Overview
Childcare Lawyer
PO3-PO5: Starting salary £47,925 pa rising in annual increments to £57,495 pa incl LW plus £5000 pa market supplement. In addition, legally qualified new starters receive a £5000 welcome bonus payable 50% after 6 months and 50% after 12 months in the role.
About Us
Lambeth Council is committed to ambitious community outcomes through our Lambeth 2030 Plan. We emphasise our One Lambeth Programme and the values of equity, ambition, kindness and accountability. For more information, please review our One Lambeth Values and Behaviours.
About the Borough
Lambeth is located in South London with a diverse, vibrant community of over 317,600 residents. It is the 9th largest borough in London, with more than 130 languages spoken. The borough offers diverse amenities, parks, cultural venues and healthcare institutions.
The Team and the Role
Lambeth Legal Services is an in-house practice providing high quality legal service to the Council’s officers and members. The childcare team offers expert advice and representation in child protection and welfare law. You will join a specialist team delivering cost-effective, high quality, strategic legal support while upholding the council’s values of equity, kindness, accountability and ambition.
You will work in a friendly, supportive, collaborative team environment and manage a busy caseload while supporting the Children’s Social Care Principal and Senior Lawyer. You should be enthusiastic, highly organised, proactive, flexible, able to work under pressure, meet deadlines and work both in a team and independently.
You will be responsible for providing cost-effective, high quality, accurate, strategic, solutions-focused legal advice and representation in childcare law, local government law, and other duties allocated from time to time. You will build and maintain excellent client relations and model professional standards to achieve service and council-wide objectives.
Qualifications and Requirements
This post requires a qualified solicitor, barrister, or CILEx with a current practising certificate and experience of working in childcare/child litigation. Your CV and supporting statement should clearly evidence that you meet the shortlist criteria marked with an 'A'.
For detailed qualifications and requirements, please review the job description and person specification in the hyperlink below. This post is subject to a Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Successful candidates will be asked to apply for an Enhanced DBS certificate. More information about DBS is available at the Home Office website.
Application and Recruitment
Contact: Diane Stevens at DStevens@Lambeth.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role.
How to Apply: Click on the apply button and complete an online application. In your supporting statement, clearly demonstrate how you meet the shortlist criteria marked with an 'A'. We operate an anonymised application process; remove personal details from your CV or personal statement when uploading.
Recruitment Timelines: Advert close date 11:59pm on Sunday 28 September 2025. Shortlisting 29 and 30 September 2025. Interviews 6–10 October 2025.
Benefits
* Participation in Staff Networks: Black, Asian and Multi-Ethnic; LGBTQ+; Disability; Young Professionals; Women.
* Generous annual leave starting at 27 days, rising to up to 35 days with service.
* Membership in the Local Government Pension Scheme.
* Hybrid working.
* Employee Assistance Programme.
* Occupational Sick Pay based on length of service.
* Discounts at local restaurants and Active Lambeth gyms.
* Learning and development opportunities, including Apprenticeships.
* Cycle to Work Scheme and secure bike storage at Town Hall and Civic Centre.
* Trade Union membership.
We are an equal opportunities employer and a Stonewall Diversity Champion, among other accreditations. We guarantee interviews for all disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria of the role.
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