Job introduction

Job title: Lawyer - Child Protection Team

A bit about us:

Liverpool is home to vibrant, energetic, and engaged communities, people who take real ownership of their local area and are passionate about making our city a better place. We've got ambitious targets to meet and we need people who are driven, dynamic and ready to deliver the very best for our communities. Public service is more important than ever, and this role represents a real opportunity to make a difference to our communities by transforming the way we work and placing our residents at the heart of everything we do. 

Working at Liverpool City Council provides an opportunity to contribute to your community and make a positive impact on the lives of residents. Our values shape how we work to deliver public services, and how we communicate with the residents we serve. We care about the best outcomes for local people, through our public services.

We are proud of our world-famous thriving city with its rich culture, as well as affordable housing, good schools, beautiful green spaces – there’s really something for everyone!

A fixed term contract has become available for a Lawyer in the Child Protection Team to cover a period of maternity leave for upto 12 months.

The role:

• To have personal responsibility for a caseload of complex and non-complex legal work, and act as a subject expert, with appropriate support and supervision from a Senior Lawyer or Head of Law
• To carry out own advocacy, when necessary, on own caseload and not to instruct external counsel/legal support except in accordance with agreed procedures
• To draft legal documents to a high standard
• To notify all high-risk matters to the Senior Lawyer
• To pick up casework arising in their respective teams as required including where additional resources are required to meet demand in the service as a whole
•  To provide support to other teams if requested to do so by the Senior Lawyer or Head of Law
• To work flexibly and collaboratively with their own team and across the wider legal service and with client services, as required
• To supervise the work of working in the team or on the lawyer’s caseload
• To attend meetings of the council as required to provide legal and governance advice and support
• To provide legal input into reports for various council meetings or decision-making processes in accordance with Council’s standards and processes
• To proactively maintain and improve client relationships
• To provide training and awareness to clients and other stakeholders on legal matters proactively or as required
• To act in accordance with and promote the Nolan Principles in the Council and your work and to escalate concerns when identified
• To externally commission legal work for the Council where required and on client instructions, ensuring value for money and high-quality advice and representation is received
• To keep up to date with current and future law and practice affecting the Council
• To support the Director, Deputy Director, Head of Law and Senior Lawyers in the delivery of projects and programmes in the Legal Service and / or corporately
• To support the Head of Law and Senior Lawyers with the development of legal procedures and policies
•  To support the Head of Law and Senior Lawyers in the delivery of value for money and income generation in the work of the team
• To deputise for the Senior Lawyer in their absence or as requested
• To be flexible with regards to working hours to ensure that service needs and client requirements are met
• To maximise the use of information technology and systems to provide more effective, efficient and economical legal services
• The job holder will carry out such other tasks as may reasonably be required

This role is fixed term for upto 12 months to cover for maternity leave. 

Our offer to you:

• At least 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays rising to 32 after 5 years’ service (pro rata if part time) - option to purchase further days
• Agile working (role dependent) - a “Flexibility First” approach to agile working, where flexibility is the norm rather than the exception
• Part of the Local Government Pension Scheme – option to join the AVC Scheme
• Progression - opportunities and training through a wide range of high quality learning
• Health and Wellbeing - offer including Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work and Travel Pass Schemes 
• Drive Time – a salary sacrifice car lease scheme
• Family friendly policies with enhanced leave  
• Discounted Gym Memberships 
• Employee Volunteering Scheme 
• Medicash 

Next steps:
Closing date: midnight on Friday 19th June 2026
Shortlisting date: Friday 26th June 2026
Interview date: 7th & 8th July 2026
Interview type: Face to face 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early. Once the role has closed, you will not be able to submit an application, and we are unable to reopen the vacancy for you to complete it. We strongly recommend submitting your application well in advance of the closing date to avoid disappointment.

If you would like any further information or an informal discussion, please contact the Senior Lawyers via 

Sarah.Healey@liverpool.gov.uk Hannah.Malone@liverpool.gov.uk Oke.Akpogheneta@liverpool.gov.uk  Kelly.Stokes@liverpool.gov.uk 

Watch our recruitment video and see what life is like working at Liverpool City Council.

Liverpool City Council is committed to fostering a workforce representative of the communities we serve. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we believe in appointing candidates based on their skills, experience, qualifications, and abilities. To support this commitment, we guarantee an interview to candidates from under-represented groups who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role. 

If you require any reasonable adjustments in line with the Equality Act 2010, such as an application form in a different format or additional time to complete your application, please contact us at recruitment@liverpool.gov.uk.

Although we advertise on Jobs Go Public, and other websites, your application process will be directed to our Tribepad system. Please note that all communication regarding your application for this post will be sent to the email address that you have registered on Tribepad, including your invite to interview if you are shortlisted. Please check your emails regularly, including Spam/Junk, after the closing dates for notifications.  Please ensure you complete your full profile, work and education history in Tribepad.

Eligibility to work in the UK will be verified in the final stages of the selection process. All candidates must either already have a right to work in the UK before commencing employment or meet the Home Office criteria for Visa sponsorship. Candidates who require sponsorship should evaluate the Home Office eligibility criteria for a Skilled Worker visa before applying.

This is not legal advice, and we advise you to seek your own independent legal advice tailored to your own personal circumstances.