1 Month Contract With A Local Authority
Job Purpose
To provide high-quality legal advice, representation, and case management on safeguarding and social care matters relating to children and adults. The postholder will support the council in fulfilling its statutory duties, ensuring that decisions are legally robust, risks are managed, and vulnerable individuals are protected. The role also contributes to the effective operation of the Legal Services team through collaboration, performance improvement, and upholding the highest standards of professional conduct.
Key Responsibilities
* Prepare, manage, and conduct cases relating to children’s and adults’ safeguarding, ensuring that all work is undertaken to the highest professional standards.
* Handle legal proceedings in the Family Court, High Court, County Court, Magistrates Court, Tribunals, and Inquiries, including carrying out advocacy where appropriate.
* Provide clear, timely, and accurate legal advice to Children’s Services, Adult Social Care, and safeguarding partners.
* Instruct and liaise with counsel in appropriate cases, including emergency and urgent applications.
* Draft legal documents, orders, statements, applications, and correspondence as required.
* Manage other contentious and non-contentious matters referred by the Principal Lawyer or Team Leader, ensuring cases progress efficiently and risks are actively managed.
* Provide legal advice across a range of areas relevant to safeguarding, including mental capacity, deprivation of liberty, public law, and risk management.
* Assist in the supervision, mentoring, or guidance of junior lawyers, paralegals, or trainees as required.
* Contribute to training sessions, case reviews, and internal legal practice development.
* Ensure the Principal Lawyer and Team Leader are kept fully informed on case progress, risks, and emerging issues.
* Support monitoring and reporting arrangements within the legal team, ensuring work is tracked and managed appropriately.
* Act at all times in the name of the Director of Law & Governance, maintaining the highest standards of professional conduct in line with SRA/Bar Council/ILEX requirements.
* Work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve service plan objectives and performance targets.
* Participate in one-to-one performance development reviews and contribute to identifying professional and team development needs.
* Promote and uphold the council’s Equal Opportunities Policy and Diversity Strategy, ensuring non-discriminatory practice in all work.
* Ensure compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the council’s H&S policies, and all agreed safe working practices.
* Understand and uphold the council’s responsibilities under Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to prevent crime and disorder.
* Ensure equal opportunities objectives are achieved across the legal work within the postholder’s control.
* Undertake any other duties consistent with the grade and nature of the post, as requested by the Director, Assistant Director, Principal Lawyer, or Team Leader.
* Flexibly support the wider Legal Services team during periods of increased demand or business need.
Requirements
* Qualified lawyer (Solicitor, Barrister, or Chartered Legal Executive) with a current practising certificate.
* Strong knowledge of safeguarding law, including children’s social care, adult protection, mental capacity, and related legislation.
* Experience managing a public law or safeguarding caseload, including court proceedings and case preparation.
* Advocacy experience in Family Court, Magistrates Court, or other relevant tribunals.
* Ability to draft clear, accurate legal documents, including statements, applications, orders, and advice notes.
* Strong understanding of statutory duties, including the Children Act, Care Act, Mental Capacity Act, and Human Rights Act.
* Ability to instruct and work with counsel, experts, and multi-agency partners.
* Excellent communication skills, able to give clear and confident legal advice to officers, managers, and external partners.
* Ability to work independently under pressure, manage deadlines, and prioritise competing demands.
* Commitment to safeguarding, risk management, and protecting vulnerable adults and children.
* Awareness and commitment to Equal Opportunities, diversity, and anti-discriminatory practice.
* Understanding of the Council’s duties under Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act (crime and disorder prevention).
* Compliance with professional standards set by SRA/Bar Council/CILEX.
* Good team-working skills, able to contribute to service development and support colleagues when needed.