At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide legal advice and representation for children's social care, managing a varied caseload.
- Company: Join a dedicated legal services team focused on safeguarding children.
- Benefits: Competitive hourly rate, full-time hours, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Collaborative team culture with opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives through impactful legal work.
- Qualifications: Qualified solicitor or barrister with experience in children law.
The predicted salary is between 60 - 60 £ per hour.
Location: Tooley Street, London
Hours: Full-time, 36 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 5:30pm (including a one-hour unpaid lunch break)
Contract Type: Locum / Temporary
Rate: £50–£60 per hour
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced Childcare Lawyer to join our Legal Services team, providing high-quality legal advice, representation, and support to Children’s Social Care. The successful candidate will manage a varied caseload of public law children matters, including care proceedings, pre-proceedings work, adoption, safeguarding, and other non-care matters. The role requires close collaboration with social workers, managers, and other professionals to ensure the effective delivery of legal services that safeguard children and promote positive outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide specialist legal advice and representation to Children’s Social Care in relation to safeguarding, adoption, care, and non-care matters.
- Manage a personal caseload of care proceedings and Public Law Outline (PLO) pre-proceedings cases.
- Advise on and progress non-care matters relating to children’s services.
- Attend Legal Planning Meetings (LPM) and provide timely, practical legal advice to support decision-making.
- Prepare, review, and draft legal documentation, applications, witness statements, court bundles, and correspondence.
- Conduct legal research and provide clear, solution-focused advice to social workers and senior managers.
- Undertake duty lawyer sessions on a rota basis and respond to urgent safeguarding matters as required.
- Manage disclosure exercises and ensure appropriate redaction of sensitive information.
- Ensure all case files are maintained in accordance with Lexcel standards and internal procedures.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across Legal Services and Children’s Social Care to deliver corporate and team objectives.
- Assist and support the Head of Team in delivering service priorities and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Conduct advocacy where appropriately qualified and experienced.
Essential Requirements
- Qualified Solicitor, Chartered Legal Executive (CILEX), or Barrister with rights of audience and rights to conduct litigation.
- Hold a current practising certificate.
- Minimum of two years’ post-qualification experience in children law within a local authority setting.
- Demonstrable experience managing a caseload of public law children matters independently.
- Experience handling:
- Care proceedings
- Public Law Outline (PLO) pre-proceedings
- Deprivation of Liberty (DoL) applications
- Secure accommodation applications
- Special Guardianship Order (SGO) applications
- Adoption matters
- Discharge applications
- Disclosure and redaction exercises
- Excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication skills.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet court deadlines.
- Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced environment.
Desirable Requirements
- Ability to undertake advocacy in court.
- Experience advising at Legal Planning Meetings (LPMs).
- Knowledge of Lexcel quality standards and legal case management systems.
Key Competencies
- Sound judgement and decision-making skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Resilience and the ability to manage complex and sensitive matters.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills.
- Commitment to safeguarding children and promoting their welfare.
Childcare Lawyer – AR employer: Carrington Blake Recruitment
Join our dedicated team at Tooley Street, London, where we prioritise the welfare of children and provide a supportive work environment for our Childcare Lawyers. We offer competitive rates, a collaborative culture, and opportunities for professional growth, ensuring that you can make a meaningful impact while advancing your legal career in a vibrant city. With a focus on safeguarding and positive outcomes, you'll find a rewarding role that values your expertise and commitment to children's services.
Contact Details:
Carrington Blake Recruitment Recruitment Team
