Senior Lawyer - Child Protection Team

Job introduction

Job Title: Senior Lawyer – Child Protection Team 

Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Leave Cover) until Friday 30 January 2026 

A bit about us:

Liverpool is home to vibrant, energetic and engaged communities, people who take real ownership of their local area and are passionate about making our city a better place. We've got ambitious targets to meet by 2025 and we need people who are driven, dynamic and ready to deliver the very best for our communities.  Public service is more important than ever, and this role represents a real opportunity to make a difference to our communities by transforming the way we work and placing our residents at the heart of everything we do.  

Working at Liverpool City Council provides an opportunity to contribute to your community and make a positive impact on the lives of residents. Our values shape how we work to deliver public services, and how we communicate with the residents we serve. We care about the best outcomes for local people, through our public services. 

We are proud of our world-famous thriving city with its rich culture, affordable housing, stunning waterfront and our beautiful green spaces – there’s really something for everyone! 

The Role: 

• As a Senior Lawyer at Liverpool City Council, you will manage a full caseload of complex and often sensitive legal matters within the child protection team
• The team covers all aspects of childcare and adoption law
• Our Senior Lawyers have a personal responsibility for a caseload of complex and non-complex legal work, and act as subject experts, with appropriate support and supervision, from a Head of Law or Deputy Director of City, Law and Governance
• You will lead and develop a team of Lawyers, who have conduct of matters relating to child protection 
• As a Senior Lawyer, you will help supervise and contribute to the development of Trainee Lawyers
• The role of a Senior Lawyer reports to Head of Law for Child Protection 
• You will provide proactive, and solution focussed advice that supports the delivery of the Council’s priorities and policies 
• Senior Lawyers will advise on legal matters relevant to public and local government law including on executive and committee decision-making, information governance and public law challenges  
• You may advise members and formal decision-making bodies including Cabinet, Council, committees and overview and scrutiny in respect of the team’s specialism and as required by the Director and / or their Deputy Director 
• The Director of City Law & Governance will expect you to support them in their role as Monitoring Officer and promote the Nolan Principles, escalating matters as appropriate
• You will externally commission legal work for the Council where required, ensuring value for money and high-quality advice and representation is received  
• As a Senior Lawyer, you will play an active role in ensuring the team, service, and the wider Council is aware of current and proposed law and practice affecting the Council
• You may participate in the delivery of projects and programmes in Legal Services and/or corporately
• You will support your Head of Law with the development of legal procedures and policies 

Our offer to you:

• 35 hour working week with a hybrid working model
• At least 31 days holiday rising to 35 after 5 years’ service (with an option to purchase further days)
• Agile working – a “Flexibility First” approach to agile working where flexibility is the norm rather than the exception
• Part of the Local Government Pension Scheme – option to join the AVC scheme
• Progression – opportunities and training through a wide range of high quality learning
• Health and Wellbeing – offers including Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work and Travel Pass Schemes 
• Drive Time – a salary sacrifice car lease scheme
• Family friendly policies with enhanced leave  
• Discounted gym memberships 
• Employee Volunteering Scheme 
• Medicash 

Next steps:

Closing Date: Tuesday 31 December 2024 

If you would like to talk to a member of the team about the role or have an informal discussion, please contact David Steel (david.steel@liverpool.gov.uk).

Please note that if you are shortlisted, interviews will take place on either Thursday 16 January or Friday 17 January 2025.

Liverpool City Council is committed to fostering a workforce representative of the communities we serve. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we believe in appointing candidates based on their skills, experience, qualifications, and abilities. To support this commitment, we guarantee an interview to candidates from under-represented groups who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role. 

If you require any reasonable adjustments in line with the Equality Act 2010, such as an application form in a different format or additional time to complete your application, please contact us at recruitment@liverpool.gov.uk

Although we advertise on Jobs Go Public, and other websites, your application process will be directed to our Tribepad system. Please note that all communication regarding your application for this post will be sent to the email address that you have registered on Tribepad, including your invite to interview if you are shortlisted. Please check your emails regularly, including Spam/Junk, after the closing dates for notifications.  Please ensure you complete your full profile, work and education history in Tribepad.

We reserve the right to close vacancies earlier than the specified date should we receive sufficient applications. If interested, please complete an application as early as possible.

Watch our recruitment video and see what life is like working at Liverpool City Council!