Senior Legal Adviser (Childcare)

Shared Services Partnership; Winchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government team in Winchester is looking for a Legal/Senior Legal Adviser. The candidate will handle complex public law children cases, advising on legal aspects, ensuring that obligations are met, and presenting cases to court. The ideal candidate will be a qualified Solicitor/Barrister/Filex with strong knowledge of child care law and excellent drafting skills. This position offers a hybrid working model, a competitive salary with market supplement, and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Generous holiday allowance

Access to pension scheme

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor/Barrister/Filex with litigation qualifications.
• Recent experience providing legal advice on public law children proceedings.
• Evidence of applying good client care in practice.

Responsibilities

• Hold a complex caseload, advising Children’s Services directly.
• Ensure resources allocated appropriately to meet statutory commitments.
• Present cases to Court with appropriate legal advice.

Skills

Good knowledge of child care law

Good drafting skills

Client care understanding

Education

Qualified Solicitor/Barrister/Filex

Job description

Job Reference: HCC622989
Salary Range: £40,643 - £54,423 per annum, plus Market Supplement of up £7,500 per annum
Work Location: Elizabeth II Court, Winchester (Hybrid Working)
Hours per week: 37
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 25 January 2026
Interview Date: 30 January 2026

The Role:

Supporting the Safeguarding Children’s Team, our close-knit group of 19 enjoy working with Children’s Services to ensure vulnerable children in Hampshire are protected. Join our team with this unique opportunity.

We currently have a Legal/Senior Adviser role (Solicitor, Barrister or FILEX with litigation rights) available within our friendly team, with the remit of providing advice relating to all aspects of public children act proceedings including care proceedings, deprivation of liberty cases and adoption, including advocacy. Our roles offer the unique level of support that comes with working within this team and Hampshire County Council generally and provides a valuable opportunity to further your career in our well-respected team.

This post is being advertised at both F and G grades with Market Supplement of up £7,500 per annum available, dependent on experience. You will be appointed as either a Legal Adviser or as a Senior Legal Adviser, depending on experience and qualifications relevant to the criteria in below Candidate Pack.

What you’ll do:

As a Legal/Senior Legal Adviser, you will hold a complex case load, advising Children’s Services directly on legal aspects of this specialised area of law, and how best to present cases to Court. Working with both Council colleagues and external third parties, you will take responsibility for these cases, ensuring resources have been allocated appropriately and that statutory commitments are being met.

What we’re looking for:

We are looking for a qualified Solicitor/Barrister/Filex with litigation qualifications. You need good knowledge and recent experience of providing legal advice on specialism i.e child care law, good drafting skills as well as good understanding of the concept of client care with evidence of having applied this in practice. Applications are welcomed from those newly qualified with experience in public law children proceedings.

Our commitment to delivering an exceptional quality of life to our residents also extends to our employees. It is important to us that our staff feel supported in their work. We offer benefits package with a variety of flexible working options and furthermore, you will benefit from a competitive salary, a generous holiday allowance and access to a desirable pension scheme. The work is varied, important, and fundamental to the County Council’s corporate priorities, so you will need to be highly resilient and motivated.

Additional Information:

Legal/Senior Legal Adviser Candidate Pack

Vetting Requirements:

This post is subject to a Basic Disclosure Check.

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

Hampshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.

In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies.

We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.