Overview
Are you keen to pursue a rewarding legal career in Local Government? Are you looking to join an organisation that will professionally nurture you and give you a solid foundation for your future career?
If you have a strong academic record together with excellent communications skills and an appetite to work in the challenging, yet rewarding area of child protection law this opportunity is for you.
Start Date: September 2023
About the Role
Legal Services Lincolnshire are thinking proactively about planning for our future workforce, particularly in the key area of social care law supporting the Council’s statutory function in respect of vulnerable children. As part of this process we are looking for a Trainee Solicitor who has a keen interest in this dynamic and fascinating area of legal practice – someone who perhaps has studied family law at degree level and/or as an option in their LPC and is looking for a future role in this area of practice.
You will be working within a friendly and supportive team environment where your professional development will be nurtured and appreciated. You will be working on some of the most sensitive and challenging, yet the most rewarding of cases, supporting our social care clients in achieving the best outcomes for children within Lincolnshire.
Accordingly, we are looking to primarily grow our own child protection lawyer, so a significant part of the training contract will be within that area of practice. The successful candidate will therefore be required to demonstrate advocacy skills and a willingness to undertake advocacy. We have a proven track record of retaining our bespoke Trainee Solicitor’s with our first two having recently qualified and successfully obtaining Lawyer positions within the Childcare Team.
However, in order to comply with the Law Society requirements, the successful candidate will not be based exclusively in the Childcare team and will have an opportunity to gain substantial pre-qualification experience in other areas of contentious and non-contentious Local Government legal practice with the aim of developing public sector lawyers with a strong working knowledge of the practice of law in local government
About You
We are looking for candidates who will have successfully completed their LPC at the time of commencing the training contract. From the commencement of your training contract you will be a fee earner within our practice. You will have a strong academic record, be organised and committed, with good communication and inter-personal skills with an interest in pursuing a career in local government, and in particular in the area of child protection law.
We will provide you with excellent training and support, the opportunity to take on responsibility from an early stage (including advocacy) and strong foundations for your future career.
About Us
Legal Services Lincolnshire is a local authority shared legal practice providing a full range of legal services to local authorities and public bodies. The main areas of our work include public law, property, highways and planning, commercial, adult care, prosecutions, civil litigation and child care.
We are organised as a trading unit following private practice disciplines and with LEXCEL accreditation.
Candidates should also be aware that the role will also require attendance at one of Legal Services Lincolnshire offices for a minimum of four days per week and is not suitable for greater remote working options.
What we can offer
Along with a competitive salary we are offering;
A Contributory pension
Comprehensive benefits package including excellent discount schemes and cycle to work
Sodexo Discounts and Benefits Scheme
Flexible working policies
Career progression opportunities
A generous leave entitlement with the option to buy more
Further details can be found in our rewards and benefits brochure
Next steps
Closing date for applications: 13th February 2023
Interview date: 14th & 17th March 2023
For further information about this opportunity please contact Leigh Middleton, Principal Lawyer, on 07825 357875 or leigh.middleton@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Please be advised that this position may be subject to a criminal record check.
All candidates are advised to read the attached job information pack prior to making an application.
On occasion we receive significantly more applications than expected for some vacancies and under such circumstances we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date of the advertisement. We therefore strongly advise you to apply for the role promptly to avoid disappointment should the closing date be brought forward.
We operate a talent pool scheme whereby candidates who are not successful on this occasion may be considered for a period of up to 3 months for equal positions.
Lincolnshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Lincolnshire County Council
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