Solicitor - Childcare and Education WCC623658

Legal Services at Westminster is made up of a dedicated and diverse team of legal professionals committed to improving outcomes for families in the local community. The team focuses on child protection, adult social care and education. They have built a very good reputation with the local Court (Central Family Court) and the judges. The team is keen to develop the next generation of social care lawyers to continue this important work. Westminster staff are encouraged to participate and contribute to more than just their day-to-day role and volunteering opportunities are available.

The Role

As a Solicitor, you can make your own powerful contribution. Your main role will be to provide professional, procedural and technical legal guidance, including routine advocacy on tenancy management, temporary accommodation and other local government housing, civil litigation, commercial and regulatory matters. Working alongside the Social Care Team, you will undertake routine legal cases, deal with more complex cases, and assist more experienced Solicitors on high profile, politically sensitive and financially weighted cases. You will be committed to delivering cost effective, customer focused services, all within a culture of continuous improvement.

A qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of CILEx with demonstrable knowledge of childcare law and related legislation and case law, you will have experience dealing with and advising on local authority's duties and powers in relation to children and young adults. With a broad knowledge of Local Government law, or a willingness to learn, you will be committed to your continuous professional and personal development. On a personal level, you will be a natural communicator with excellent negotiating and influencing skills. You will be diplomatic, enterprising and detail focused, with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

This is a fantastic opportunity to put people across Westminster first, and to supercharge your career in the process. Westminster City Council is committed to supporting Care Leavers into the workplace. Care Leavers seeking their first job and who wish to be considered under our scheme, will automatically be invited to interview should they meet the essential criteria for the role.

What We Offer

Westminster is an amazing place. We are home to more than 200,000 residents from all backgrounds, over 50,000 vibrant and vital businesses and three-quarters-of-a-million people work in Westminster. Westminster City Council's strategy is to work towards a Fairer Westminster. A Fairer Westminster is one in which our communities are at the heart of our decision-making and help to determine the city's future. By working directly with our communities and other partners, we can build a more inclusive city that celebrates our diverse communities, and where residents, workers and visitors from all backgrounds will feel welcome and safe.

At Westminster City Council, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive workplace and employer of choice. We encourage and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that, at all levels, represents the communities we serve. We champion equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, has a sense of belonging and is empowered to be their best, that is the Westminster Way.