Childcare Solicitor

Forbes Solicitors; Blackburn; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A respected law firm in Blackburn is seeking a qualified Solicitor for their Public Family Team. This full-time position requires expertise in childcare legal matters and court proceedings, offering a chance to thrive within a collaborative environment. The firm values professional development and work-life balance, providing various benefits, including generous leave and healthcare options.

Benefits

33 days annual leave

Annual leave purchase scheme

Ongoing professional development

Company pension

Profit share scheme

Health care benefits

Qualifications

• 2+ years PQE in a relevant field.
• Experience with Childcare matters and court proceedings.
• Proficient in managing own caseload to meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Manage public law family matters and attend court hearings.
• Provide legal advice and communicate effectively with clients.
• Mentor and supervise Paralegals to support their development.

Skills

Childcare legal matters

Court proceedings

Client care skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Teamwork

IT proficiency (Outlook, Word)

Education

Qualified Solicitor / Legal Executive

Job description

UK Employer of the Year 2024 : Silver (250+) - Investors in People Awards

Role

Forbes Solicitors are looking for a Solicitor to join the Public Family Team at our Blackburn, Northgate office.

This is a full-time role working 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9am until 5pm. Hybrid working arrangements may be available depending on operational requirements.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a dynamic and experienced Family Solicitor looking for a new challenge to join our award-winning Family Law team, to progress their career and bring their skills and knowledge to a collaborative and professional team. Whilst the role will be working to the fast-paced, customer focused and high standards of a law firm, the role will also provide a sustainable work-life balance and relate to the regional area in which it is based.

As a key member of our team, you will be responsible for achieving successful outcomes such as :

• Dealing with a mix of Public Law Family matters (Childcare matters including care proceedings, child protection and special guardianships);
• Attending Courts hearings for a wide variety of family hearings;
• Provision of written and verbal legal advice;
• Communications with client, opponents, Courts / Tribunals and third parties to progress files;
• Supporting other Family advisers on their own cases, and the delivery of the departmental strategy and business objectives;
• Management, supervision, training, coaching and mentoring of (and delegation of work to) Paralegals - to facilitate the achievement of their business objectives and professional development goals;
• Ensuring compliance with internal and external business requirements including ISO : 9001 quality control, SRA Principles / Code of Conduct, Court & Tribunal deadlines;
• Monitoring and reporting on own financial and business performance, to deliver work in a profitable manner;
• Contributing towards internal continuous improvement, innovation and knowledge sharing;
• Inter-departmental support and collaboration on joint files, projects and events;
• Contributing to the development of the departmental business plan;
• Building positive relationships with current / prospective clients and enhancing the Firm’s profile, to drive business growth;
• Contributing to business development including training events, articles / newsletters, Chambers & Legal 500 submissions, etc.

The Person

We will be progressing applicants to the next stage based on their demonstrated knowledge, experience and skills in :

Essential

• be a qualified Solicitor / Legal Executive (or equivalent), ideally 2 years PQE;
• previous experience of working with Childcare matters and court proceedings;
• previous experience within a childcare family department;
• have experience with CCMS and processing their own applications;
• good client care skills, providing professional and competent legal advice in accordance with SRA Code of Conduct;
• proven experience of handling own caseload, working to and managing deadlines, alongside the capability to generate fees in accordance with agreed targets;
• align with the Firm's values;
• have excellent attention to detail and organisational skills;
• have the ability to work as part of a team;
• have strong commercial awareness;
• have proven competence in their IT skills (Outlook, Word, and other systems experience);
• have good communication skills, both written and verbal;
• have an interest in long term development / progression in the department.

Desirable

• experience in own advocacy is an advantage.

The Firm

At Forbes Solicitors, we believe in creating a supportive and collaborative environment where our team members can thrive and develop themselves and others. We offer a comprehensive range of legal services and have offices across the North, with deep roots in Lancashire. Our team are known for its genuine, practical advice and passion for achieving the best results. We are real people who listen to each other and work together to deliver exceptional service.

We are proud to have been awarded UK Employer of the Year : Silver (250+) at the Investors in People Awards 2024 and the Firm is ranked as a Legal 500 Top Tier Firm and a Chambers and Partners Leading Firm.

We are a values led Firm and are looking for people who embody our values : authenticity, striving for exceptional results, and unity in teamwork to join our award-winning Firm.

The Benefits

We are dedicated to supporting our people and offer a range of benefits, including :

• 33 days annual leave, including bank holidays
• Annual leave purchase scheme (Subject to T&Cs)
• Celebration leave
• Ongoing professional development
• Progression opportunities
• Company pension
• Profit share scheme
• Long service awards
• Subsidised tuck shops
• Health care benefits (Health Cash Back Plan and Mental Health Counselling Services)
• BUPA (Solicitor positions only, for self, not dependants)
• Retailer and gym membership discounts
• Recruitment and legal department referrals (Subject to T&Cs)
• Annual Events

Forbes is an equal opportunities and disability confident employer and accredited to Investors in People and ISO 9001 quality management systems. We support the principle of equal opportunities in relation to any opportunities which we might provide through the engagement of employees; the provision of services to clients; and the appointment and engagement of suppliers. We are committed, wherever practicable, to maintaining a workforce which broadly reflects the local community in which we operate .