Job Description

PO7: Starting salary 61,686 pa rising in annual increments to 64,938 per annum incl LW plus 5,000 pa market supplement
In addition to the salary, we also offer legally qualified new starters a 5000 welcome bonus which is payable 50% after 6 months and 50% after 12 months in the role.
Hybrid working
About Us:
It is an exciting time to join Lambeth Council, we have bold ambitions for the future of Lambeth's communities and residents through our '. To deliver on these ambitions, we have embarked our transformational One Lambeth Programme ensuring we are 'connected by purpose,' in everything we do to deliver excellence. We are proud to have recently developed a refreshed set of One Lambeth Values and Behaviours that were develop for staff by staff; Equity, Ambition, Kindness, and Accountability. For more information, please have a look at our dedicated .
About the Borough:
Located in the heart of South London, Lambeth Borough is a vibrant community of over 317,600 residents. Stretching from the dynamic neighbourhood of Streatham in the South to the iconic landmarks of Waterloo in the North, we are proud to be the 9th largest borough in London. Our diversity is our strength, with more than 130 languages spoken, making Lambeth the home of the Windrush generation, London's largest LGBTQ+ community, and a thriving Portuguese-speaking community.
With exceptional schools, lush green spaces including Brockwell Park, cultural gems like the Black Cultural Archives, and world-renowned institutions such as St Thomas's Hospital, Lambeth offers an enriching and dynamic environment.
About the Team:
Lambeth Legal Services is an in-house practice, committed to providing a high quality, effective and value for money legal service to the Council's support officers and members, to ensure that the Council exercises its powers and duties lawfully.
We are passionate about driving excellence and innovation to ensure we meet the evolving needs of our borough, and our council. Lambeth is a vibrant and diverse borough with immense potential, and we are committed to contributing to positive change within our communities, building on its strengths while addressing the challenges we face.
We are embarking on a period of transformation, building an operating model that meets the needs of the business and aligns with the council's strategic objectives.
Legal Services is committed to the Law Society's Practice Management Standard (Lexcel).
You will be joining a specialist child litigation team which offers expert legal advice and support to the Council in all aspects of child protection and welfare law.
The team prides itself on being able to provide cost effective high quality, accurate, strategic, solutions focused legal advice and representation to the Council, upholding our values of equity, kindness, accountability and ambition
You will work within a friendly, supportive, collaborative team environment.
The Role:
We are looking for a qualified Solicitor, Barrister or CILEX Advocate ideally from within the public sector to join our expanding team of experienced professionals and play a vital role in helping to deliver focused, high-quality advice and representation.
The successful candidate will be expected to provide advocacy as an in-house advocate in Social Services matters to include contested and final hearings of up to 14 days including care, placement, adoption, DOL and private law proceedings.

• You will need to be able to deliver at pace, specialist advice on complex legal matters that is informed by appropriate legal and factual analysis and identifies the consequences of different options, as required with minimum supervision in a variety of forums.

• You will be responsible for ensuring the Council receives cost effective high quality, accurate, strategic, solutions focused legal advice and representation in the areas of childcare law, local government law and such other areas as are allocated from time to time.

• You will need to be enthusiastic, highly organised, proactive, flexible, able to work under pressure, manage competing deadlines and work as part of a team and on your own initiative. We are looking for individuals with a real commitment to the job.

• You will support the Principal Social Care Lawyer in meeting operational requirements, service level agreements and performance targets.

• You will build and maintain excellent client relations acting as a role model to achieve service and council wide objectives.

• This post requires a qualified solicitor, barrister, or CILEx with a current practising certificate and experience of working in childcare/child litigation.

This post is subject to a Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service. Successful candidates will be asked to apply for an Enhanced Certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Further information about the DBS can be found at .
For detailed qualifications and requirements, please review the job description and person specification in hyperlink below:
Contact Information:
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Ellie Rae at ERae2@Lambeth.gov.uk
How to Apply:
If you're interested in this opportunity, click on the apply button and complete an online application.
In your supporting statement, please clearly demonstrate how you meet the shortlist criteria marked with an 'A' at shortlist stage. We operate an anonymised application process, so be sure to remove personal details when uploading your CV or personal statement.
Benefits:
We believe in rewarding our staff. When you join us, you'll gain access to a range of benefits, including:

• Participation in our 5 Staff Networks: Black, Asian, and Multi-Ethnic, LGBTQ+, Disability, Young Professionals, and Women's.
• Generous annual leave entitlement starting from 27 days, increasing to up to 35 days depending on length of service.
• Membership in the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Hybrid Working.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Occupational Sick Pay based on length of service.
• Discounts at local restaurants.
• Discount at our Active Lambeth Gyms.
• Learning and Development opportunities, including Apprenticeships.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Secure Bike Storage facilities at our Town Hall and Civic Centre.
• Trade Union Membership.

At Lambeth, we are dedicated to providing quality services and equal opportunities for all. We are committed to safer recruitment and are proud to be a Stonewall diversity champion, a Living Wage Employer, and to guarantee interviews for all disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria of the role. For a full list of our accreditations, please click here.
We actively support applications from Lambeth Care Leavers.
Recruitment Timelines:
Advert close date: 11:59pm on Sunday 28 September 2025.
Shortlisting: 29 and 30 September 2025.
Interviews: 6-10 October 2025.
For further information or to apply, please click on the 'Enquire/Apply' button below.

Skills Required