Overview
We are advertising the Principal Lawyer - Children and/or Adult Safeguarding role at Kirklees Council. The post sits within the Safeguarding Children and Adults Team, part of Kirklees Legal Services, in the Governance & Commissioning service area of the Public Health and Corporate Resources Directorate. This is a permanent, full-time role (37 hours per week) with hybrid working: home and Civic Centre 1, Huddersfield, HD1 2NF. We adopt a name-blind shortlisting process; recruiting managers will not have access to personal information, including your name and contact details, until shortlisting decisions are made.
Responsibilities
Prepare cases for court using case management and court bundling systems. Appear as an advocate and instruct counsel where required, specifically in child safeguarding and/or adult social care safeguarding. Work with the council's social work teams to achieve the best outcomes for vulnerable children and adults. You will be supported by Senior Lawyers, Assistant Legal Officers and a Business Support team.
Focus options
* Principal Lawyer – Adult Focus
* Principal Lawyer – Children Focus
* Principal Lawyer – Combined Focus (Adults and Children)
In your application please specify which focus you are applying for.
What you will bring
You will be a qualified Solicitor (or Barrister) with a current practising certificate, or a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives who holds a Civil Proceedings Certificate (or who is a Legal Executive Advocate). You will also have the ability and experience of drafting application forms and complex court documentation to support Local Authority applications in public law children act proceedings and applications in the Court of Protection.
Experience areas
* Children Act 1989 – Public & Private Law Applications
* Adoption and Children Act 2002 – Public & Private Law Applications
* Care Act 2014
* Mental Health Act 1983, Community Care, Mental Capacity Act
* Advocacy in public & private children proceedings
* Advocacy in public or private law adoption or special guardianship applications
* Judicial Review/Administrative Law
Development
There is a strong emphasis on training and personal development and support to help you be the best you can be.
Benefits
* 28.5 days annual leave increasing to 32.5 after 5 years’ service (plus bank holidays)
* Cycle to work scheme
* Travel and parking discounts
* Exceptional Maternity and Paternity leave policies
* Local Government Pension
* Access to Employee Healthcare (counselling, physiotherapy, health assessments)
* Hybrid working
Equality and safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults and children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Contact and questions
For an informal discussion about the role, please telephone Margaret Miller, Head of the Safeguarding Children and Adults Legal Team, on 01484 221 000.
Margaret Miller is the manager for this role; for more information, please call 01484 221000.
We reserve the right to close this advertisement early should we receive a sufficient number of applications.
Closing date
30 November 2025, 11:55 PM
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