Lawyer in Bury

As our Childcare Lawyer, you will be at the heart of our child protection work, handling a diverse caseload that will challenge and develop your skills.

Core Responsibilities

• Case Management – Handle pre‑proceedings and care proceedings from inception to conclusion.
• Court Advocacy – Represent Bury Council in Family Court proceedings, ensuring children’s welfare is paramount.
• Strategic Collaboration – Work closely with our award-winning Children’s Social Care teams to develop case strategies.
• Policy Development – Contribute your expertise to developing and implementing legal compliance policies and procedures.
• Client Advisory – Provide expert legal guidance to social workers and senior management on complex childcare matters.

The Impact You’ll Make

You will directly influence permanence planning for vulnerable children, ensuring they receive the protection and stability they deserve. Every case you handle contributes to transforming young lives and supporting families in crisis.

Who You Are

• Qualified solicitor with a current practising certificate.
• Genuine interest in childcare law and child protection procedures.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to manage complex, sensitive cases.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for court advocacy and client liaison.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with diverse stakeholders including social workers, families and court officials.
• Commitment to collaborative working and continuous professional development.

Background

• Experience in family law, childcare proceedings or related areas (though not essential for the right candidate).
• Understanding of local authority structures and processes (full training provided).
• Previous court advocacy experience.
• Passion for public service and protecting vulnerable individuals.

Our Benefits Package Includes

• Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays, increasing to 31 days after five years of Local Government service. You can purchase up to two additional weeks.
• You will be enrolled in the UK’s largest Local Government Pension Scheme, with options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three times your salary as a lump sum.
• Enhanced Parental and Carers Leave – Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for bonding with your newborn or supporting your family during critical life events.
• Brilliant Perks – Access a range of discounts, from savings on the weekly shop to holidays and days out. Also discounts on phone contracts, cycle‑to‑work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
• Learn and Grow – We provide diverse learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions to apprenticeships and qualifications, all beginning with a comprehensive onboarding process.
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion – We believe that a diverse workforce helps us better understand and serve our communities. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to reach their full potential. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences and actively encourage applications from groups that are currently underrepresented.
• Reasonable Adjustments and Disability Confident Employer – We are a Disability Confident Employer, offering: Workplace Adjustment Hub providing specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure the adjustments you need to thrive at work. Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provide safe and inclusive spaces to share experiences and influence council practice. A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability‑friendly.
• Guaranteed Assessment Scheme – We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panel’s minimum shortlisting requirements and identify with at least one of the following criteria: Members of the Armed Forces community, including serving personnel and veterans. Current or former care leavers. Individuals with a disability or long‑term health condition.