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Manchester City Council

Lawyer (Children & Families Legal Service)

Manchester Full-Time 28800 - 48000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible

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At a Glance

Tasks: Support children's services with legal advice, manage your own caseload, and represent in court.
Company: Join Manchester City Council, a vibrant local authority dedicated to community transformation.
Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous holiday, a strong pension scheme, and various employee perks.
Why this job: Make a real impact on children's lives while developing your legal skills in a supportive environment.
Qualifications: Qualified solicitor, barrister, or legal executive with a current practising certificate required.
Other info: We value diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds, especially underrepresented communities.

The predicted salary is between 28800 - 48000 £ per year.

Lawyer (Children & Families Legal Service)

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Lawyer (Children & Families Legal Service)

2 weeks ago Be among the first 25 applicants

Join to apply for the Lawyer (Children & Families Legal Service) role at Manchester City Council

2 references – where possible, we require 3 years\’ history
Qualification and registration – Qualified solicitor, barrister, Chartered Lawyer or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives holding a current practising certificate.
DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance – this post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (amended in 2013). Appointable candidates will be required to apply for a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Information provided by you or the DBS will be dealt with in a confidential manner and in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice which can be viewed here. We have a policy on the Employment of Ex-Offenders and it is available upon request.

Working Hours: 35 hours per week
Contract Type: Full Time, Permanent
Closing Date: 11.59pm, 15 July 2025
Interview method: in person
This role is subject to –

2 references – where possible, we require 3 years\’ history
Qualification and registration – Qualified solicitor, barrister, Chartered Lawyer or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives holding a current practising certificate.
DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance – this post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (amended in 2013). Appointable candidates will be required to apply for a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Information provided by you or the DBS will be dealt with in a confidential manner and in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice which can be viewed here. We have a policy on the Employment of Ex-Offenders and it is available upon request.

Put Your Legal Experience To Work For Manchester
Having investment into our structure we are growing our already effective team of lawyers, legal officer and business support team who produce incredible, outstanding results with an enhanced vision for the future. Aligning ourselves with Children’s Services to deliver safe, efficient, and effective services to families, the enhanced vision is supported by new team structures, an enriched training, mentoring and coaching tool and a new Case Management System. Highly valued by our clients, our excellent relationships and continual looking for better ways of doing things and achieving greater heights produces an innovative, responsive, inclusive and transparent legal service.
At The Heart Of Everything We Do Is

the safety and needs of children
high-quality representation of Children’s Services.

Be part of our effective team of lawyers who produce incredible, outstanding results. We have enhanced vision for the future, excellent team structures, enriched training, mentoring and coaching and are highly valued by our clients.
You will play an integral part in supporting Manchester, Rochdale and Salford’s Children’s Services. You will provide legal advice to children\’s services supporting them in all aspects of their statutory functions. You will have your own caseload, draft legal documentation and provide advice. You will also represent the local authority at court on a regular basis. The role will suit someone who enjoys advocacy which is a substantial part of the role as a childcare lawyer.
This is a great opportunity for someone looking to develop their legal skills whilst working for one of the largest childcare teams in the country. Legal work for public services in Manchester, Salford and Rochdale Councils and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority puts you among the few practitioners in England’s first, and biggest, devolved region, where major decisions are now taken in-house rather than in Whitehall and by NHS administrations.
We offer our team members flexible start and finish times with an effective hybrid working-practice model. There’s opportunity for development in the role thanks to the way our teams practise in our Lexcel-accredited and supported legal service.
As part your application, please submit your Curriculum Vitae and detailed Expression of Interest setting out how your skills and experience meet the requirements on the attached role profile
To arrange an informal discussion on this role please contact Jennifer Heason, Head of Children & Families Legal Services by email at
We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities.
Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.
Our Manchester Is Our Vision For a Fairer, Greener, And Healthier City – a Vision Shaped By The People Of Manchester. It Guides Everything We Do At The Council And Is Brought To Life Through The Our Manchester Behaviours

We take time to listen and understand
We work together and trust each other
We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
We’re proud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits We Offer

Generous holiday allowance – Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks.
A buzzing pension – You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of 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 you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.
Brilliant perks – Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
Learn and grow – We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.
A Good Employment Charter member – We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
Up to 3 days volunteering leave – Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council
At Manchester City Council, we’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.
Support During the Process

Interview Adjustments: Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
Accessible Formats: Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the \”Accessibility tools\” button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme
Requirements
We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

Members of the Armed Forces members or veterans
Current or former care leavers
Have a disability or long-term condition

When You Join Us
We’re a Disability Confident Employer, Offering

A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.

For more information about the role or any adjustments, email
What we will need from you if you’re successful
In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement ofemployment.This is not arole we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.
Pre-Employment Checks
Required
If you are successful in securing a position with us, the pre-employment checks required will depend on the role you’ve applied for. As a guide, these checks may include:

Proof of Right to Work: You’ll need to provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the UK. Please note, visa sponsorship is not guaranteed for this role.
References: We’ll require references from your current and previous employer(s).
Proof of Qualifications: Evidence of qualifications relevant to the role will be required.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check: A criminal record check may be necessary, depending on the role.
Proof of Manchester Residency: For some roles, you may need to demonstrate that you reside within the boundaries of Manchester City Council.
Police Vetting: Some roles may require police vetting to ensure suitability for accessing sensitive law enforcement systems or information.
Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) Clearance: BPSS clearance is primarily used for roles that involve access to government data, systems, or assets. It ensures that individuals meet basic security requirements and can be trusted with sensitive information
Driving Licence: If the role requires driving, we’ll need evidence of your valid driving licence.

These checks are an important part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our workforce and the community we serve.
Other Relevant Information
We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.
For more information about the role, please ensure that you read the role profile attached.
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