Location
London, based at Southwark Council offices, 160 Tooley Street

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£57,678 - £71,742 per annum plus an additional benefits package valued at £2,724 per annum (pro-rata)

About the Role
Southwark Council’s Safeguarding and Community Services Legal team is seeking an exceptional In-House Childcare Advocate on a 12-month fixed-term contract. This is an outstanding opportunity to work in-house at a well-regarded London local authority, where your advocacy will directly shape the futures of children and young people across the borough.

Joining Southwark means being at the heart of legal decision-making that protects the most vulnerable. You will undertake life-changing litigation while contributing to the direction of Children’s Services in a council committed to excellence, collaboration, and tackling inequality.

Whether you are a Barrister, Solicitor, or CILEX Fellow with rights of advocacy, this role is ideal if you are seeking a change in practice or looking to move away from the pressures of self-employment, VAT, and irregular income. Southwark cases are heard in the Central Family Courts or the Royal Courts of Justice, so travel outside London is rarely required, supporting a good work-life balance.

What sets this role apart?
- Work within a small, supportive, and highly experienced in-house advocacy team who manage their own diaries, enabling continuity of representation wherever possible.
- Collaborate with experienced in-house lawyers and clients who are predominantly permanent staff, taking instructions from an established team of lawyers and social work clients from diverse backgrounds.
- Influence strategic governance, policy, and service delivery in respect of children and young people by advising senior council leaders.
- Engage in complex, career-defining work representing and advising Children’s Services across a range of high-risk cases involving significant legal and social issues.

Key Responsibilities
- Represent Southwark Children’s Services at all court levels, managing your own advocacy diary.
- Provide expert legal advice on complex childcare law to senior management, officers, Cabinet, and committees.
- Take instructions from an experienced in-house legal team and collaborate closely with colleagues across services.
- Lead on identifying legal issues arising from litigation or legislative changes and develop effective strategies.
- Draft complex pleadings, reports, and legal submissions.
- Advise on governance, risk, and case management within a public law framework.
- Deliver training to social work clients and legal colleagues to support continuous professional development.
- Represent Southwark in external networks, including Local Family Justice Boards and working groups.

Experience
- Current practising certificate as a Solicitor, Barrister, or CILEX Fellow with rights of advocacy.
- Strong expertise in public and private childcare law, including child protection, adoption, and fostering.
- Significant advocacy experience in contested, fact-finding, and final hearings.
- Proven track record managing complex cases and delivering high-quality outcomes under pressure.

About You
- Practical, proactive, and skilled advocate.
- Excellent drafting, communication, and client care skills.
- Ability to build trusted relationships and influence senior levels and multi-agency environments.
- Collaborative approach with a commitment to continuous learning and development.

Qualifications
- Must hold a current practising certificate as a Solicitor, Barrister, or CILEX Fellow with rights of advocacy.