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- Tasks: Handle childcare casework and represent clients in court with support.
- Company: Join Staffordshire County Council, a progressive authority focused on community impact.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous holidays, and a supportive work-life balance.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while growing your legal career.
- Qualifications: Must be a qualified legal professional with childcare law knowledge.
- Other info: Guaranteed interview for applicants meeting minimum criteria; inclusive workplace.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Staffordshire County Council is a modern, progressive, and forward-thinking authority that is ambitious and empowers its employees to be courageous and innovative in their approach.
Staffordshire Legal Services is a large in-house corporate legal team, offering a significant breadth of experience and expertise. We support and retain our lawyers, trainees and support staff by offering a wide variety of work, an extensive benefits package and offering training and mentoring to aide their progression. We want everyone to enjoy their work, feel challenged and appreciated for what they do and to make a positive difference to the lives of the people of Staffordshire. People are often unaware that Legal Services support the Council to fulfil every function when delivering its agenda and priorities, in addition to the Staffordshire pension fund, and a wide range of external clients. This keeps the work interesting, challenging and often high value and high profile.
We genuinely recognise the benefit of achieving the right work life balance and our extensive package of benefits support this. Lots of organisations offer this however our staff survey reliably informs us that our work ethos truly delivers this. Our package includes a generous holiday entitlement, increasing significantly with service, and an additional annual leave purchase scheme. Flexible and term time only working, agile working, employee travel and entertainment discounts, a local government pension scheme, optional car lease scheme and a staff parking discount scheme. We also offer family friendly polices such as maternity, adoption, paternity, and parental leave.
Main Responsibilities
Some of your responsibilities will include:
- Completing all aspects of moderately complex childcare casework and representing the client department at all case related meetings and appropriate court hearings with limited supervision
- Conduct advocacy in court in childcare matters
- Supporting the wider Legal Services Unit with casework, with required training and supervision
- Adherence to the Legal Services Unit\’s quality standards (Lexcel) including time-recording in order to maintain professional standards
- To undertake in-service training as required by the training plan and to facilitate in-service training of staff members/client department
- To handle confidential data sensitively and securely in accordance with policy
The Ideal Candidate
We are looking for you to be a qualified Chartered Legal Executive, Solicitor or Barrister with:
- A comprehensive understanding of childcare law
- An in-depth understanding of the work done by this public sector, although previous local government experience is not essential
- An ability to clearly, confidently and effectively communicate
- Meticulous attention to detail
- Effective time management, prioritisation skills and an ability to work under the demands of competing pressures
- An ability to delegate work in order to generate capacity
Interview Date: 1 August 2025
If you are unsure if your skills and experience are suitable for this role or for an informal chat please contact Robin Longhurst, Team Senior Solicitor on 01785 276304 or at robin.longhurst@staffordshire.gov.uk .
About Staffordshire County Council
We are no ordinary county council:
Our Values:
The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.
Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:
We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.
We look forward and race ahead – that goes for your career too.
Our benefits:
We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to Our rewards and benefits – Careers at Staffordshire
Our recruitment process:
As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities
As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a GoldAward Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers – we offer a guaranteed interview as long as yourapplication meets the minimum criteria for the post.
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Lawyer - Childcare employer: Staffordshire County Council
Contact Detail:
Staffordshire County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lawyer - Childcare
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific childcare laws and regulations relevant to Staffordshire. This will not only help you in interviews but also demonstrate your commitment and understanding of the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Staffordshire County Council, especially those in the Legal Services Unit. They can provide valuable insights into the work culture and expectations, which can be beneficial during your application process.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for potential scenario-based questions that may arise during the interview. Think about how you would handle complex childcare cases and be ready to discuss your thought process and decision-making skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your ability to manage competing pressures effectively. Be ready to provide examples from your past experiences where you successfully prioritised tasks and met deadlines, as this is crucial for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Lawyer - Childcare
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure to thoroughly read the job description for the Lawyer - Childcare position. Understand the responsibilities and the skills required, such as knowledge of childcare law and effective communication.
Tailor Your CV: Customise your CV to highlight relevant experience and qualifications that align with the role. Emphasise your understanding of childcare law and any previous casework experience, even if it’s not in local government.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for childcare law and your commitment to making a positive difference in the community. Mention specific examples of your work that demonstrate your skills and attention to detail.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, carefully proofread your application materials. Check for spelling and grammatical errors, and ensure that all information is clear and concise. A polished application reflects your professionalism.
How to prepare for a job interview at Staffordshire County Council
✨Understand Childcare Law
Make sure you have a comprehensive understanding of childcare law, as this is crucial for the role. Brush up on recent cases and legislation to demonstrate your knowledge during the interview.
✨Showcase Communication Skills
Effective communication is key in this role. Prepare examples of how you've communicated complex legal concepts clearly and confidently, especially in high-pressure situations like court hearings.
✨Demonstrate Attention to Detail
Highlight your meticulous attention to detail by discussing past experiences where this skill was essential. Be ready to explain how you ensure accuracy in casework and documentation.
✨Discuss Work-Life Balance
Since Staffordshire County Council values work-life balance, be prepared to discuss how you manage your time effectively and maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life.
