Legal Officer - Child Protection Team in Liverpool

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Job Reference: liverpoolcitycouncil/TP/694/2087

Number of Positions: 1

Contract Type: Permanent Full Time

Working Hours: 35

Location: Cunard Building, Water Street, Liverpool

Closing Date: 14/08/2026

Job Category: Legal Services

Region / Division: Liverpool

Business Unit: Law & Governance

A bit about us: Liverpool is home to vibrant, energetic, and engaged communities, people who take real ownership of their local area and are passionate about making our city a better place. We've got ambitious targets to meet and we need people who are driven, dynamic and ready to deliver the very best for our communities. Public service is more important than ever, and this role represents a real opportunity to make a difference to our communities by transforming the way we work and placing our residents at the heart of everything we do. Working at Liverpool City Council provides an opportunity to contribute to your community and make a positive impact on the lives of residents. Our values shape how we work to deliver public services, and how we communicate with the residents we serve. We care about the best outcomes for local people, through our public services. We are proud of our world-famous thriving city with its rich culture, as well as affordable housing, good schools, beautiful green spaces – there’s really something for everyone!

The role: Our Legal Officers support our Lawyers and the wider Legal team in a variety of activities, learning and developing skills along the way. Legal Officers carry out casework instructions received from lawyers and have personal responsibility for assisting with the progress of cases ensuring value for money and efficient use of resources. As a Legal Officer, you will provide support such as drafting applications on behalf of lawyers with conduct, obtaining and organising documentation to meet the requests of the court, providing support to clients, assisting with the creation of court bundles. Legal officers are responsible for effective diary management to ensure that court directions are complied with in a timely manner. The drafting of legal documents/applications is a key element of the Legal Officer role, utilising legal knowledge. The exciting element of being a Legal Officer is being part of a legal team which undertakes an interesting and varied caseload of Children Act and related matters and, where required, attending court/tribunals with solicitor/counsel. You will contribute to ensuring that the Council is represented in the most cost effective and efficient manner. There will of course be a requirement to prepare reports, documents, minutes, and correspondence on behalf of lawyers, taking notes at meetings/hearings as required, and assisting with the collection of data/information to support the Lawyer, Senior Lawyers and Heads of Law. To act in accordance with and promote the Nolan Principles in the Council and your work on behalf of solicitors and to elevate concerns when identified via line management processes. To be flexible with regards to working hours to ensure that service needs and client requirements are met. To maximise the use of information technology and systems to provide more effective, efficient and economical legal services. This job description is not intended to be either prescriptive or exhaustive, it is issued as a framework to outline the main areas of responsibility at the time of writing. The job holder will carry out such other tasks as may reasonably be required.

Our offer to you: At least 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays rising to 32 after 5 years’ service (pro rata if part time) - option to purchase further days. Agile working (role dependent) - a “Flexibility First” approach to agile working, where flexibility is the norm rather than the exception. Part of the Local Government Pension Scheme – option to join the AVC Scheme. Progression opportunities and training through a wide range of high quality learning. Health and Wellbeing offer including Employee Assistance Programme. Cycle to Work and Travel Pass Schemes. Drive Time – a salary sacrifice car lease scheme. Family friendly policies with enhanced leave. Discounted Gym Memberships. Employee Volunteering Scheme.

Next steps: Closing date: midnight on Friday 14th August 2026. Shortlisting date: Tuesday 18th August 2026. Interview date: 25th to 27th August 2026. Interview type: Face to face.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early. Once the role has closed, you will not be able to submit an application, and we are unable to reopen the vacancy for you to complete it. We strongly recommend submitting your application well in advance of the closing date to avoid disappointment. If you would like any further information or an informal discussion, please contact Kelly Stokes via kelly.stokes@liverpool.gov.uk.

Liverpool City Council is committed to fostering a workforce representative of the communities we serve. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we believe in appointing candidates based on their skills, experience, qualifications, and abilities. To support this commitment, we guarantee an interview to candidates from under-represented groups who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role. If you require any reasonable adjustments in line with the Equality Act 2010, such as an application form in a different format or additional time to complete your application, please contact us at recruitment@liverpool.gov.uk.

Although we advertise on Jobs Go Public, and other websites, your application process will be directed to our Tribepad system. Please note that all communication regarding your application for this post will be sent to the email address that you have registered on Tribepad, including your invite to interview if you are shortlisted. Please check your emails regularly, including Spam/Junk, after the closing dates for notifications. Please ensure you complete your full profile, work and education history in Tribepad. Eligibility to work in the UK will be verified in the final stages of the selection process. All candidates must either already have a right to work in the UK before commencing employment or meet the Home Office criteria for Visa sponsorship. Candidates who require sponsorship should evaluate the Home Office eligibility criteria for a Skilled Worker visa before applying. This is not legal advice, and we advise you to seek your own independent legal advice tailored to your own personal circumstances.