Senior Solicitor (Social Care)

Role Purpose

To contribute to the efficient and cost-effective delivery of legal services within a culture of customer focus, continuous improvement, service excellence and employee development.

To provide professional/ technical advice and guidance in children, adult and education cases to colleagues, managers and partner agencies to contribute to the delivery of the Council's objectives and priorities.

Responsibilities

• To conduct proceedings in the Family Proceedings Court, County Court, High Court, Crown Court and Magistrate Court or any other Tribunal and comply with applicable time limits. The post holder's case load may include high profile, politically sensitive and financially weighted cases.
• To deal with all types of public law children and adult matters and to report to, liaise with and assist the Chief Solicitor Social Care and the Borough Solicitor as necessary.
• To advise on SEN cases and other education matters.
• To prepare and process all matters relevant to child protection cases before any court, inquiry or tribunal, including the evaluation of evidence, drafting applications and statements and having general conduct of all matters.
• To appear as the Council's advocate in Courts, Tribunals, Inquiries or other hearings as appropriate.
• To provide expert advice to Council Officers and Members as required.
• To brief Counsel in accordance with the Legal Services' procedures and, when necessary, attend conference with Counsel.

Requirements

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of CILEX entitled to practice in England and Wales.
• Ability to organise and prioritise own work load and to work on own initiative as necessary
• Broad knowledge of local government law or equivalent knowledge.
• Knowledge and experience of social services legislation.
• Ability to communicate complex legal issues to Members and officers and to provide cogent legal advice accordingly.
• Desirable to have experience of working within Local Government.
• Desirable to have had experience advocating in the Family Courts, and/or in clerking for exclusion panels or at SEN tribunal hearings.

Contract

• Part Time position would be 3 days per week.
• Flexibility on which 3 days they work on a week by week basis likely to be necessary due to the need to cover whenever Tribunal hearings happen to be listed.
• PAYE via Umbrella.
• Initial 3 to 6 month ongoing contract.

If you are interested in this position AND meet the requirements, APPLY NOW!