Lawyer | Adult Social Care

NW Legal Consortium; Preston; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

26 days annual leave

Bank Holidays + buy extra leave

Vivup staff discounts

Job summary

Lancashire County Council in Preston is seeking an experienced Adult Social Care lawyer to join our growing legal team on a hybrid basis. The role focuses on Court of Protection work and Care Act 2014 matters, advising internal clients and external partners.

You will work across complex cases and contribute to policies in a fast-paced environment. The post is 37 hours per week, with a salary of £47,665 to £53,051 per annum and a flexible hybrid arrangement.

Qualifications

• Admission as Solicitor, or called to the Bar, or Chartered Legal Executive.
• Experience in Adult Social Care law.
• Ability to communicate with stakeholders and work in a hybrid environment.

Responsibilities

• Advise internal clients on Adult Social Care law, focusing on Court of Protection work.
• Handle funding disputes and queries under the Care Act 2014.
• Communicate effectively with local authorities, health professionals and counsel.
• Work with professionalism under pressure in a local authority setting.

Skills

Court of Protection experience

Legal advisory

Stakeholder comms

Education

Solicitor / Called to the Bar / Chartered Legal Executive

Job description

Job Identification: 21448

Job Category: Legal & Governance

Posting Date: 10/20/2026, 09:44 AM

Apply Before: 11/20/2026, 11:55 PM

Job Schedule: Full time

Locations: County Hall, Preston, PR1 8RE, GB (Hybrid)

Job Description

Salary £47,665 to £53,051 per annum | Permanent, Full Time 37 hours per week | Adult Social Care, Education & Employment Team

Please note that we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Lancashire County Council as an Adult Social Care lawyer to work within a growing legal team alongside experienced legal professionals. The adult social care team operates in a fast-paced environment, dealing with a wide range of adult social care law cases, including matters relating to the Care Act 2014, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Mental Health Act 1983.

Within this role you will be predominantly expected to advise internal clients in relation to all aspects of Adult Social Care, with a focus on Court of Protection work as well as ancillary matters such as ordinary residence; responsibilities under the Care Act 2014; funding disputes and Mental Health Act 1983 queries. An ability to correspond and effectively communicate with various stakeholders including other local authorities, health professionals, and counsel is vital, and the ideal candidate will have demonstrable experience in working within this area of law, either on behalf of local authorities or in private practice.

We are seeking an individual that can demonstrate a strong work ethic, a professional attitude, and an ability to work both under pressure and with limited supervision, as well as having a desire to work in local authority.

Council employees work on a hybrid basis. The post is based at County Hall, Preston, but employees have the ability and opportunity to work from home.

The successful applicant will need to be admitted as a Solicitor or called to the Bar or be a Chartered Legal Executive.

For an informal discussion about the job, please contact Joanna Rushton on [phone].

Closing Date: 20/11/2026

By joining Lancashire County Council, you can shape the career path that is right for you, with opportunities to gain personal and professional qualifications, coaching, and mentoring. Lancashire County Council truly is the place where you can have the career you've always wanted.

In return for your passion and expertise, we offer a generous benefits package, which includes:

• A competitive salary and Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions.


• A great holiday entitlement of 26 days annual leave, which increases with length of service. You will also be entitled to 8 Bank Holidays, 2 additional statutory Bank Holidays, and have the option to buy additional leave each year.


• Our staff discount scheme in partnership with Vivup, allowing you to access discounts with a range of UK retailers, saving on everything from weekly food shops to white goods and cars.


• Access to fantastic development and career opportunities.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications.

Local Government Reorganisation

The Government has confirmed that local government across Lancashire will be reorganised, with the current 15 councils being replaced by four new unitary councils covering North, South, East and West Lancashire from April 2028.

If you are successful in your application, you will initially join Lancashire County Council. However, as part of the planned transition, your employment will transfer to one of the new unitary councils from April 2028, subject to the implementation of the reorganisation and relevant employment legislation.

Throughout this period, our focus remains on delivering excellent services to our communities. By joining us now, you'll play an important role in shaping the future of local government and helping to build a strong new organisation that will serve residents for years to come.