Solicitor 0-5 PQE

Weightmans is a Top 45 law firm with offices throughout the UK. Having been recognised as the leading legal employer at the annual Britain's Top Employers awards 2019 and achieved record rankings in Chambers UK, we are immensely proud of the work we carry out for our clients and the culture we provide to our people.

This role has a primary focus on local government work: primarily advising local authorities on matters of child social care issues.

We are seeking a Local Government Lawyer to manage a caseload of child social care issues, adult social services, education and local government law cases. With our diverse offering, inevitably there will be both the scope and need for our lawyers to be involved in work for clients outside of their core caseload. We are seeking someone who is excited about this challenge and will embrace this variety of work.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Specialise in acting on behalf of various local authorities, protecting their interests in matters of child social care issues
• Manage a caseload of files, primarily child protection cases for local authorities, but also including adult social services, education and local government law cases
• Attend applications and hearings at court, including travel, and accompany counsel where necessary
• Achieve set financial and chargeable targets
• Ensure relevant deadlines, quality measures and KPIs are adhered to
• Comply with relevant policies and procedures
• Work in accordance with Weightmans’ values

This list is not intended to be exhaustive and you will be expected to perform other duties and have other responsibilities that fall within the wider remit of the role.

• Qualified solicitor
• Previous child social care experience is essential
• General local government law, adult social care and education experience would be desirable
• Experience of acting for or in a local authority would be desirable
• Motivation to undertake advocacy would be desirable
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Excellent collaborative and team working skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent IT skills
• Ability to work to deadlines and targets
• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative

Please note:

• Any reference to experience or PQE in our adverts or job descriptions is to be used as a guideline only. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and with different levels of experience who can demonstrate that they fulfil the requirements of the role.

• The successful candidate appointed to this role will be subject to our standard background checking process, and any offer of employment made is conditional upon successful completion of those checks. Further details can be obtained from the Recruitment team.