Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our legal team to provide childcare advice and manage child protection cases.
- Company: North Northamptonshire Council is an innovative and supportive unitary authority focused on improving residents' lives.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, a competitive salary, and extensive professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Be part of a transformative journey, shaping services and making a real impact in the community.
- Qualifications: You need a relevant degree and be a qualified CILEX, Solicitor, or Barrister with childcare experience.
- Other info: We are committed to inclusivity and support for all applicants, including those from the Armed Forces community.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
A unique opportunity to build a team and influence one of the largest and newest unitary Councils. North Northamptonshire Council is an ambitious, exciting, innovative and supportive place to work. The Council is committed to focused service delivery to improve the lives of our residents. Following local government reform, we are well on our way into our transformation journey to deliver excellent services in an inclusive and creative environment where ideas are encouraged alongside a commitment to staff development.
We have invested in our legal team to support delivery of the Council's priorities and created a structure that supports the team to deliver a holistic legal service across the Council's functions. This is an exciting time to join us and be integral in building, establishing, and developing the team providing high quality trusted advice.
We are committed to your personal development; the variety of work delivers an exciting mixed caseload for the team. Our approach provides you with an opportunity to influence and play a broad role in the Council and the way it delivers services to residents.
As a member of the team, you will be supported at a senior level and by your peers in a growing and developing team of professionals. The team's focus is on enabling service delivery, to achieve this we adopt a partnering model with our clients, supporting them to deliver an ambitious agenda for North Northamptonshire.
The newly created team provides an exciting opportunity for applicants whatever stage they are at in their career. We are committed to developing, nurturing, and growing talent from legal assistants to the managers of the future. As a unitary authority, the opportunities are varied and broad providing a unique opportunity to shape processes and grow with the Council as it develops.
What will you be doing?
We are looking for Lawyers specialising in Childcare to join our in-house legal team. The role will require you to undertake a caseload of work including:
- Provide general and specialist childcare advice on behalf of the Council to clients, colleagues and elected members and senior officers.
- Manage a caseload in relation to the full range of child protection cases, including attendance at court and tribunals undertaking advocacy where required.
- Advising on policy, strategy and procedures relating to childcare issues.
It is desirable, but not essential, that you have local government experience; however, training and support would be offered as part of your continuous professional development.
If this sounds like a job for you, we would love to hear from you. The closing date for applications is 15th June 2025.
If you would like to have a discussion about the role, please contact David McCullough, Head of Legal Services, on 01536 859203.
About You
You will:
- Hold a relevant degree and be a qualified CILEX, Solicitor or Barrister, licensed to practice.
- Effectively and appropriately provide and communicate legal advice commensurate to experience to Members, Officers and other stakeholders generally and at committee meetings.
- Have experience in childcare work.
Our benefits
Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we’re transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people. You’ll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!
Why choose us?
- We offer a vibrant working environment with a competitive salary.
- A pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
- Lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council.
- Generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days.
- Hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work-life balance.
- We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.
About Us
Our Values and Behaviours define who we are and how we operate, by forming the foundation for how we interact with our customers, colleagues and provide our services. They are also at the forefront of our decision making and delivery and are:
- Customer-focused
- Respectful
- Efficient
- Supportive
- Trustworthy
Our Key Commitments
Our key commitments help ensure that the priorities we make, now and in the future, maintain the necessary breadth of focus in those areas that we believe matter most. We are proud to be a recognised Disability Confident Employer and are committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.
North Northamptonshire Council re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant in June 2024 which highlights the Council's pledge to support the Armed Forces community. The council obtained the silver status award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) and we are now currently working towards achieving Gold status.
We aim to be a carbon neutral Council by 2030.
Lawyer - Childcare employer: North Northamptonshire Council
Contact Detail:
North Northamptonshire Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lawyer - Childcare
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with North Northamptonshire Council's values and behaviours. Understanding their customer-focused, respectful, and supportive approach will help you align your discussions and demonstrate that you're a good fit for their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of North Northamptonshire Council, especially those in the legal department. They can provide insights into the team dynamics and the specific challenges faced in childcare law, which can be invaluable during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience in childcare law comprehensively. Be ready to share specific cases you've worked on, your role in them, and how you navigated challenges, as this will showcase your expertise and readiness for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Consider reaching out to David McCullough, the Head of Legal Services, for an informal chat about the role. This shows initiative and gives you a chance to ask questions that could set you apart from other candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Lawyer - Childcare
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Childcare Lawyer position. Familiarise yourself with the job description and person specification to tailor your application effectively.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise your experience in childcare law and any relevant qualifications. Be specific about your caseload management, advocacy experience, and any policy or strategy work you've undertaken.
Showcase Your Skills: Demonstrate your ability to provide legal advice clearly and effectively. Use examples from your past work to illustrate how you have communicated complex legal concepts to clients and stakeholders.
Personalise Your Application: Address your cover letter to the hiring manager, David McCullough, and express your enthusiasm for the role and the Council's mission. Mention how your values align with those of North Northamptonshire Council to make a strong impression.
How to prepare for a job interview at North Northamptonshire Council
✨Understand the Role and Responsibilities
Make sure you thoroughly read the job description and understand the specific responsibilities of a Childcare Lawyer. Be prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with managing a caseload of child protection cases and providing legal advice.
✨Showcase Your Advocacy Skills
Since the role involves attending court and tribunals, be ready to provide examples of your advocacy experience. Highlight any relevant cases where you successfully represented clients or provided legal counsel in childcare matters.
✨Demonstrate Your Commitment to Development
The Council values personal development, so express your eagerness to grow within the role. Discuss any training or professional development you've undertaken, and how you plan to continue enhancing your skills in childcare law.
✨Align with the Council's Values
Familiarise yourself with North Northamptonshire Council's values such as being customer-focused, respectful, and supportive. During the interview, illustrate how your personal values align with theirs and how you can contribute to their mission of improving residents' lives.
