Senior Lawyer (Children's) - 37 Hours

Torbay Council; Torquay; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in the UK is looking for a senior lawyer for its Children's Legal Team. This position provides the opportunity to support safeguarding efforts through legal representation in children's public law. Responsibilities include managing a varied caseload and guiding junior team members. The role offers hybrid working to balance professional duties with personal life, alongside a supportive team structure and a competitive benefit package, including comprehensive annual leave and learning opportunities.

Benefits

26 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Career Average Re-Valued Earnings pension scheme

Learning and development opportunities

Family friendly policies

Lifestyle discounts and health benefits

Qualifications

• Experience of working in a legal environment.
• Relevant experience in children's public law and private law matters.
• Understanding of child protection and local government law.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and representation in children's public law.
• Handle complex caseload and mentor junior lawyers.
• Attend meetings and court as necessary.

Skills

Ability to give clear and accurate legal advice

Highly effective communication and interpersonal skills

Analytical and problem‑solving skills

Education

Admitted and practising solicitor, legal executive or barrister

Suitably trained as a legal advisor or advocate

Job description

Description

The salary includes an amount for a market supplement of £8000 per year. This market supplement is reviewed annually.

Job Description & Person Specification >

Torbay is breathtaking, captivating, and welcoming, occupying a prime position on the south coast of Devon. Currently unprecedented levels of investment and the council’s own ambitious transformation programme have given Torbay the opportunity to capitalise on the area’s profile and many assets.

As a small unitary authority, you’ll discover Torbay is a place where you can make things happen quickly. We have real momentum building, fuelled by a shared sense of purpose and ambition - which is clearly evident by our recent success in being awarded the ‘Most Improved Council’ at last year’s LGC Awards. We want Torbay and its residents to thrive and are committed to making a difference in our community, delivering high quality services to local people.

To complement this journey, we are now seeking an experienced, enthusiastic and motivated senior lawyer for our Children’s Legal Team. We provide legal advice and representation to our clients across a spectrum of children’s public law and within private law matters, supporting the safeguarding of children and ensuring the Local Authority is fulfilling its statutory duties. This includes all aspects of child protection, from emergency protection orders and care proceedings to adoption, disclosure work, leaving care advice and immigration issues relating to children and families.

As a senior lawyer, you will carry a wide and varied caseload, including more complex matters and provide support for more junior members of the team. No two days will be the same, for which those already working within local government will attest to and actively thrive upon.

Undertaking the role of senior lawyer, you will be a suitably qualified professional with relevant experience; excited by a fast‑paced and varied workload, conscientious, professionally curious and a role model to your colleagues. In return, you will join a supportive and rewarding organisation and team, whereby your talent will be valued and actively developed. At Torbay Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from our people.

We also understand the importance of an effective work‑life balance, therefore offer a hybrid working approach managed effectively around the need to attend essential meetings and / or make court appearances in line with the remit of the role.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to work for an employer that sees legal services as not simply a support function, but an enabler in the pursuit of the highest standards and outcomes for children.

In return we offer :

• A generous salary (to include market supplement).
• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with length of service.
• A Career Average Re-Valued Earnings (CARE) pension scheme through Peninsula Pensions.
• Flexible working.
• Paid professional subscription.
• Learning and development opportunities.
• A supportive management and team structure.
• Family friendly policies.
• Key skills relocation package.
• Golden Hello opportunity.
• A wide range of lifestyle discounts and health and wellbeing benefits.

If you are viewing this advert on a job board, you can access the full job description by placing the below URL into your browser :

https://www.torbay.gov.uk/jobs/job-descriptions/senior-lawyer-childrens/

For an informal chat please contact Katrina Forsythe on 01803 207169 or [e-mail], or Janine Bond on 01803 207149 or [e-mail].

Interviews are expected to be conducted during the week commencing 19th January 2026.

Our adverts do sometimes close early - even where there's a published deadline - so if you're keen, please apply as soon as possible.

Skills

• Essential: Ability to give clear and accurate legal advice.
• Essential: Highly effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Essential: Analytical and problem‑solving skills.

As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2016 (part 7), the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

Knowledge

• Essential: High level of knowledge of the law and procedure within the specialist area.
• Essential: Knowledge of the law relating to local government.

Experience & Qualifications

• Essential: Admitted and practising solicitor, legal executive (fellow) or barrister with up to 3 years PQE.
• Essential: Suitably trained as a legal advisor or advocate.
• Essential: Experience of working in a legal environment.