Location
Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street, London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£76,872 per annum

About the Role
As a Senior Solicitor in the Social Care and Education Team at Westminster City Council, you will play a vital role in supporting children and families across the borough. Specialising in Child Care, you will provide expert professional, procedural, and technical guidance on all matters relating to child protection. Your caseload will include both complex and routine legal cases such as care proceedings, Public Law Outline (PLO) cases, age assessments, and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLs). You may also be involved in high-profile, politically sensitive, or financially significant cases.

Acting as an advocate where appropriate, you will conduct proceedings, public enquiries, appeals, and judicial reviews in courts and tribunals. You will be responsible for drafting, preparing, and collating legal documents, advising on law and evidence, and interviewing witnesses to ensure compliance with all procedural requirements. As a source of expertise and guidance, you will support your team and senior colleagues, fostering a culture of accountability, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement within the Council and beyond.

The Legal Services team at Westminster is a close-knit and supportive group, well-regarded by the local courts and judiciary. The team is committed to developing the next generation of social care lawyers to continue this important work. Staff are encouraged to contribute beyond their core duties through volunteering and collaborative initiatives, supporting wider council goals and community engagement.

Experience
A qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Fellow of CILEX (or equivalent) with demonstrable experience advising on local authority duties and powers relating to children and young adults. Strong knowledge of childcare, Local Government, and adult social care law is essential. Experience advising on complaints and judicial review matters is also required.

About you
You will be a true team player with excellent negotiating and influencing skills. A confident public speaker, you can effectively communicate both standard and complex legal issues to non-specialist colleagues. Your approach to work is diplomatic, enterprising, and detail-focused. You are passionate about improving outcomes for children, young people, and their families.

Qualifications
Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Fellow of CILEX (or equivalent).

Diversity and Inclusion
Westminster City Council is committed to supporting Care Leavers into the workplace and encourages applications from candidates from underrepresented groups, particularly those from a Global Majority background. Positive action provisions under the Equality Act 2010 may be applied where candidates of equal merit are considered.