Solicitor or Associate up to 10YRS PQE (public law)

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 2021 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.

The Regulatory Department is very diverse, offering a broad range of expert advice to healthcare professionals facing possible criminal and professional regulatory sanctions, Trusts and organisations on issues such as best interest decisions to DPA requests and inquests, as well as organisations and individuals facing Healthy & Safety, criminal and other regulatory prosecutions.

We are currently recruiting for a Solicitor or Associate up to 10YRS PQE to join our Social Care & Governance team in either Leeds, Liverpool or Manchester.

The sucessful candidate will manage own caseload, and assist others with their caseloads, of a variety of public law cases including education and adult social care.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Manage own caseload of public law cases on behalf of local authority clients, predominantly education and adult social care
• To have working knowledge of Education Law and preparation for Tribunal Hearings
• Assist other members of the team with their caseloads
• Assist the wider department with their mixed regulatory caseloads, subject to experience
• Conduct legal proceedings before the courts and tribunals, including advocacy
• Attend off-site visits and meetings, such as Tribunal/Court Hearings, clients’ offices etc
• Assist the team and wider department with the development of the regulatory practice
• Carry out and attend marketing and business development activities and events
• Ensure relevant deadlines, quality measures and KPI 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.

• Solicitor or associate, experienced in local authority/public law work, ideally education/SEN cases and adult social care
• Experience of conducting advocacy
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent time management and organisation skills
• Ability to multi-task and prioritise
• Ability to work to strict deadlines and targets
• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative
• Flexible approach

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.

• We're committed to diversity and inclusion and to creating an environment where everyone can reach their full potential.  For more information please click  on the following link:

https://www.weightmans.com/about-us/diversity-and-inclusion