CHILDCARE LAWYERS
A number of rewarding and engaging opportunities have arisen within Cheshire East’s Legal Services for Lawyers & Senior Lawyers within our Childcare legal team. This is the opportunity to grow and enhance your skills & experience, within a forward thinking, dynamic and supportive legal team, to really make a positive difference to the children of Cheshire East.
This is an exciting time to join us at Cheshire East. With a new senior leadership team and great working relationships, this is the time to bring your skills and experience to shape and develop the work the childcare legal team do and the services that they provide. Working together with our client department to continue to develop effective and positive ways of working, enhancing skills with training opportunities and support, as well as being part of an upwards moving improvement journey to meaningful, worthwhile and positive change.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Legal Services provide legal and procedural advice and support to our client department, in the most effective and efficient way to meet the requirements of the Council as a whole and specific Services and Departments.
These roles provide support to the Principal Lawyers, including but not limited to, conducting Childcare proceedings, pre-proceedings, Deprivation of Liberty matters, Judicial Review, UASC and some school/education appeals on behalf of the Council. You will provide advice and support to our client departments, and conduct advocacy before the Family Courts.
We are a close-knit supportive team, working hard towards positive outcomes for our client departments and the people of Cheshire East. Caseloads are monitored & supported, and there is a varied range & nature of work available. You will also be encouraged to build on your career goals, in a forward thinking, inclusive Authority.
ABOUT YOU
You will;
* Be an admitted Solicitor, Barrister or Legal Executive with a current practising certificate or equivalent.
* Have a wide range of post qualification experience in Childcare law.
* Provide timely, high quality, legal, tactical & strategic advice.
* Have excellent communication skills, be able to work under pressure and to prioritise your workload to meet tight deadlines.
* Be able to represent the Council, including a willingness to undertake advocacy.
* Have excellent oral and written communication skills as well as demonstrable skills in negotiation, drafting, and persuading.
* Be able to work confidently & effectively either alone or as part of a team.
* Support and assist the rest of the team as well as build & maintain excellent client relationships.
* Be required to provide training to clients and stakeholders as required.
Find out more about our essential criteria for the role please view the ‘In This Job You Will Need’ section within the attached JDPS document.
WHAT WE GIVE IN RETURN
* Enhanced annual leave - 34 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays) from day 1, increasing up to 39 days after only 5 years' service
* Enhanced public pension - A career average pension (contributions built at a rate of 1/49th of your yearly pensionable pay)
* Flexible working pattern - 37-hour standard full time working week and hybrid/remote working arrangements
* Purchase of annual leave - The ability to purchase up to 10 days' extra annual leave each year in addition to your normal annual leave entitlements (pro-rata for part time staff)
* Cycle to work scheme - Receive up Income Tax and National Insurance savings of up to 25-39% off the retail price of the bike and safety equipment package
* Employee assistance programme - A completely free to use and confidential assistance service for all employees
* Paid volunteer leave – Up to two days paid leave per year to volunteer for local organisations in the borough of Cheshire East
* Virgin Media and O2 discounts - Exclusive discounts on Virgin Media Broadband and O2 pay monthly plans
* Discounted gym memberships - Access to corporate membership prices for Everybody Leisure
To find out more about our rewards and benefits package, please view the Employee benefits (cheshireeast.gov.uk) information on our site.
HOW TO APPLY
If you want to be part of Cheshire East Council and contribute to our ongoing success, have the flexibility and drive to enable us to innovate, are committed to working as part of a team and striving to deliver exceptional service wherever you can, we would especially like to hear from you.
To apply for the role please click apply for this job at the bottom of the page, or, for an informal chat about the role please contact: Jennie Summers – Acting Head of Legal Services via email (jennie.summers@cheshireeast.gov.uk).
CVs or applications sent by email will not be accepted.
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