Civic Recruitment Limited
Children's Solicitor
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Children's Solicitor – Contract Opportunity
Location: Swindon
Rate: £60.00 per hour (Umbrella)
Contract: Length to Be Confirmed
Hours: Full Time
Pay: Bi-Weekly
Summary
We are seeking a seasoned Children's Solicitor to join a Local Authority Legal Services team. This role involves delivering expert legal advice and representation on a wide array of Children's Social Care issues. The successful candidate will manage a personal caseload of public law childcare matters, offer strategic legal counsel, and represent the Council in court. This position is ideal for a self-assured and experienced local government lawyer who thrives in a dynamic and fast-paced setting, providing practical and solution-oriented legal advice.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee a caseload of intricate Children's Social Care legal matters.
- Deliver prompt and precise legal advice to Children's Services and senior officers.
- Provide counsel on:
- Child Protection
- Pre-Proceedings
- Public Law Outline (PLO)
- Care Proceedings
- Emergency Applications
- Adoption Matters
- Placement Orders
- Supervision Orders
- Special Guardianship Orders
- Draft legal documents, applications, pleadings, witness statements, and court bundles.
- Conduct advocacy when necessary.
- Represent the Council in Family Court proceedings.
- Advise Social Workers and managers on safeguarding and legal interventions.
- Offer legal support from Legal Planning Meetings through to final hearings.
- Participate in internal meetings, case conferences, and court hearings.
- Mentor trainee solicitors, legal assistants, and support officers as needed.
- Maintain accurate case records using legal case management systems.
- Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, regulations, and professional standards.
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Essential Requirements
- Qualified Solicitor or Barrister with a current practising certificate.
- Extensive experience in Children's Social Care Law.
- Strong knowledge of:
- Children Act 1989
- Adoption and Children Act 2002
- Family Procedure Rules
- Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations
- Experience handling:
- Pre-Proceedings
- Care Proceedings
- Adoption Applications
- Placement Orders
- Child Protection Matters
- Proficiency in drafting court documentation and legal pleadings.
- Advocacy experience in Family Courts.
- Experience advising Social Workers and Children's Services professionals.
- Capability to manage cases from Legal Planning Meetings through to final hearings.
- Excellent communication, drafting, negotiation, and case management skills.
- Ability to handle a demanding caseload with minimal supervision.
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Desirable
- Experience in Local Government legal work.
- Experience advising on private law proceedings, including Section 7 and Section 37 reports.
- Experience supporting adoption processes from ADM advice through to contested adoption hearings.
- Knowledge of Deprivation of Liberty matters involving children.
- Experience attending and advising committees and senior leadership teams.
- Experience mentoring trainee solicitors or junior legal staff.
What's on Offer?
- £60.00 per hour (Umbrella)
- Contract Length to Be Confirmed
- Bi-Weekly Pay
- Opportunity to work within a dynamic and supportive Local Authority legal team.
- Diverse and challenging Children's Social Care caseload.
- Opportunity to impact outcomes for vulnerable children and families.
- Exposure to complex safeguarding, adoption, and public law proceedings.
- High level of autonomy and responsibility.
This role is suitable for candidates with experience as a Children's Solicitor, Childcare Solicitor, Senior Childcare Lawyer, Family Solicitor, Public Law Solicitor, Local Government Lawyer, Care Proceedings Solicitor, Adoption Solicitor, or Senior Children's Services Lawyer.
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