The starting salary for this role is £53,918 - £60,864 per annum for working 36 hours per week.

Are you looking for a new opportunity to develop your career in Childcare Law?

As an Advocate Lawyer, you will join a supportive, successful and Lexcel accredited in-house legal team that delivers effective legal advice, representation and assistance to the Council.

Our team culture is one which is supportive and engaged. We were recently nominated for a STARS in Surrey award for teamwork and get consistently excellent client feedback. Working together with frontline Children’s Services to safeguard children, we play a pivotal role in the Council’s drive to ensure no one is left behind.

If you are interested in developing and enhancing your existing advocacy skills whilst undertaking quality and varied work in the area of child protection, we’d love to hear from you.

About you

To be considered for this role, you will be a fully qualified Solicitor or Barrister. We are looking for someone who has proven advocacy experience in Childcare Law, having represented local authority social workers, parents and/or children, but will also consider applications from those with advocacy experience in other areas.

With a clear and detailed understanding of the relevant legal framework in which you will operate, you will be a developing, skilled and empathetic advocate. You will require the ability to assimilate information quickly in order to effectively convey the local authority’s concerns and position to the Court so as to achieve the best outcomes for the children at the heart of the proceedings. 

The role

In this role, you will act as an advocate in relation to childcare and related Court proceedings as required, providing representation in cases prepared by other lawyers in the team as befits your skills and experience. The workload is varied and interesting with a diversity of case types that offer scope for development.

You will have responsibility for all matters related to the conduct of the hearing, including the drafting of key Court documents and reporting as to the outcomes and next steps. As well as this, you will provide expert advice to the team and client as to technical and evidential matters. In conjunction with other team members, you will also provide training to our Children’s Service clients.

The Legal Services Childcare Team are based at Quadrant Court in Woking. However, the Council adopts an agile working policy with flexible working arrangements which includes access to our offices in Reigate and Weybridge as well as remote or home working. We intend to continue working in a flexible manner in the future. The team are very approachable (even when working remotely!) so there will always be someone to provide you with support and discuss matters with.

Should you wish to join a large, friendly, dedicated and experienced team of lawyers (which includes a fellow inhouse advocate), please click the apply button below to submit your application.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 30th December 2022.

Interviews will take place at our Weybridge Office (Dakota, De Havilland Drive, Weybridge, KT13 0YP) on either 9th or 10th January 2023.

This post has been designated as a politically restricted post in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

Contact Details

For an informal discussion please contact Janet Polley by email janet.polley@surreycc.gov.uk. We look forward to receiving your application.

Benefits

From flexible working to job sharing (where possible) we are committed to providing a healthy work life balance. A laptop and mobile will be supplied if applicable to your role. You will benefit from 26 days annual leave, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service, a generous local government salary related pension, as well as the option to join our car lease scheme. For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit MyBenefits for Surrey County Council staff.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer of first choice reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.