Legal Aid Family Solicitor

Realm Recruit; Bradford; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Pension scheme

Laptop provided

Team breakfasts

Office socials

Job summary

Realm Recruit in Bradford is seeking a solicitor or legal exec to join a dedicated family team. The role handles ~60% legal aid and ~40% private matters, with progression toward Senior Associate and Director and support for accreditation.

You will take over existing matters, build a caseload, and work in a collaborative team with flexible hybrid pattern. NQ–12 PQE considered.

Qualifications

• Experience handling legal aid family matters.
• Experience in private children and divorce work.
• Ability to independently run matters from instruction through to conclusion.
• Confident using case management systems and paperless environment.
• Strong IT skills.
• Genuine passion for legal aid and helping the local community.
• Collaborative, down-to-earth approach and team contribution.
• NQ–12 PQE or equivalent experience below management level.
• Solicitor or Legal Executive accreditation; paralegals considered.

Responsibilities

• Take over existing family matters and build your caseload over time.
• Manage cases independently from start to finish.
• Handle a 60% legal aid and 40% privately funded caseload.
• Advise on divorce and separation.
• Handle private children matters.
• Advise clients affected by domestic abuse.
• Handle financial remedy matters where appropriate.
• Conduct your own advocacy depending on experience.
• Work closely with senior lawyers and the family team.
• Build strong relationships with clients and provide sensitive advice.
• Contribute to the department with focus on access to justice and community-focused family law.

Skills

Legal aid experience

Family law

Case management

Advocacy

IT skills

Collaborative mindset

Tools

Case management software

Job description

• £35,000–£50,000 depending on level, plus 10% bonus on billings above target
• Flexible hybrid pattern alternating between 2 and 3 office days per week, with part-time working from 3 days considered
• Clear progression to Senior Associate and potentially Director, with support to gain accreditation if you don’t already have it

If you’re passionate about legal aid family work and want to practise somewhere that shares that commitment, this Bradford role offers the support, flexibility and progression to build a long-term career.

You’ll join an established family team handling a varied caseload that’s approximately 60% legal aid and 40% privately funded. There’s existing work for you to pick up when you arrive, before building your caseload naturally through the enquiries coming into the department.

The culture is collaborative and built around trust. Senior lawyers are accessible, dedicated support takes as much administration and dictation away from fee earners as possible, and targets are approached sensibly – particularly while you’re settling into the role.

There’s also a genuine career path. Whether you’re joining around NQ level or already have significant experience, you can progress towards Senior Associate and ultimately Director. If you don’t yet hold an appropriate accreditation, the firm will support you towards achieving one.

Who we’re looking for

• Experience handling legal aid family matters (E)
• Experience in private children and divorce work (E)
• Ability to independently run your own matters from instruction through to conclusion (E)
• Confident using case management systems and working within a paperless environment (E)
• Strong IT skills (E)
• Genuine passion for legal aid and helping people within the local community (E)
• Collaborative, down-to-earth approach and willingness to contribute to the wider team (E)
• NQ–12 PQE or equivalent experience below management level (D)
• Qualified Solicitor or Legal Executive (D) – experienced Paralegals and Legal Assistants will also be considered
• Financial remedy experience (D)
• Advocacy experience (D)
• Family law accreditation (D)
• Experience with Forced Marriage Protection Orders (D)

What you’ll be doing

• Taking over existing family matters and building your caseload over time
• Managing cases independently from start to finish
• Handling a caseload split approximately 60% legal aid and 40% privately funded
• Advising on divorce and separation
• Handling private children matters
• Advising clients affected by domestic abuse
• Handling financial remedy matters where appropriate
• Conducting your own advocacy depending on experience
• Working closely with senior lawyers and the wider family team
• Building strong relationships with clients and providing sensitive, practical advice
• Contributing to the department while maintaining a strong focus on access to justice and community-focused family law

Salary & Benefits

• £35,000–£37,000 at NQ level for someone with legal aid experience who can run their own cases
• £40,000–£42,000 at mid-level for someone able to run legal aid matters with limited supervision
• £45,000–£50,000 at senior level for an experienced legal aid lawyer who can work without supervision, has finance experience and some form of relevant accreditation
• 10% bonus on billings above target
• Alternating hybrid pattern of 2 days in the office/3 from home one week, then 3 days in/2 from home the next
• Part-time working considered from a minimum of 3 days per week
• 24 days’ holiday, increasing with service to 30 days
• Health cash plan
• Pension scheme
• Laptop provided
• Monthly office breakfasts
• Team socials
• Dedicated administrative and dictation support
• Support towards relevant family law accreditation
• Clear progression from Solicitor to Senior Associate and Director
• Open-minded approach to appointing an experienced lawyer directly at Senior Associate level

While this advert sets out the criteria applicable to each salary band, the salary guidance given is purely indicative. The precise salary offered within that band will ultimately be determined by the hirer, taking into account the individual candidate’s experience, qualifications and overall suitability for the role.