Senior Lawyer (Children & Families Legal)

IMMEDIATE START: Locum Senior Public Sector Lawyer

Location: Greater Manchester

Rate: £55 per hour (inside IR35)

Contract: 6+ months interim opportunity

Hybrid working: 1 day per week in the office, 4 days WFH

Locum Senior Lawyer – Children & Families Legal Team

A well-regarded local authority in the Greater Manchester area is seeking an experienced Senior Lawyer to join its Children & Families Legal Team on a locum basis.

This is a long-term assignment of 6+ months, offering hybrid working within a stable, collaborative and supportive team. The successful candidate will manage a public law childcare caseload, undertake court advocacy, and support the delivery of high-quality legal services.

Applicants must hold a current UK practising certificate and have strong experience in public law childcare proceedings, including advocacy.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a complex public and private children law caseload with minimal supervision, providing clear and robust legal advice in line with relevant legislation and statutory guidance.
• Advise on local authority safeguarding duties and children’s planning responsibilities, demonstrating sound judgement and political awareness.
• Advocate on behalf of the Council in contested court proceedings.
• Apply knowledge of wider local government law and associated legal issues.
• Support and mentor junior lawyers and legal officers as required.
• Deliver internal and client-facing legal training when needed.

For further information or a confidential discussion, please contact Sharzad Michaels in the Legal & Governance Team at Allen Lane.