In House Advocate (Social Care)

CITY OF BRADFORD METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COUNCIL; Bradford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A Local Government Authority in Bradford is seeking experienced in-house advocates to join their social care legal team. The role requires a court advocate with over five years’ experience, providing representation in family courts, offering advice on legal practices, and producing quality documentation. Suitable candidates will have the relevant legal qualifications and a commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable children and families. The position offers a supportive working environment and opportunities for flexible working.

Benefits

15% Market Supplement for 12 Months

Generous leave entitlement

Flexible working options

Access to West Yorkshire Pension Fund

Learning and development opportunities

Qualifications

• More than five years direct court experience.
• Experience in family law and vulnerable children law.
• Willingness to work towards Higher Rights of Audience.

Responsibilities

• Undertake advocacy for Bradford Children’s and Families Trust.
• Provide legal representation in family courts.
• Produce quality documentation for cases.
• Supervise and support team colleagues.
• Deliver training on legal developments.

Skills

Court advocacy

Legal representation

Written documentation

Advising on law and practice

Education

Solicitor, barrister or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives

Job description

Overview

Culture in 2025. The establishment of the Children and Families Trust has provided a fantastic opportunity to consider a revised approach towards ways of working in order to improve the delivery of our legal service. There are also opportunities to provide advice to council members, senior officers, scrutiny committees and managers in our client departments on policy and high-profile public issues.

Responsibilities

• Be an experienced court advocate with more than five years direct court experience, undertaking advocacy on behalf of Bradford Children’s and Families Trust in respect of all aspects of care and adoption proceedings, private law children proceedings, deprivation of liberty applications, human rights and on occasions matters concerning transition to adulthood and the overlapping intervention of the Court of Protection.
• Provide legal representation before the full range of family courts including the Family Division of the High Court and Court of Appeal (Civil Division), where appropriate, and when required will liaise with the courts to address wider issues relating to changes in the law and practice, both locally and on a national level.
• Produce good quality written documentation including case summaries, draft orders, position statements, skeleton arguments and threshold documents, and provide advice in respect of the written evidence being provided by the client.
• Provide advice on law and practice in respect of aspects of the law relating to vulnerable children and their families.
• Exercise professional judgment and make operational decisions on allocated matters in the context of legal advice and assistance.
• Provide supervision, guidance and support to colleagues across the team.
• Deliver training in house to social care clients and the legal team and provide briefings to senior officers of the council and managers, where required on complex points of law and developments in law and practice.
• Be a solicitor, barrister or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and have or be willing to work towards Higher Rights of Audience with established advocacy experience before the family courts.

Job Introduction

We serve Children and Adult Services and represent the Bradford Children and Families Trust. We are seeking to appoint two in-house advocates to join our busy and highly professional social care legal team. This new role will allow the right applicant the opportunity to establish a presence before our local courts representing our clients in respect of a diverse range of matters. We are confident that this role will provide the opportunity to make a positive difference working alongside a friendly and supportive team. This is a great opportunity to work in a thriving city with award winning parks, nature reserves, historic architecture, museums, galleries and first class leisure facilities. Bradford Metropolitan District has it all. You will be based in the Bradford City Centre in the Grade One Listed City Hall and have all the benefits of the cultural, retail and leisure facilities that Bradford has to offer as the 4th largest Metropolitan District and City of

Benefits

• 15% Market Supplement for 12 Months
• Generous leave entitlement
• Opportunities for flexible working, hybrid working and flexi time
• Access to the West Yorkshire Pension Fund
• Excellent learning and development opportunities