Advocate Lawyer (Childcare)

Barnsley Council; Cirencester; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fantastic training and development

Flexible hybrid working

Generous annual leave

LGPS pension

Car salary sacrifice

Job summary

Barnsley Council in the United Kingdom is seeking an experienced In-House Advocate specializing in Childcare Law. The post sits within the childcare management team and requires Higher Rights.

You will lead advocacy in family and high court matters, and contribute to practice development within a collaborative legal team. The role offers flexible, hybrid working, supportive professional development, and a strong emphasis on safeguarding children while handling complex cases and providing expert

Qualifications

• Qualified advocate with Higher Rights who has experience in Childcare Law from private practice or local authority.

Responsibilities

• Represent the council at Family Court and High Court hearings.
• Sit within the childcare legal management team and provide support and deputise for managers.

Skills

Advocacy

Childcare Law

Leadership

Education

Higher Rights

Job description

Position reference: 50145422; Directorate: Core Services | Service: Legal Services; Salary: 53,051.

• 56,293 Plus 10% market supplement
• Working Arrangements: Agile Working
• Hours per week: 37
• Contract type: Permanent
• Closing date: 30/10/2026 at 23:59
• This post requires a Basic Criminal Record Check
• Prospective employees will be required to give a reasonable account of any significant periods (6 months or more in the past 3 years) of time living abroad.

Pensions Regulations have provisions to reduce pension payments in certain circumstances of those who return to work within local government service. If you are in receipt of a pension upon commencing employment with the authority, this may affect your pension entitlements and you should therefore seek advice from the relevant Pensions Authority.

At Barnsley Council you can start a career that makes a real difference to people’s lives, helping our council and residents to be the best they can be. We’re an award-winning council and one of the biggest employers in the borough, supporting around 243,000 people.

We put people at the heart of everything we do, and that includes our employees. As part of the team, we offer lots of benefits and rewards to support you to thrive and grow, like flexible working, employee discounts, support for your health and wellbeing, and opportunities for training and development to grow your career and develop your skills. There’s so much happening in our thriving borough, and now’s the perfect time to join our excellent legal services team as we work to make Barnsley the place of possibilities. We’re an award-winning team and one of the biggest employers in the borough supporting around 243,000 people. Working at Barnsley Council means being part of a team that makes a real difference to people’s lives, where you can develop the skills you need to make change happen. If you join the team you’ll receive great pay alongside an excellent pension scheme. With flexible working we’ll also support your work/life balance, helping you to adjust your hours and take time off when you need it. We’ll help you to develop your career and grow your skills with opportunities for training and development. There’s so much happening in our thriving borough and your talent and skills will help us make Barnsley the place of possibilities. Key to our success is working with our residents, partners, businesses and organisations and building these partnerships to bring about change in Barnsley.

About the Post

Are you an experienced childcare advocate ready for a role where your expertise truly matters? Do you want to work somewhere your judgment is trusted, your development is a priority, and your contribution makes a real difference to children’s lives? Barnsley Council are putting the borough on the map as a place of possibilities for people to live, work and visit. We are an award winning Council and an award winning Legal Services team having won the Yorkshire Legal Award 2025 for Best In-House Team. Our aim is to provide a first class legal service to the council and our contributions to the overall council objectives are recognised, respected and valued. We are recruiting for a permanent In House Advocate to work predominately within our Childcare Team and join the supportive and sociable Legal Team at Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council. We are seeking a qualified advocate with Higher Rights who has experience in Childcare Law from either private practice or local authority and is looking for the next step in their career. The role will sit within the childcare management team. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of team that cares for each other and for the children of the borough. This is not just another advocacy role. It’s a chance to:

• Do the advocacy you love — representing the Council in the Family Court and High Court on the most meaningful cases in children’s social care.
• Be part of the leadership group within the childcare team, helping shape practice, supporting colleagues, and influencing the service from the inside.
• Grow your career with first-class professional development, legal assistant support, and exposure to highly complex, varied work.
• Work in a team that values people, prioritises wellbeing, and genuinely supports each other.
• Enjoy flexible, hybrid working, generous leave, LGPS pension, and a comprehensive package of flexible benefits.

The main duties of the successful in house advocate will include:

• To represent the council at various Court hearings predominantly within the Family Court and High Court.
• To sit within the childcare legal management team and provide support and deputise for other managers.
• Assist with the allocation of work and personal development of the childcare legal team.
• Support the lawyers in their training and development and deputise for the principal and senior lawyers.
• Dealing with more complex care matters around adoption, injury, fatalities and matters with an international element.
• Handling a complex caseload of mainly child protection cases, deprivation of liberty applications and any associated advocacy in the Family Court.
• Advising Social Services clients in person and in writing, on all aspects of relevant legislation.
• Prepare all legal documentation relevant to the hearings / caseloads, and prepare a wide variety of court documents, advise on social care law, and assist the Senior Social Care Lawyers and Principal Lawyer in relation to the most complex or specialised matters as and when required.
• Carry out legal research.

Benefits

• Legal assistant support.
• Fantastic training and development opportunities.
• Competitive salary.
• Excellent local government pension scheme, including the option to contribute to an Additional Voluntary Contribution Scheme.
• Flexible and hybrid working.
• Generous annual leave allowance, increasing with length of service and an additional 5 discretionary days used for Christmas shutdown.
• Flexi time and use of up to 5 banked flexi days per year.
• Car lease scheme, salary sacrifice for a brand new car!
• Salary sacrifice scheme for extra annual leave, cycle to work, home electronics and childcare vouchers.
• Discounts on car parking, rail travel, eating out, leisure attractions and gym memberships.
• Family friendly policies including; excellent maternity, paternity and adoption entitlements.

Why work for us?

Please ensure you view the job profile for this role, as you will need to demonstrate in your CV & covering letter how you meet the required criteria. We welcome the opportunity to have a chat about the role and are happy to address any questions you may have about flexible working arrangements, including as a result of caring responsibilities. We're committed to creating a workplace where differences are valued and everyone truly feels able to be themselves.

If you have any support needs during the recruitment process, please let us know. At Barnsley Council, we believe in second chances and value diversity. Our recruitment process is inclusive, and we welcome applicants with past convictions. We're committed to fairness and do not discriminate. Join us in building a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.