Lawyer (Children & Families Legal Service)
Manchester
Full Time
Permanent
£40,476 - £44,711 (Bar at £43,693) per annum pro rata
- This is a great opportunity for someone looking to develop their legal skills whilst working for one of the largest childcare teams in the country.
- We offer our team members flexible start and finish times with an effective hybrid working-practice model.
- Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+ plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
Working Hours: 35 hours per week
Contract Type: Full Time, Permanent
Closing Date: 11.59pm, 15 July 2025
This role is subject to -
- 2 references - where possible, we require 3 years' history
- Qualification and registration - Qualified solicitor, barrister, Chartered Lawyer or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives holding a current practising certificate.
- DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance - this post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (amended in 2013). Appointable candidates will be required to apply for a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Put your legal experience to work for Manchester
Having investment into our structure we are growing our already effective team of lawyers, legal officer and business support team who produce incredible, outstanding results with an enhanced vision for the future. Aligning ourselves with Children’s Services to deliver safe, efficient, and effective services to families, the enhanced vision is supported by new team structures, an enriched training, mentoring and coaching tool and a new Case Management System. Highly valued by our clients, our excellent relationships and continual looking for better ways of doing things and achieving greater heights produces an innovative, responsive, inclusive and transparent legal service.
At the heart of everything we do is:
- the safety and needs of children
- high-quality representation of Children’s Services.
Be part of our effective team of lawyers who produce incredible, outstanding results. We have enhanced vision for the future, excellent team structures, enriched training, mentoring and coaching and are highly valued by our clients.
You will play an integral part in supporting Manchester, Rochdale and Salford’s Children’s Services. You will provide legal advice to children's services supporting them in all aspects of their statutory functions. You will have your own caseload, draft legal documentation and provide advice. You will also represent the local authority at court on a regular basis. The role will suit someone who enjoys advocacy which is a substantial part of the role as a childcare lawyer.
This is a great opportunity for someone looking to develop their legal skills whilst working for one of the largest childcare teams in the country. Legal work for public services in Manchester, Salford and Rochdale Councils and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority puts you among the few practitioners in England’s first, and biggest, devolved region, where major decisions are now taken in-house rather than in Whitehall and by NHS administrations.
We offer our team members flexible start and finish times with an effective hybrid working-practice model. There’s opportunity for development in the role thanks to the way our teams practise in our Lexcel-accredited and supported legal service.
About the Candidate
As part your application, please submit your Curriculum Vitae and detailed Expression of Interest setting out how your skills and experience meet the requirements on the attached role profile
About Us
We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities.
Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.
Our Manchester is our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – a vision shaped by the people of Manchester. It guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours:
- We take time to listen and understand
- We work together and trust each other
- We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
- We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
- We’re proud and passionate about Manchester
Benefits we offer
- Generous holiday allowance - Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks.
- A buzzing pension - You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.
- Enhanced parental and carers leave - Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.
- Brilliant perks - Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
- Learn and grow - We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.
- A Good Employment Charter member - We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
- Up to 3 days volunteering leave - Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.
Manchester
Full Time
Permanent
£40,476 - £44,711 (Bar at £43,693) per annum pro rata