Location
London Borough of Brent - Civic Centre and other locations from time to time.

Hours
36 hours per week

Salary
£52,194 - £55,323 per annum inclusive of London weighting

About the Role
Brent is one of the most diverse boroughs in the country, shaped by communities, ideas and experiences from across the world. Working here means joining a council focused on fairness, open to new thinking and committed to improving life for local people. Our values include collaborating proactively, leading inclusively, embracing change, being bold and curious, and celebrating success.

As a Childcare Lawyer, you will provide specialist legal advice and assistance on all aspects of Children’s Social Services Law including Child Protection, Adoption Law, Children Act 1989 and related social care law issues such as judicial review. You will manage individual and busy casework, respond to urgent matters, prepare documentation, conduct advocacy on behalf of the Council, and instruct counsel as appropriate.

Your role will involve analysing legal risk, evaluating evidence, and providing clear, practical advice to clients. You will keep up to date with legal developments, disseminate information, and advise on necessary actions. Additional responsibilities include dealing with corporate complaints, Members enquiries, data protection and FOI requests, providing training, and attending committee meetings to give legal advice.

You will carry out duties with due regard to the Council’s policies on Customer Care, Equal Opportunities, Information Governance, Data Protection, Health and Safety, and Emergency Planning. You will also contribute to policy development, team management, and provide day-to-day supervision of legal assistants and trainees. Provision of cover for other areas within Legal Services and deputising for Senior/Chief Lawyers as required is expected.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility; all employees must act to safeguard the health and well-being of children and vulnerable adults. You will also be expected to embed environmental sustainability into your work, supporting Brent’s ambition to become a carbon-neutral borough by 2030.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a council undergoing a far-reaching transformation agenda to better meet community needs in a values-led public sector environment.

Experience
- Post-qualification experience in the legal profession.
- Thorough knowledge of children social care law and practice.
- Comprehensive knowledge of the law affecting local government and its trends in the UK.
- Proven track record of conducting high-level and complex casework, including high-risk cases.
- Experience attending court as a Lawyer in the County Court, Magistrates Court, Single Family Court, including all hearings up to trial.
- Experience contributing to corporate decision making and development of corporate policy and strategy.

About you
You will be a qualified Solicitor, Barrister or CILEX lawyer with post-qualification experience in employment law. You may be newly qualified seeking your first post-qualification role, have early post-qualification experience looking to broaden your practice, or be a more experienced lawyer seeking a new challenge in a public sector environment.

You demonstrate commitment to professional development, high-quality client service, and inclusive, non-discriminatory practices. You are able to work collaboratively with colleagues across teams and contribute positively to the running of Legal Services.

You are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and to embedding environmental sustainability in your work.

Qualifications
- Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or CILEX lawyer with relevant post-qualification experience.