As a well organised and high performing children's legal services team, we have a clear vision to improve outcomes for children and families.

As an in-house Solicitor you will be preparing and advising on a variety of Children's cases for Sandwell Council and, Sandwell Children's Trust. You will be supported by a team of excellent caseworkers. The career graded solicitors we are seeking will join a strengthened and increasingly experienced team and help deliver effective legal advice and advocacy work in the family courts. You will be involved in challenging and rewarding work; work that will give you the satisfaction of accomplishment that can come from helping vulnerable children and their families. You will have the advantage of undertaking advocacy at centrally located courts and remotely.

We have several career graded opportunities available, for solicitors seeking both development and reward in their legal career with a starting salary of £41,881 per annum, rising to £50,900 per annum based on your growth and experience in the role, which would include evidence of taking on complex and contested hearings over a number of days.

You must have the ability to deal with a complex and demanding caseload, with excellent client care skills, and an eagerness to provide a high-quality service to our clients and local community. There is an expectation to conduct advocacy on cases, supported by training and guidance from experienced managers.

This role would be suitable for an experienced practitioner who can demonstrate the ability to deal with advocacy, with excellent client care skills, and an eagerness to provide a high-quality service to clients.

With lap tops and mobile phones available for all, this has allowed the legal office to adapt to working from home for all staff during the Covid-19 crisis and ensures that the team is well placed to deal with future change as the situation develops. We offer flexible working hours and are open to considering home working.

The successful candidates will ideally have some working knowledge of childcare or family law. However, this is not essential and we welcome applications from driven candidates who have worked in any litigious area of the law who relish advocacy and wish to develop in a new area. It is rare to be offered the opportunity to break into this rewarding area of the Law. You will be a qualified Solicitor/Barrister/Legal Executive with a current Practising Certificate. In return for your experience, commitment and motivation, you will enjoy working in a modern environment, with scope for home working, as well as an excellent salary and benefits package, including:

• Local Government Pension Scheme, considered to be one of the best employer contribution rates
• A generous minimum holiday entitlement of 30 days per year in addition to statutory and public holidays, rising to 35 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy more annual leave
• Smart/Agile working

If you are interested in applying for this role please contact our dedicated specialist sourcing partner; Sellick for further information and application instructions:

https://www.sellickpartnership.co.uk/job/career-graded-childcare-solicitor/

If you have a disability and require assistance in making an application, or have experienced a problem whilst applying for a position, please contact the Resourcing Team on 0121 569 3300 or via e-mail to: hr_resourcing@sandwell.gov.uk

Supporting documents
Job Description
Personnel Specification