Senior Lawyer - Community Services

Job Title: Senior Lawyer - Community Services
Pay Details: £47,181 - £50,269 (plus market forces supplement of £5,500)
Hours of Work / Working Pattern: 37 Hours per week
Main Place of Work: Civic Offices, Barry and Hybrid Working, (to agree days on site)

Why this role matters

The Vale of Glamorgan is a place with a strong sense of identity, ambition and purpose. Our Vale 2030 plan is more than a strategy, it's a commitment to strengthening communities, protecting the most vulnerable and ensuring that every child and family has the opportunity to flourish.

Safeguarding is central to that commitment. The decisions made within Social Services are among the most sensitive and far-reaching taken by the Council. They shape lives, influence futures and demand the highest standards of professional judgement, care and integrity.

Legal Services plays a critical role within that safeguarding framework. We work alongside social workers, managers and Members to provide clear, steady and legally robust advice in complex and often time-critical situations. Our work spans care proceedings, adoption, fostering, mental health and public law.

As a Senior Lawyer within the Community Services team, you will be directly involved in cases that have an immediate and meaningful impact. You will manage complex proceedings, represent the Council in court and provide advice that helps ensure decisions are proportionate, defensible and centred on the wellbeing of children and vulnerable individuals.

You will join a professional, supportive and collaborative team that values composure, clarity and collective responsibility. We are committed to maintaining high professional standards while supporting wellbeing and flexible working.

About the role:

As a Senior Lawyer, you will have autonomy to manage your own caseload from early advice to resolution, with access to experienced colleagues and leadership support when needed. Our culture values sound judgement, constructive dialogue and teamwork. You will have real influence, helping to shape decisions that affect the safety, stability and futures of vulnerable children and families across the Vale. You will:

• Manage a complex caseload including children's public law proceedings, child protection, adoption, fostering and related education matters.
• Provide confident, timely and risk-aware legal advice to officers, managers and Members in sensitive and time-critical situations.
• Represent the Council in Family Court proceedings and manage contested and high-risk litigation.
• Work collaboratively with social workers, managers and Counsel to ensure cases are well-prepared and proportionate.
• Support early legal engagement in safeguarding decisions, helping to strengthen evidence, manage risk and promote best practice.
• Contribute to strong governance, excellent client care and high professional standards within Legal Services.

About you

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in complex, high-stakes environments and values professional purpose as much as technical excellence. You'll bring:

• Professional qualification as a Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of CILEX with a current practising certificate.
• Strong experience in children's public law, care proceedings or related safeguarding litigation.
• Confidence in managing complex and contested cases, including advocacy and/or instructing Counsel.
• Experience working independently on demanding and time-critical caseloads.
• A sound understanding of public law principles, human rights and governance within a local authority context (or the ability to develop this quickly).
• Excellent drafting, analytical and negotiation skills.
• The ability to manage urgent matters while maintaining composure, perspective and sound professional judgement.
• Clear, confident communication skills, including translating complex legal concepts into practical advice for non-lawyers.
• A collaborative, inclusive and values-led approach.

You do not need prior local government experience. What matters most is depth of experience in safeguarding or children's litigation.

What we offer:

• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements
• Relocation support (where applicable)
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Generous annual leave
• Family-friendly policies
• Wellbeing support and employee assistance programmes
• Ongoing professional development and advocacy opportunities

How to apply

If you would like an informal and confidential conversation about the role, please contact:

Justine Cass
Operational Manager - Legal Services
Email: jcass@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

We welcome conversations before application and encourage candidates who are unsure whether they meet every requirement to get in touch. Please note that information can be provided in Welsh. Please contact Natalie Delaney at Sellick Partnership for more information.

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.