Locum Childcare Lawyer
Hourly Rate: £55–£60 per hour umbrella
Location: Northern Local Authority 
Sector: Local Government
Duration: 3 Months+
Working Arrangement: Full Time, hybrid, advocacy essential
Start Date: ASAP

Reed Legal is working in partnership with a well-regarded Northern Local Authority to recruit an experienced Locum Childcare Lawyer for a long-term assignment. This is an excellent opportunity to join a supportive and busy legal team handling a varied caseload of public childcare matters, with flexible remote working arrangements available.

The Role
You will provide specialist legal advice to Children's Services, managing a caseload of complex childcare matters from inception through to conclusion. The successful candidate will play a key role in safeguarding vulnerable children and supporting the authority through care proceedings and advocacy requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Managing a caseload of public childcare matters, including Child Protection and Care Proceedings.

• Providing legal advice to social workers, managers, and Children's Services teams.

• Preparing applications, witness statements, care plans, and court documentation.

• Conducting advocacy at hearings where required, including Case Management Hearings and Interim Care Order applications.

• Representing the Local Authority in Public Law Outline (PLO) meetings and legal planning meetings.

• Ensuring compliance with relevant childcare legislation and statutory guidance.

Candidate Profile
We are seeking a qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Chartered Legal Executive with:

• Demonstrable experience handling public childcare law matters within a Local Authority setting.

• Strong knowledge of Child Protection, Care Proceedings, and associated legislation.

• Previous advocacy experience and confidence appearing before the Family Court.

• The ability to manage a busy caseload independently while working collaboratively with Children's Services teams.

• Excellent drafting, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Benefits

• Competitive hourly rate.

• Predominantly remote working with flexible arrangements.

• Long-term assignment with the potential for extension.

• Opportunity to make a meaningful impact supporting vulnerable children and families.

• Supportive and experienced legal team environment.

Apply Now
If you're an experienced Childcare Lawyer looking for your next locum opportunity with a respected Northern Local Authority, we'd love to hear from you.

Contact: Olivia Venn – Reed Legal, Manchester
Email: olivia.venn@reed.com
Phone: 0300 373 4075

Reed Legal is committed to diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and experiences. Please note that experience requirements and rate guidelines are indicative only; all applications will be assessed on merit.