Paralegal Childcare

West Northamptonshire Council; Northampton; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

West Northamptonshire Council is seeking a Paralegal (Child Care) to join our Legal and Democratic Services team. You will support lawyers working with Northamptonshire Children's Trust on sensitive child care cases, preparing materials for court and coordinating evidence.

You will draft documents, manage case files, handle diary management, and liaise with internal teams and external partners. A commitment to confidentiality, professionalism, and delivering high-quality legal support is

Qualifications

• Experience in child care law and court processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide paralegal support across child care cases.
• Prepare materials for court and gather/organise evidence.
• Maintain case files and coordinate information from multiple sources.

Skills

Child care law experience

Legal drafting

Case management

Diary management

Instructing Counsel/experts

Confidentiality

Communication skills

Job description

You can also see our full list of employee benefits on our careers site here: Why you should work for us | West Northamptonshire Council. Helping to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and young people is at the heart of this role. As a Paralegal (Child Care), you'll join our Legal and Democratic Services team, providing vital support to lawyers who work closely with Northamptonshire Children’s Trust on some of the most important and sensitive cases affecting children and families. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with experience in child care law who is looking to develop their legal career within a supportive and collaborative environment. Working alongside experienced Child Care Lawyers, you'll gain exposure to a varied caseload while playing an important role in ensuring cases are managed efficiently and effectively through the legal process. As part of one of England's newest and largest unitary councils, you'll be joining a modern legal service that values professional development, partnership working and high-quality outcomes for the communities we serve. You'll provide comprehensive paralegal support across a wide range of child care cases, helping lawyers prepare matters for court by gathering and organising evidence, drafting legal documents, maintaining case files and coordinating information from multiple sources. You'll assist with diary management, instructing Counsel and experts, and ensuring cases meet statutory and procedural requirements. Working closely with colleagues in Children's Services, you'll support the effective management of complex and sensitive cases by coordinating communications, responding to enquiries and ensuring key information is shared appropriately. You'll act as an important point of contact for internal clients, partner agencies and external stakeholders, helping to maintain positive working relationships and support effective decision-making. You'll also contribute to the continuous improvement of the legal service, keeping up to date with relevant legislation, case law and guidance while helping to deliver a responsive, customer-focused service that supports children, families and professionals across West Northamptonshire. You're an organised and motivated legal professional with experience working within a child care legal environment and a strong understanding of the legislation and court processes that govern Children's Social Care. You have experience preparing cases for court, drafting legal documentation and managing competing priorities in a fast-paced setting. You bring excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong research abilities and the confidence to work with sensitive information while maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality and professionalism. You'll enjoy working collaboratively, building positive relationships with colleagues and partners, and helping to ensure legal cases progress smoothly and effectively. Most importantly, you'll be committed to delivering high-quality legal support that helps improve outcomes for children and families. You'll share our THRIVE values and our ambition to provide excellent services that make a meaningful difference to the communities we serve.