Lawyer - Children and Social Care Team

Sefton; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council is seeking to recruit 3 Lawyers to join the Childcare Team. The successful candidates will provide legal services related to childcare and education matters, managing a caseload of complex childcare law cases. Applicants must possess demonstrable experience in childcare law and the ability to provide advice on school queries. This is a full-time permanent position, with working hours of 36 hours per week. Closing date for applications is 25/01/2026.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in childcare law is essential.
• Ability to provide legal services in relation to education matters.
• Experience working with limited supervision and providing support.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal services in relation to childcare and education.
• Manage a caseload of complex childcare law cases.
• Offer advice on school queries.

Skills

Childcare law experience

Legal advice skills

Ability to handle complex cases

Job description

• Employer: Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Location: Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, Magdalen House/Agile
• Contract: Permanent
• Working Pattern: Full Time
• Hours: 28.8 - 36 hours per week.
• DBS Check: No
• Closing Date: 25/01/2026 at 23:59
• Reference: CR/26/328879

2 permanent vacancies full time 36 hours and 1 permanent vacancy 28.8 hours

Corporate Legal Services is comprised of four legal teams with administrative support.

• The Children and Social Care Team provide legal services primarily in relation to child protection, adoption, education, adult social care, mental health and youth justice.
• The Planning and Property Team provide legal services primarily in relation to planning and property matters.
• The Regulation and Prosecutions Team provide legal services primarily in relation to regulatory matters, information governance and environmental, licensing, prosecutions and all other litigation.
• The Contract and Employment Team provide legal services primarily in relation to contracts, procurement and commercial matters. The team also advises the Council and its schools on a full range of employment law matters.

We wish to recruit 3 Lawyers into the Childcare Team with responsibility for providing legal services in relation to Childcare and Education related matters. The post holders will carry a caseload of Childcare law cases, often complex in nature, with limited supervision but with support from a dedicated senior legal assistant. The post holder will also provide advice in relation to school queries. It is a pre-requisite that the post holder has demonstrable Childcare law experience.

Closing Date - 25/01/2026

Provisional Interview Date - 02/02/2026

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Sefton Council strives to ensure that our workforce is inclusive and representative of our communities. A diverse workforce is important to us, our staff bring with them a wide range of experiences, views, ideas, and innovations, and we are committed to providing an environment that recognises, respects, and values everybody’s identity, where individual differences are strengths and where everyone can thrive and maximise their potential. We are always open to learning and growing as an organisation, and we welcome new ideas and initiatives that promote equality, diversity and inclusion.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer; all candidates will receive equal treatment. Our decision to appoint will be based upon whether an individual’s skills, experience, qualifications, and abilities make them the most suitable candidate for the role.

Please note that all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for these jobs (as given in the Person Specification) and who want to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme will be invited to interview.

If you are currently in care or have previously been in care, we provide a guaranteed interview scheme for care experienced people if you meet the essential requirements for the role.

How to apply

Please apply online via the link provided.

Please note, we do not accept CV’s (unless specified on the advert).

Please fully complete the online application form.