Children's Solicitor – Contract Opportunity

Location: Swindon
Rate: £60.00 per hour (Umbrella)
Contract: Length to Be Confirmed
Hours: Full Time
Pay: Bi-Weekly

Summary

We are seeking a seasoned Children's Solicitor to join a Local Authority Legal Services team. This role involves delivering expert legal advice and representation on a wide array of Children's Social Care issues. The successful candidate will manage a personal caseload of public law childcare matters, offer strategic legal counsel, and represent the Council in court. This position is ideal for a self-assured and experienced local government lawyer who thrives in a dynamic and fast-paced setting, providing practical and solution-oriented legal advice.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee a caseload of intricate Children's Social Care legal matters.
  
• Deliver prompt and precise legal advice to Children's Services and senior officers.
  
• Provide counsel on:
  • Child Protection
    
  • Pre-Proceedings
    
  • Public Law Outline (PLO)
    
  • Care Proceedings
    
  • Emergency Applications
    
  • Adoption Matters
    
  • Placement Orders
    
  • Supervision Orders
    
  • Special Guardianship Orders
    
• Draft legal documents, applications, pleadings, witness statements, and court bundles.
  
• Conduct advocacy when necessary.
  
• Represent the Council in Family Court proceedings.
  
• Advise Social Workers and managers on safeguarding and legal interventions.
  
• Offer legal support from Legal Planning Meetings through to final hearings.
  
• Participate in internal meetings, case conferences, and court hearings.
  
• Mentor trainee solicitors, legal assistants, and support officers as needed.
  
• Maintain accurate case records using legal case management systems.
  
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, regulations, and professional standards.
  

Essential

Requirements

Requirements:

• Qualified Solicitor or Barrister with a current practising certificate.
  
• Extensive experience in Children's Social Care Law.
  
• Strong knowledge of:
  • Children Act 1989
    
  • Adoption and Children Act 2002
    
  • Family Procedure Rules
    
  • Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations
    
• Experience handling:
  • Pre-Proceedings
    
  • Care Proceedings
    
  • Adoption Applications
    
  • Placement Orders
    
  • Child Protection Matters
    
• Proficiency in drafting court documentation and legal pleadings.
  
• Advocacy experience in Family Courts.
  
• Experience advising Social Workers and Children's Services professionals.
  
• Capability to manage cases from Legal Planning Meetings through to final hearings.
  
• Excellent communication, drafting, negotiation, and case management skills.
  
• Ability to handle a demanding caseload with minimal supervision.
  

Desirable

• Experience in Local Government legal work.
  
• Experience advising on private law proceedings, including Section 7 and Section 37 reports.
  
• Experience supporting adoption processes from ADM advice through to contested adoption hearings.
  
• Knowledge of Deprivation of Liberty matters involving children.
  
• Experience attending and advising committees and senior leadership teams.
  
• Experience mentoring trainee solicitors or junior legal staff.
  

What's on Offer?

• £60.00 per hour (Umbrella)
  
• Contract Length to Be Confirmed
  
• Bi-Weekly Pay
  
• Opportunity to work within a dynamic and supportive Local Authority legal team.
  
• Diverse and challenging Children's Social Care caseload.
  
• Opportunity to impact outcomes for vulnerable children and families.
  
• Exposure to complex safeguarding, adoption, and public law proceedings.
  
• High level of autonomy and responsibility.
  

This role is suitable for candidates with experience as a Children's Solicitor, Childcare Solicitor, Senior Childcare Lawyer, Family Solicitor, Public Law Solicitor, Local Government Lawyer, Care Proceedings Solicitor, Adoption Solicitor, or Senior Children's Services Lawyer.