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- Tasks: Join our Joint Legal Team to provide essential legal services for child care cases.
- Company: Reading Borough Council, a Disability Confident Employer committed to diversity and inclusion.
- Benefits: Generous holiday, flexible working, competitive salary, and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in safeguarding children and supporting vulnerable families.
- Qualifications: Qualified solicitor, barrister, or FCILEX with local government experience.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with excellent career growth and advocacy training.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We are looking for a passionate and skilled Child Care Lawyer to join our dedicated Joint Legal Team, delivering high-quality legal services across multiple local authorities. This is a rewarding opportunity to play a key role in safeguarding children and supporting social work teams to achieve the best outcomes for vulnerable families.
We seek thebest talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
We support hybrid working, it’s important to us that working arrangements are designed to enable our employees to excel and within this role you’ll have the opportunity to work in a way that suits your lifestyle.
About the role:
The purpose of Legal Services is to provide the Council and its partners with the highest quality professional legal advice and representation which allows them to run their organisations well, and to serve our community. Our ambition is to be the best place to practice law in local government; being close to our customers, recruiting the best talent, successfully deploying legal technology and ensuring the continued growth of the business to new customers.
The Joint Legal Team is a long-standing shared legal service for all the Berkshire councils and a recognised centre of excellence for child care law, adults and education law. We are hosted by Reading Borough Council, working from our modern offices in Reading town centre close to the train station and courts.
We are recruiting for qualified solicitors, barristers or FCILEX to join our child care teams in the Joint Legal Team. Willingness to undertake advocacy at CMHs and IRHs is an advantage. You will work in a small team of lawyers, supported by paralegals and legal assistants and led by an experienced Principal Lawyer.
You will be supported you in your work and in your professional development to develop your skills by our Professional Support Lawyer and to move to the next level in your career.
In Child Care Court Teams you will have opportunities to work on a wide range of interesting and complex cases to grow your experience. Our long established Adoption and Permanence Team works closely with Adopt Thames Valley to support our clients. We offer advocacy training to our lawyers.
You will report to a Senior Lawyer or a Principal Lawyer who will support you in your work and in your professional development. We encourage our lawyers to develop their legal skills and to move to the next level in their career.
Our Legal Operations Team will support you in delivering your work as we invest further in our systems and processes and work towards Lexcel accreditation.
You will be part of a dynamic team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As part of Team Reading you will play your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Whatever your specialism or previous experience, you will thrive on the challenge of working in a customer focussed environment and in a team which has an ambitious agenda for the future. You will have opportunities to join in the wider work of the team outside your specialist field in helping us to reach our team objectives.
All of our lawyer roles are open to qualified solicitors, barristers and chartered legal executives.
About you:
To apply for this role you will require:
– A current practising certificate and be entitled to practice in England as a Solicitor, Barrister, or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executive
– Experience of providing legal services for a range of local government services
– An ability to work to tight deadlines and remain calm whilst under pressure
– Attention to detail and the confidence to work independently as well as in a team
– Excellent communication, team-work and relationship building skills.
– A flexible approach to work and ability to use initiative
– Ability to maintain confidentiality
The TEAM Reading values underpin the way we work day-to-day and are the foundation for modern, cost effective services to improve the lives of local people.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team– work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency– show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
Be Ambitious– be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
Make a Difference to Reading– maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed.
Our offer:
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
– Generous holiday entitlement – 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays – rising to 33 days after 10 years\’ service, with the option to buy additional leave
– A wide range of flexible working opportunities
– Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
– Local Government Pension Scheme(LGPS)
– On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
– Season Ticket Loan – to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work
– Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
For more information on this position, please contactrecruitment@reading.gov.ukor for an informal chat about this role, please contact Eleanor Gibson, the Team Leader for Child Care,eleanor.gibson@reading.gov.uk
Closing Date: Sunday 21st September 2025 (Applications to be reviewed upon submission)
To apply please click theApply Nowlink below.
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Child Care Lawyer - Joint Legal Team employer: Reading Borough Council
Contact Detail:
Reading Borough Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Child Care Lawyer - Joint Legal Team
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the legal field, especially those who work in child care law. Attend relevant events or webinars to meet potential colleagues and get your name out there.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation and its values. Understand their approach to child care law and think about how your skills can contribute to their mission. Show them you’re not just another candidate!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your advocacy skills! Since this role may involve court appearances, brush up on your public speaking and argumentation techniques. You want to impress them with your confidence and ability to represent vulnerable families.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team and contributing to making Reading a better place for everyone.
We think you need these skills to ace Child Care Lawyer - Joint Legal Team
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in child care law and local government services. We want to see how your skills align with our mission to safeguard children and support families.
Showcase Your Passion: Let your enthusiasm for child care law shine through! Share specific examples of how you've made a difference in previous roles or how you plan to contribute to our Joint Legal Team. We love seeing candidates who are genuinely passionate about the work we do.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon. We appreciate well-structured applications that make it easy for us to see your qualifications and fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Reading Borough Council
✨Know Your Child Care Law
Make sure you brush up on the latest developments in child care law. Familiarise yourself with key cases and legislation that impact local authorities. This will not only show your passion for the role but also demonstrate your commitment to safeguarding children.
✨Showcase Your Team Spirit
Since this role involves working closely with social work teams, be prepared to discuss examples of how you've collaborated effectively in the past. Highlight your ability to work as part of a team and how you can contribute to the Joint Legal Team's goals.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to handle pressure. Think about specific situations where you've had to make tough decisions or advocate for vulnerable families, and be ready to share those experiences.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t shy away from asking questions. Inquire about the team dynamics, ongoing training opportunities, or how the council measures success in their legal services. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you gauge if it’s the right fit for you.
