Care Solicitor - Team Leader

Realm Recruit; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Flexible hours

Job summary

Realm Recruit are seeking an experienced Childcare Solicitor to step into a Team Leader role in Manchester, inheriting an established caseload from day one and guiding a growing national team. You will mentor junior lawyers, lead advocacy in public law childcare matters, and help shape the department's future while benefiting from a flexible, supportive culture with reduced targets during onboarding.

This leadership opportunity combines hands-on case work with people management, offering a clear

Qualifications

• Experienced Childcare Solicitor with significant public law children experience.
• Existing Team Leader, Senior Associate or equivalent level.
• Strong advocacy skills with regular court attendance experience.
• Experience supervising or mentoring junior lawyers.
• Formal people management experience (desired).
• Guardian following or Legal Aid Supervisor status (desired).

Responsibilities

• Managing your own public law childcare caseload.
• Inheriting and progressing an established caseload from day one.
• Conducting advocacy and attending court where appropriate.
• Supervising, mentoring and developing junior solicitors, paralegals and support staff.
• Supporting the Head of Childcare with the day-to-day running of the Manchester team.
• Assisting with Legal Aid and Children Panel work.
• Helping provide stability and leadership during a period of departmental growth.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across the national Childcare team.

Skills

Childcare solicitor

Public law

Leadership

Mentoring

Advocacy

Court attendance

People management (desired)

Education

Qualified solicitor

Job description

• Step into a Team Leader role within a growing national Childcare team, inheriting an established caseload from day one
• Lead and mentor junior lawyers while continuing to handle high-quality public law children work
• Enjoy genuine flexibility, realistic targets and a supportive culture where leadership is encouraged, not overwhelming

If you’re an experienced Childcare Solicitor looking to take the next step into leadership, this is a rare opportunity to join a national team at a pivotal stage in its growth.

You’ll take over an established caseload while playing a key role in providing stability to the Manchester team during an exciting period of development.

Working closely with the Head of Childcare, you’ll support the next generation of lawyers, help shape the future of the department and continue handling the meaningful public law work that attracted you to this specialism in the first place.

From the outset, you’ll benefit from reduced chargeable targets while you settle into the role, allowing you the time to absorb your inherited caseload, build relationships with colleagues and support junior members of the team. As your confidence grows, you’ll take full ownership of both your caseload and leadership responsibilities, becoming an integral part of a department with ambitious plans for the future.

The culture is one of the firm’s biggest strengths. Colleagues genuinely enjoy working together, leadership is approachable and supportive, and flexibility is built around trusting people to do their best work. If you’re looking for your first substantial leadership role without the pressures often associated with management, this is an excellent opportunity.

Who we’re looking for

• Experienced Childcare Solicitor with significant public law children experience
• Existing Team Leader, Senior Associate or equivalent level
• Children Panel AccreditedorLegal Aid Supervisor status
• Strong advocacy skills with regular court attendance experience
• Experience supervising or mentoring junior lawyers
• Strong leadership potential and ability to support team development
• Friendly, collaborative and supportive approach
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Formal people management experience(Desired)
• Guardian following or business development experience(Desired)

What you’ll be doing

• Managing your own public law childcare caseload
• Inheriting and progressing an established caseload from day one
• Conducting advocacy and attending court where appropriate
• Supervising, mentoring and developing junior solicitors, paralegals and support staff
• Supporting the Head of Childcare with the day-to-day running of the Manchester team
• Assisting with Legal Aid and Children Panel work
• Helping provide stability and leadership during a period of departmental growth
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across the national Childcare team

Salary & Benefits

• Hybrid working, typically one office day per week
• Flexible working hours
• Four-day week considered
• Reduced chargeable targets during onboarding
• Realistic long-term billing expectations
• National caseload with high-quality public law work
• Clear opportunity to develop your leadership career
• Friendly, supportive and collaborative culture