(plus Market Forces Supplement of £8,000)
About us
Why this role matters
The Vale of Glamorgan is a place with a strong sense of identity, ambition and purpose. Our Vale 2030 plan is more than a strategy, it’s a commitment to creating thriving communities, protecting the most vulnerable, strengthening resilience and ensuring that every child and family has the opportunity to flourish.
Safeguarding sits at the heart of that ambition. The decisions we make in Social Services are some of the most sensitive and consequential taken by the Council. They shape lives, protect futures and require the highest standards of professionalism, judgement and integrity.
Legal Services is deeply embedded in this responsibility. We are trusted partners to social workers, senior leaders and Members, providing clear, steady and risk-aware advice in complex and often time-critical situations. Our work spans care proceedings, adoption, fostering, education and public law, offering a depth of experience and courtroom advocacy that rivals specialist private practice.
This Principal Lawyer / Team Leader role sits at the centre of that safeguarding framework. You will lead a specialist legal team, personally manage complex proceedings and act as a trusted adviser on high-risk decisions that directly impact vulnerable children and families. The connection between your advice and real outcomes is immediate and meaningful.
We are a professional, supportive and collaborative team who value composure, clarity and collective responsibility. We work openly, support one another in challenging situations and take pride in the difference our work makes every day. We live our values — Open, Together, Proud and Ambitious — and welcome colleagues who want to use their legal expertise to create lasting public value where it matters most.
Ambitious - Forward thinking, embracing new ways of working and investing in our future.
Open - Open to different ideas and being accountable for the decisions we take.
Together - Working together as a team that engages with our customers and partners, respects diversity and is committed to quality services.
Proud - Proud of the Vale of Glamorgan; proud to serve our communities and to be part of the Vale of Glamorgan Council.
About the role
Pay Details: £51,356 – £54,495 (Pro Rata), £26.62 - £28.25 Per Hour, (plus Market Forces Supplement of £8,000)
Hours of Work / Working Pattern:37 Hours per week
Main Place of Work: Civic Offices, Barry and Hybrid Working,
Contract Type Permanent
We are recruiting a Principal Lawyer / Team Leader to lead and strengthen our Community Services legal function, influencing safeguarding decisions, supporting statutory responsibilities and ensuring high-risk matters are handled with confidence and care. You will:
* Lead, mentor and support a team of specialist lawyers and support staff within the Community Services Legal Team.
* Manage a complex caseload including children’s public law proceedings, child protection, adoption, fostering and related education matters.
* Provide confident, timely and risk-aware legal advice to officers, senior managers and Members in sensitive and time-critical situations.
* Represent the Council in Family Court proceedings and manage contested and high-risk litigation.
* Strengthen early legal engagement in safeguarding decisions, promoting proportionate, defensible and well-evidenced practice.
* Promote strong governance, excellent client care and modern, resilient legal practice.
What we offer:
You’ll join a professional, high-performing and collaborative Legal Service that values clarity, composure and collective accountability. Our Community Services team is trusted across the organisation, and you will play a visible role in strengthening that reputation. You will also benefit from:
* Hybrid and flexible working arrangements
* Relocation support (where applicable)
* Local Government Pension Scheme
* Generous annual leave entitlement
* Family-friendly policies
* Wellbeing support
* Ongoing professional development and leadership development opportunities
About you
This role is ideal for someone who thrives in complex, high-stakes environments and values professional purpose as much as technical excellence. If you want your legal expertise to directly protect vulnerable children and adults, shape safeguarding decisions and support families at critical moments, this could be your next step
You’ll bring:
* Professional qualification as a Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of CILEX with a current practising certificate.
* Strong experience in children’s public law, care proceedings or related safeguarding litigation.
* Confidence managing complex and contested cases, including advocacy or instructing Counsel.
* Leadership, people management or supervisory experience, or a commitment to developing these skills.
* A sound understanding of public law principles, human rights and governance within a local authority context (or the ability to develop this quickly).
* Excellent drafting, analytical and negotiation skills.
* The ability to manage urgent, time-critical matters while maintaining composure and sound judgement.
* Clear, confident communication skills, including translating complex legal concepts into practical advice for non-lawyers.
* A collaborative, inclusive and values-led approach.