Qualified Solicitor Childcare

Leicester Bus Partnership; Leicester; Hybrid; GBP 44,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexi-time

Local Government Pension Scheme

Holiday entitlement

Job summary

Leicester City Council is recruiting for a qualified lawyer to join our Child Protection legal team. The role covers public law matters, providing legal advice and advocacy on behalf of the Council, with exposure to judicial review challenges and a varied workload.

This hybrid role offers 37 hours per week, a competitive salary (£44,253 - £56,293) and a comprehensive benefits package, including pension contributions and generous holiday entitlement.

Qualifications

• Experience in public law with advocacy and advisory skills.
• Proven negotiating skills and risk management awareness.
• Strong organisational and proactive work style.

Responsibilities

• Handle a public law caseload, providing high-quality legal advice and advocacy for the Council.
• Work on a wide range of child protection matters and assist with judicial review challenges.
• Collaborate with the client department to deliver quality service and professional development.

Skills

Advocacy

Negotiation

Advisory skills

Communication

Risk management

Job description

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

Job reference REQ8586 Date posted 24/09/2026 Application closing date 28/10/2026 Location Hybrid working - Home and Leicester City Offices Salary £44,253 - £56,293 per year Package Total benefit value (includes pension contribution and full holiday entitlement) £76,540 Contractual hours 37 Basis Full time Job category/type Legal Attachments Job Specification - Level B (9).pdf Job Specification - Level C (9).pdf Job Specification - Level A (8).pdf

Full Time & Part- Time / 37 & 22.5 Hours Per Week / Permanent and Fixed Term for 12 months

A welcome payment of £5000 will be offered to a suitable candidate with appropriate experience, to be paid following successful 6 month probation period).

This is an exciting time to join our well-regarded, friendly and supportive Child Protection legal team. We are continuing to grow the team and are now recruiting to two permanent posts and one fixed term maternity cover position. The expansion of the team reflects increasing demand for legal support and recognition of the important role our lawyers play in delivering positive outcomes for children and families across Leicester. We have focused on building a sustainable and supportive team structure that enables lawyers to manage a high-quality and rewarding case load whilst continuing to develop professionally. The focus of the team is on enabling quality service delivery, working in partnership with the client department to help ensure positive outcomes for children within the city of Leicester.

You’ll hold responsibility for a public law caseload, providing quality legal advice and support including undertaking advocacy on behalf of the Council. The team deals with a wide range of child protection legal work and there will also be opportunity for exposure to judicial review challenges. As such, we offer a challenging, rewarding and varied workload within a growing team that is committed to maintaining manageable caseloads and professional development.

This is a career graded post (LG Band 9 – LG Band 11). Appointment to a level will depend on the outcome of the selection process and experience of the successful candidate. Dependent on availability of work/vacancy at a higher level, progress will be by satisfactory performance, agreed at annual appraisals and through on-going supervision.

What you’ll need

You’ll have subject area experience and demonstrable advocacy, negotiating and advisory skills together with a good appreciation of risk management. You will be highly motivated with strong organisational skills and a pro-active approach which will ensure that you are able to successfully prioritise work. Your excellent communication skills, both written and oral, will ensure that you are able to work with a wide range of people and represent the service in a professional, client focused manner.

What we can offer you

Leicester City Council is an exciting and innovative place to work. We offer a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package. This includes a flexi-time scheme, membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and a generous holiday entitlement. Foran illustrative value of your benefits package, take a look at our benefits calculator. We work hard to ensure that our people are well supported, both at a senior level and by your peers. We will also give you the chance to both use your professional skills and expertise and develop new ones with a variety of trainingand development opportunities. Hybrid working arrangements are available, mixing both home and office working, but time spent at the office with colleagues is encouraged.

We are committed to recruiting a diverse and highly talented workforce as we continue to build acouncil that is fitting and representative of our great city. That’s why we have designed ourrecruitment process to put you at your ease, make you feel welcome and bring the best out of you.We will do all we can to make our recruitment process as fair as possible. To help you with yourapplication,take a look at the ‘our approach to recruitment’ page.

We would consider candidates with relevant transferable skills and willingness to undertake advocacy. We recognise the valuable skills and experience that lawyers from different backgrounds bring and will provide support to help successful candidates transition into local authority practice where required.

Please note that the interview/Assessments will take place 4th November 2026 and 9th November 2026.