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 of £50–£60, flexible working hours, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for advocacy and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while advancing your legal career.
- Qualifications: Qualified Solicitor or Barrister with at least two years' 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 in London employer: Carrington Blake Recruitment
At our Tooley Street location in London, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values the vital work of Childcare Lawyers. Our supportive work culture fosters collaboration with social care professionals, ensuring that you can make a meaningful impact on children's lives while enjoying opportunities for professional growth and development. With competitive rates and a commitment to safeguarding children, we offer a rewarding environment for those dedicated to making a difference.
Contact Details:
Carrington Blake Recruitment Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Childcare Lawyer – AR in London
✨Get Involved in Legal Networking Events
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We think you need these skills to ace Childcare Lawyer – AR in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Legal Know-How:In the legal services world, it's all about demonstrating your understanding of relevant laws and regulations. Make sure your CV highlights your legal training, internships, or any relevant projects you've worked on. If you've done any mooting or legal research, include those too - they can really set you apart!
Tailor Your Application for the Temp Role:Since this is a temporary position, your application should stress your adaptability and readiness to jump in right away. Highlight any previous temp roles where you quickly got up to speed, or any diverse experiences that show you can handle a variety of cases or tasks with ease.
Keep it Specific with Your Documents:Make sure your application includes essential legal documents, such as any relevant certifications or memberships in legal bodies. These can add credibility to your CV and show that you're serious about the profession – especially useful in a competitive field like law!
Express Your Enthusiasm in the Cover Letter:Your cover letter is a golden opportunity to express your enthusiasm for the role and the organisation. Let them know why you’re excited about this temporary position with Carrington Blake Recruitment and how you're motivated to contribute to their success during your limited time with them!
How to prepare for a job interview at Carrington Blake Recruitment
✨Show Off Your Legal Know-How
Prepare to discuss your understanding of legal terminology and concepts that might come up during the interview for the Childcare Lawyer – AR role at Carrington Blake Recruitment. Brush up on relevant laws or recent cases that could be pertinent to the temporary position, as they'll likely appreciate candidates who can think on their feet and adapt to the fast-paced legal environment.
✨Talk About Your Flexibility
Since this is a temporary role, employers want to know you can hit the ground running. Be ready to highlight past experiences where you've had to quickly adapt to new tasks or work cultures. Flexibility is key in a short-term position like this, so share specific examples that demonstrate your ability to manage changing priorities efficiently.
✨Prepare for the Casework Challenge
You might face hypothetical scenarios where you'd have to advise on a legal issue or case. Practice articulating your thought process clearly, as interviewers in the legal sector often expect candidates to walk them through their reasoning step-by-step. This will not only showcase your legal acumen but also demonstrate your communication skills, which are crucial in law.
✨Pitch Your Legal Portfolio
If you have any relevant work samples, such as briefs, contracts, or legal research, this is your chance to shine! Be ready to discuss what you did, what challenges you faced, and the outcomes. This speaks volumes more than just listing your skills; it shows you're proactive and results-oriented, which is essential for a temporary role at Carrington Blake Recruitment.
