Senior Childcare Lawyer ()

Senior Childcare Lawyer

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Senior Childcare Lawyer to join our client in a key leadership role. This is an exciting opportunity to work on complex and meaningful public law matters, supporting the protection of vulnerable children while contributing to the strategic development of a high-performing legal service.

The Role:

As a Senior Lawyer, you will act as a lead within the team, managing around 5 direct reports whilst taking responsibility for the most complex and challenging cases, alongside providing guidance and support to colleagues. You will work closely with the management team and play an active role in ensuring the effective delivery of high-quality legal services to client organisations.

In addition to managing your own caseload, you will contribute to the leadership and development of the team, deputising for the Principal Solicitor or Head of Service when required and participating in management meetings.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead on complex childcare and public law cases, ensuring the delivery of high-quality legal advice and representation.
• Manage and conduct proceedings relating to the care and protection of children and young people, securing appropriate and balanced outcomes.
• Provide specialist legal advice to client organisations on children's social care functions and related corporate, constitutional, and administrative matters.
• Supervise, mentor, and support junior lawyers, paralegals, and other colleagues
• Act as a trusted legal advisor to client directorates and committees, providing guidance across a range of legal issues when required.
• Attend courts and tribunals, undertaking advocacy where appropriate and representing clients in negotiations and discussions with third parties.
• Liaise with clients, witnesses, and partner organisations to advise on the most appropriate course of action in both civil and criminal proceedings.
• Support the management team in building strong relationships with clients to ensure a seamless and client-focused legal service.
• Ensure compliance with all practice management standards, including time recording, billing requirements, and professional accreditations such as Lexcel.
• Help develop and maintain effective partnerships, networks, and joint working arrangements to support the delivery of high-quality legal services.
• Deliver legal training and guidance to clients and colleagues to increase awareness of relevant legal issues and promote self-sufficiency.
• Support colleagues through training, mentoring, and buddying arrangements to strengthen team capability and knowledge sharing.

Person specification:

We are seeking a qualified lawyer with strong technical expertise in childcare and public law, excellent organisational skills, and a collaborative approach to leadership. You will be confident managing complex cases, providing strategic legal advice, and supporting the development of colleagues within a busy legal environment.

This role offers the opportunity to make a real difference, working on cases that protect children and support families while helping to shape and strengthen a respected legal service.

This is a hybrid working role, with office attendance required twice weekly.

Sellick Partnership is proud to be an inclusive and accessible recruitment business and we support applications from candidates of all backgrounds and circumstances. Please note, our advertisements use years' experience, hourly rates, and salary levels purely as a guide and we assess applications based on the experience and skills evidenced on the CV. For information on how your personal details may be used by Sellick Partnership, please review our data processing notice on our website.