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- Tasks: Safeguard children and adults through litigation and advocacy in a supportive legal team.
- Company: Join one of the largest legal practices in Kirklees, dedicated to making a difference.
- Benefits: Enjoy 27.5 days annual leave, hybrid working, and exceptional maternity/paternity policies.
- Other info: Strong emphasis on training and personal development in a dynamic legal environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on vulnerable lives while developing your legal career.
- Qualifications: Qualified or soon-to-be qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Fellow with relevant practice rights.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Candidates may specify whether they are seeking an adult service role or children’s focus role. This role has three positions, please specify in your application which role you're applying for:
- 1 maternity cover post
- 1 permanent full-time post – adult focus
- 1 permanent part-time post (24 hours) – adult focus
Do you want to make a difference to local people? As one of the largest legal practices in the area, our dedicated teams strive to get the best outcomes for people in Kirklees. This role forms part of our ongoing commitment to building a modern service to meet the needs of our safeguarding children and adult services. We will consider newly qualified applicants to this role who are enthusiastic and committed to a career in our service.
The Team
The Safeguarding Children and Adults Team is one of the specialist teams within Kirklees Legal Services. We act for the council on a range of matters including Public Law Proceedings relating to children and applications in respect of vulnerable adults in the Court of Protection. We work closely with the council’s social work teams who provide services to vulnerable children and adults.
The Role
The primary focus of this role is safeguarding children and adult litigation.
Maternity Cover
If you are applying for the temporary maternity cover post, you will have the option of choosing either children litigation or adult litigation or a combination of both.
Permanent Posts
The permanent full-time post and the permanent part-time posts are adult litigation posts. If you are applying for these posts, you will conduct and manage a case load comprising of proceedings in the Court of Protection. You will be expected to provide advice and representation on a variety of matters including conducting your own advocacy at hearings and instructing counsel where required. This role is a hybrid role and will require attendance at in-person meetings and hearings as well as some office-based days.
What you will bring
We are looking for someone who is a qualified, or soon to be qualified Solicitor holding a current practising certificate, a Barrister, or a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives and holds either practice rights in Civil Litigation and Advocacy (for the Adult Focus) or practice rights in Family Litigation and Advocacy (for the Children Focus).
Do you have any experience in the following areas? We are looking for someone with some experience in at least one of the following areas, but experience in more than one area would be beneficial:
- Children Act 1989 – Public & Private Law Applications
- Adoption and Children Act 2002 – Public & Private Law Applications
- Care Act 2014
- Mental Health Act 1983, Community Care, Mental Capacity Act 2005
- Advocacy in public & private children proceedings
- Advocacy in public or private law adoption or special guardianship applications
- Judicial Review/Administrative Law
We are looking for someone who can produce or has experience of drafting application forms and other Court documentation to support Local Authority Applications in respect of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. For newly qualified lawyers/solicitors we would look for time spent working on cases of this type under the supervision of other lawyers and assisting on those types of cases and can demonstrate an aptitude for the work in the future.
Development
If you are ambitious and wish to develop your skills and knowledge in legal services and want to know more about the legal issues that affect a large local authority – this is the role for you. We place a strong emphasis on training and personal development and want to support you to be the best you can be. As well as opportunities for you to learn and develop your skills, you’ll also have the chance to share your knowledge and experience to help others in the team develop. You will be supported by an experienced team of Principal and Senior Lawyers, Assistant Legal officers and our business support colleagues.
Your benefits
Kirklees Council offers these benefits to all its employees:
- 27.5 days annual leave increasing to 32.5 after 5 years’ service (plus bank holidays)
- Cycle to work scheme
- Travel and parking discounts
- Exceptional Maternity and Paternity leave policies
- Local Government Pension
- Access to Employee Healthcare that offers a range of services from counselling to physiotherapy and health assessments
- Hybrid working
Have questions? If you would like to have an informal discussion about the maternity cover role, please telephone Lee Binns, Lynn Asghar or Joanna Magagula, principal lawyers within the Children and Adults Legal Team on 01484 221 000. If you would like to have an informal discussion about the permanent roles, please telephone Razia Riaz or Stephanie Tully, principal lawyers within the Children and Adults Legal Team on 01484 221 000.
Senior Lawyer - Safeguarding Children or Adults employer: Kirklees Metropolitan Council
Contact Detail:
Kirklees Metropolitan Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Lawyer - Safeguarding Children or Adults
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the team! Before your interview, do a bit of research on the Safeguarding Children and Adults Team. Understanding their work and values will help you connect during the conversation.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your advocacy skills! Since this role involves conducting your own advocacy, it’s a good idea to brush up on those skills. Maybe even do a mock hearing with a friend to get comfortable.
✨Tip Number 3
Be clear about your focus! When applying, make sure to specify whether you're interested in the adult service role or the children’s focus role. This shows that you’re serious and have thought about where you fit best.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t hesitate to reach out! If you have questions about the roles, give Lee, Lynn, Joanna, Razia, or Stephanie a call. They’re there to help and it shows initiative on your part!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Lawyer - Safeguarding Children or Adults
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Clear About Your Role Preference: Make sure to specify whether you're applying for the maternity cover, full-time, or part-time adult focus role. This helps us understand where you see yourself fitting in and ensures we can match your skills with our needs.
Show Off Your Relevant Experience: Highlight any experience you have in safeguarding children or adults, especially in areas like Public Law Proceedings or the Court of Protection. We want to see how your background aligns with the role, so don’t hold back!
Tailor Your Application: Use the job description as a guide to tailor your application. Mention specific skills or experiences that relate to the responsibilities outlined, like drafting court documents or conducting advocacy. This shows us you’ve done your homework!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to the right people and helps us keep track of all applicants efficiently. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Kirklees Metropolitan Council
✨Know Your Role
Before the interview, make sure you clearly specify whether you're applying for the adult service role or the children's focus role. Tailor your responses to highlight relevant experience in either safeguarding children or vulnerable adults, as this will show that you understand the specific needs of the position.
✨Brush Up on Relevant Legislation
Familiarise yourself with key legislation such as the Children Act 1989, Care Act 2014, and Mental Capacity Act 2005. Be prepared to discuss how these laws apply to safeguarding practices and how you've engaged with them in your previous roles or studies.
✨Showcase Your Advocacy Skills
Since the role involves conducting your own advocacy at hearings, be ready to share examples of your advocacy experience. Discuss any relevant cases you've worked on, focusing on your approach and the outcomes achieved. This will demonstrate your capability and confidence in a courtroom setting.
✨Emphasise Your Commitment to Development
Express your enthusiasm for personal and professional growth within legal services. Mention any training or development opportunities you've pursued and how you plan to continue learning in this role. This aligns with the team's emphasis on training and shows you're keen to contribute positively to the team.