Job Description
2-3 month contract role with a Local Authority
Job Summary:
• West Northamptonshire Council is seeking two full‑time Senior Childcare Lawyers to support additional workload within the Legal Services team.
• This interim assignment sits within Finance & Corporate Services, operating Inside IR35, and requires experienced legal professionals with a strong background in childcare and public law.
• The successful candidates will manage complex caseloads, provide high‑quality legal advice, and represent the Council in court proceedings relating to children’s social care.
Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample):
• Manage a full and complex caseload of childcare matters, including care proceedings, supervision orders, placement orders, and emergency applications.
• Provide specialist legal advice to social workers, managers, and Council officers on all aspects of children’s social care law.
• Prepare and present cases in the Family Court, liaising with counsel where required.
• Draft and review legal documents including threshold statements, position statements, case summaries, and court bundles.
• Represent the Council in pre‑proceedings meetings (PLO), case discussions, and strategy meetings.
• Ensure all work complies with statutory responsibilities, local authority procedures, and best practice standards.
• Support junior legal staff where necessary and contribute to continuous improvement within the legal team.
Skills/Experience:
• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Fellow of CILEX with extensive experience in childcare/public law.
• Strong background in managing care proceedings and court advocacy.
• Demonstrable experience advising on the Children Act 1989, Adoption and Children Act 2002, and related legislation.
• Excellent drafting skills for legal documents, statements, and court submissions.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines in a high‑pressure, fast‑moving environment.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and ability to provide clear, concise legal advice.
• Experience working within a local authority legal team (highly desirable).
• High level of professionalism, judgement, and ethical standards.
Additional Information:
• Bi-Weekly Payments.
• This position requires candidates to work full‑time and on‑site as required.
• The role falls Inside IR35 and will be paid via an umbrella company.
• Two Senior Lawyers are being recruited to support increased service demands and safeguard statutory functions.
• Candidates must be able to start promptly and manage demanding caseloads with minimal supervision.
Requirements
• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Fellow of CILEX with extensive experience in childcare/public law. • Strong background in managing care proceedings and court advocacy. • Demonstrable experience advising on the Children Act 1989, Adoption and Children Act 2002, and related legislation. • Excellent drafting skills for legal documents, statements, and court submissions. • Ability to work to tight deadlines in a high‑pressure, fast‑moving environment. • Strong stakeholder management skills and ability to provide clear, concise legal advice. • Experience working within a local authority legal team (highly desirable). • High level of professionalism, judgement, and ethical standards.