Childcare Advocate

South London Legal Partnership; Merton; Hybrid; GBP 60,573 - 70,203; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Strong management support

Realistic case ownership

Focus on work-life balance

Job summary

South London Legal Partnership is seeking an experienced In House Advocate focusing on childcare public law to join its Social Care and Education Team in Merton. This hybrid role involves conducting advocacy in Family Courts and advising local authorities. Candidates should be qualified solicitors or barristers with a solid background in public law. The position offers strong management support and emphasizes work-life balance while making a significant impact on children's lives.

Qualifications

• Solid experience in public law children’s work.
• Rights of advocacy required.

Responsibilities

• Act as an in-house advocate in public law childcare proceedings.
• Conduct advocacy at all stages of proceedings.
• Prepare, analyse, and progress cases with a focus on child protection.
• Advise social workers on the application of the Children Act 1989.
• Manage a substantial advocacy caseload.

Skills

Public law advocacy

Child protection decision-making

Client care skills

Drafting and communication

Education

Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive

Job description

South London Legal Partnership - In House Advocate - Childcare (Public Law)

Salary: £60,573 to £70,203 (including annually reviewed £7,437 Market Supplement)

Working Pattern Hybrid working, minimum monthly in the office

Location Merton (team day Thursday) with attendance at partner boroughs as required

Team Structure Advocates have no management responsibility and report to Assistant Head of Law and/or Head of Law.

The South London Legal Partnership (SLLP) are recruiting an experienced childcare advocate to join its Social Care and Education Team. This role is aimed at advocates who want to focus on high quality public law advocacy and child protection decision‑making, without the commercial pressures of private practice.

SLLP provides inhouse legal services to the London Boroughs of Merton, Richmond upon Thames, Sutton, Wandsworth and the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. The scale of the partnership offers exposure to complex and challenging care proceedings, while maintaining a supportive and collegiate inhouse environment.

The Role

This is an advocacy focused role, reporting to an Assistant Head of Law within a small specialist team, with no line management responsibilities. You will act as an inhouse advocate in public law childcare proceedings and contribute as a trusted subject matter expert across the service.

Main areas of the role include

• Acting as an in-house advocate in public law childcare proceedings, representing local authorities in the Family Court
• Conducting advocacy at all stages of proceedings, including CMHs (Case Management Hearings), IRHs (Issues Resolution Hearings) and final hearings
• Preparing, analysing, and progressing cases from issue through to conclusion, with a strong focus on child protection and risk management
• Advising social workers and managers on the application of the Children Act 1989 and related public law frameworks
• Working closely with legal colleagues and frontline professionals on case strategy and decision‑making
• Sharing expertise and good practice across the service and contributing to a strong advocacy culture
• Managing a substantial advocacy caseload while maintaining high professional and ethical standards
• Promoting robust public law outcomes that safeguard children and support families
• Deliver training to social work clients and legal colleagues, supporting continuous professional development.

About You

• A qualified as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive (Fellow of CILEX) with rights of advocacy
• Solid experience in public law children’s work. Experience may be from local government or private practice; prior in-house experience is not essential.
• Excellent drafting, communication, and client care skills

What we offer

• Strong management support within a clearly structured team

This role offers sustained advocacy work, realistic case ownership, hybrid working and a genuine focus on work‑life balance, while doing work that has a direct and lasting impact on children’s lives.