Lawyer

Milton Keynes City Council; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council in Milton Keynes is seeking a Lawyer to join the Social Care Legal Team. You will provide legal advice on safeguarding children, manage care proceedings, and represent the council in hearings. Applicants should ideally have two years' experience in care proceedings and be qualified solicitors or barristers. The role offers great holiday benefits and a comprehensive pension plan, making it a supportive environment for dedicated professionals.

Benefits

28 days annual leave plus public holidays

Excellent pension scheme

Enhanced family friendly policies

Health cash plan and discounts

Salary sacrifice car scheme

Blue Light Card discounts

Qualifications

• You’ll ideally have at least two years’ experience in dealing with care proceedings and pre-proceedings.
• You’ll be either a solicitor, barrister, or Chartered Legal Executive.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on local government law and child protection law.
• Advocacy at relevant hearings.
• Advising Members and Officers of the Council.

Skills

Experience in care proceedings

Ability to work under pressure

Team player

Education

Solicitor, barrister, or Chartered Legal Executive

Job description

Job Introduction

We have an excellent opportunity for a lawyer to join the Social Care Legal Team and become a key member of our growing and collaborative in-house Legal Service, specialising in safeguarding children.

In your role as Lawyer, you’ll be one of the city council’s legal experts in advising children’s social care in all matters relating to safeguarding children including care proceedings, pre proceedings and adoption matters.

We’re looking for a confident individual who is a team player, able to work in a pressurised environment and able to manage competing priorities.

This role is may suitable for home working, following an assessment.

Interviews for this role will be held W/C 13 October.

Milton Keynes City Council is a modern and friendly place to work. Find out more about working with us here: www.mkcounciljobs.org.uk

Main Responsibility

• Provide legal advice on relevant local government law, child protection law, advising children’s social care in all matters relating to safeguarding children, including care proceedings, pre proceedings and adoption matters.
• Advocacy at any relevant hearings where the post holder has a right of audience.
• Advising Members and Officers of the Council at internal panel and committee meetings on relevant areas of law.

The Ideal Candidate

• You’ll ideally have at least two years’ experience in dealing with care proceedings and pre-proceedings by the time of your appointment to the post.
• You’ll be either a solicitor, barrister, or Chartered Legal Executive.

Package Description

• In addition to your salary, we offer a range of benefits including:
• Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
• Excellent pension – everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
• A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
• Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
• Salary sacrifice car scheme – low-cost leasing of electric and low emission vehicles.
• Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.

Why join us? Along with more on our Benefits, discover why Working at the City Council could be the right move for you here Working at the Council | Milton Keynes

About The Organisation

Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live.

We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.

We’re very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.

We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it’s time for a new role.

If you’d like to know more about how we do things and what matters to us, take a look at our short booklet What makes us Milton Keynes City Council.