Senior Lawyer

About The Role

Working Hours: 35 hours per week 
Contract Type: Full Time, Permanent
Closing Date: 11.59pm, 26 April 2026
Interview method: in person

Applicants must have existing right to work in the UK, as visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

This role is subject to -

• Legal right to Work: In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment.
• 2 references - where possible, we require 3 years' history
• Qualification and registration -  Qualified solicitor, barrister with litigation conduct authorisation, Chartered Lawyer or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives with advocacy and litigation conduct practising rights
• DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance - this post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (amended in 2013). Appointable candidates will be required to apply for a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Information provided by you or the DBS will be dealt with in a confidential manner and in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice which can be viewed here. We have a policy on the Employment of Ex-Offenders and it is available upon request.

Put your legal experience to work for Manchester

Having invested into our structure we are growing our already effective team of lawyers, legal officer and business support team who produce incredible, outstanding results with an enhanced vision for the future. Aligning ourselves with Children’s Services to deliver safe, efficient, and effective services to families, the enhanced vision is supported by new team structures, an enriched training, mentoring and coaching tool and a new Case Management System. Highly valued by our clients, our excellent relationships and continual looking for better ways of doing things and achieving greater heights produces an innovative, responsive, inclusive and transparent legal service.

At the heart of everything we do is:

• the safety and needs of children
• high-quality representation of Children’s Services.

Be part of our effective team of lawyers who produce incredible, outstanding results. We have enhanced vision for the future, excellent team structures, enriched training, mentoring and coaching and are highly valued by our clients.

You will play an integral part in supporting Manchester and Salford’s Children’s Services. You will provide legal advice to children's services supporting them in all aspects of their statutory functions.  

This is a great opportunity for someone looking to develop their legal skills whilst working for one of the largest childcare teams in the country. Legal work for public services in Manchester, and Salford Councils and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority puts you among the few practitioners in England’s first, and biggest, devolved region, where major decisions are now taken in-house rather than in Whitehall and by NHS administrations.

We offer our team members flexible start and finish times with an effective hybrid working-practice model. There’s opportunity for development in the role thanks to the way our teams practise in our Lexcel accredited and supported legal service.

About the Candidate

★ Are your skills and legal mind being rewarded?
★ Do you work together as part of a supportive team?
★ Is your work wide-ranging and varied?
★ Are you achieving your goals?
★ Are you able to conduct your own advocacy?

You will be someone who works well as part of a team but you will be able to complete your own work with minimal supervision.  You will have your own busy caseload of complex matters so the ability to manage your time effectively is essential. You will be someone who has excellent communications skills, both written and verbal, as you will need draft legal documentation and provide advice to our clients. You will also represent the local authority at court on a regular basis.  The role will suit someone who enjoys advocacy which is a substantial part of the role as a childcare senior lawyer.  As a senior lawyer in the team you will mentor less experienced members of the team and will lead by example in the ways you work. 

As part your application, please submit your Curriculum Vitae (with your name removed) and detailed Expression of Interest setting out how your skills and experience meet the requirements on the attached role profile

To arrange an informal discussion on this role please contact Jennifer Heason, Head of Children & Families Legal Services by email at [contact hidden]