Advocate Lawyer (Childcare)

Are you an experienced childcare advocate ready for a role where your expertise truly matters? Do you want to work somewhere your judgment is trusted, your development is a priority, and your contribution makes a real difference to children’s lives? Barnsley Council are putting the borough on the map as a place of possibilities for people to live, work and visit. We are an award winning Council and an award winning Legal Services team having won the Yorkshire Legal Award 2025 for Best In-House Team. Our aim is to provide a first class legal service to the council and our contributions to the overall council objectives are recognised, respected and valued.

We are recruiting for a permanent In House Advocate to work predominately within our Childcare Team and join the supportive and sociable Legal Team at Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council. We are seeking a qualified advocate with Higher Rights who has experience in Childcare Law from either private practice or local authority and is looking for the next step in their career. The role will sit within the childcare management team. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a team that cares for each other and for the children of the borough.

This is not just another advocacy role. It’s a chance to:

• Do the advocacy you love — representing the Council in the Family Court and High Court on the most meaningful cases in children’s social care.
• Be part of the leadership group within the childcare team, helping shape practice, supporting colleagues, and influencing the service from the inside.
• Grow your career with first‑class professional development, legal assistant support, and exposure to highly complex, varied work.
• Work in a team that values people, prioritises wellbeing, and genuinely supports each other.
• Enjoy flexible, hybrid working, generous leave, LGPS pension, and a comprehensive package of flexible benefits.

The main duties of the successful in house advocate will include:

• To represent the council at various Court hearings predominantly within the Family Court and High Court.
• To sit within the childcare legal management team and provide support and deputise for other managers.
• Assist with the allocation of work and personal development of the childcare legal team.
• Support the lawyers in their training and development and deputise for the principal and senior lawyers.
• Dealing with more complex care matters around adoption, injury, fatalities and matters with an international element.
• Handling a complex caseload of mainly child protection cases, deprivation of liberty applications and any associated advocacy in the Family Court.
• Advising Social Services clients in person and in writing, on all aspects of relevant legislation.
• Prepare all legal documentation relevant to the hearings / caseloads, and prepare a wide variety of court documents, advise on social care law, and assist the Senior Social Care Lawyers and Principal Lawyer in relation to the most complex or specialised matters as and when required.
• Carry out legal research.

The In-House Advocate joining this team will enjoy the following benefits:

• Legal assistant support.
• Fantastic training and development opportunities.
• Competitive salary.
• Excellent local government pension scheme, including the option to contribute to an Additional Voluntary Contribution Scheme.
• Flexible and hybrid working.
• Generous annual leave allowance, increasing with length of service and an additional 5 discretionary days used for Christmas shutdown.
• Flexi time and use of up to 5 banked flexi days per year.
• Car lease scheme, salary sacrifice for a brand new car!
• Salary sacrifice scheme for extra annual leave, cycle to work, home electronics and childcare vouchers.
• Discounts on car parking, rail travel, eating out, leisure attractions and gym memberships.
• Family friendly policies including; excellent maternity, paternity and adoption entitlements.

Interested in applying for the In-House Advocate role? Please apply as soon as possible to be considered for this position or contact Lucy Barnes for an informal discussion about the role.