work closely with Solicitors/Barristers/Legal Executives who will assist with accurate and relevant legal advice and information in support of decision making and optimising the performance of the organisation;
• to work closely with Children’s Services in relation to the protection of vulnerable children.

Key responsibilities:

• Be the lead professional on allocated pre-proceedings cases in compliance with the Council’s Pre-Proceedings Protocol and Pre-Court Proceedings Protocol for this region (this can involve checking pre-proceedings letters, attend pre-proceedings meetings, obtain evidential materials such as police disclosure, liaise and obtain reports from multi agency partners and liaise and instruct professional experts);
• Work closely with Solicitors/Barristers/Legal Executives who will assist with legal advice and case direction;
• Assist with private law cases;
• Provide cover, where necessary, managing the central inbox and dealing with all queries which arise;
• Work under the instruction of a Solicitor/Barrister with conduct of care proceedings on any aspect of the case; including: undertake legal research, take witness statements, gather evidence, draft legal documents and sit behind Counsel or in-house advocate if required;
• Deal with requests for disclosure of social care files from the Police and Crown Prosecution Service under the 2013 Protocol, including collating recordings, instructing counsel and/or external solicitors, monitoring progress of case and archiving at conclusion;
• In line with the principles of the Data Protection Act 2018 (incorporating GDPR provisions) review, check and redact as required, social care, medical and police documents before sharing the same.

Work style.

At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment based on four distinct work styles. Depending on the role and personal circumstances, you will fall into one of these categories. However, please note that during the induction period, it may be necessary to spend more time in the office to support your learning and development. We are flexible and open to discussions about your preferred working style, and if you wish to be in the office more frequently, this can be negotiated.

This role falls into the category of Mobile/Field Worker which means you can expect to work in the following way:

• 0-1 day in the office.
• Includes field workers who primarily work remotely.
• Comes into the office for meetings or focused work. Virtual connections with the team are essential, with portable technology supporting work on the go.

About you.

We are looking for an individual who is passionate about the law relating to children and who possesses the following qualifications, skills and experience:

Essential criteria:

• Working towards or passed CILEx Stage One Training at Level 3 and has the relevant experience to be appointed at JG6 or who has passed CILEx Stage Two Training at Level 6 and has the relevant experience to be appointed at JG7. Please refer to the job description for full details.
• Compliance with any continuing professional development (CPD) requirements / education training in relevant areas of law.
• Knowledge of the Children Act 1989, associated legislation, regulations and guidance and how it applies to work in local authorities.
• Knowledge of the conduct of pre-proceedings cases under the Public Law Outline.
• Ability to demonstrate negotiation, communication, analytical, drafting and presentational skills.
• Good knowledge and use of ICT.
• Reliable and able to work on own initiative and under pressure in a performance orientated environment with the ability to organise own workload to meet deadlines. Able to operate effectively with a team, contribute positively to the legal services section and have good inter-personal skills.

What we offer.

At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment.

We offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Funding to qualify as a Chartered Legal Executive Advocate.
• Local Government Pension.
• Opportunities for professional development.
• Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums.
• Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year.
• Dedicated in house Wellbeing Team.
• Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes.

Further details of our excellent rewards package can be found in our Benefits booklet.

How to apply.

If you share our vision and values and are ready to make an impact to North Somerset, please select the apply online button below. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please submit your application by 11.59pm on the application closing date. When completing our online application form, please detail how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

Contact information.

For further information about the role, please contact Karen Reed and Amy MacIntosh (Solicitor and Team Managers) at managers.cplt@n-somerset.gov.uk

Important information.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job role.

Interview Date: Wednesday 09 September 2026.

In order to facilitate succession planning and due to sufficient interest expressed by potential internal applicants, it has been deemed that this post is suitable for internal advertisement only.

Please note: We are currently only able to accept applications from candidates who have full permission to work in the UK and are unable to provide Sponsorship for this role.

Equal opportunities.

At North Somerset Council we want all our employees to feel valued and appreciated. We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and prevent discrimination irrespective of your sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, age, disability, including neurodiversity, if you are married or in a civil partnership or are pregnant or currently on maternity leave. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early or extend the closing date depending on the number of applications received.