£55,940 - £59,715 (Bar at £58,498) per annum pro rata

This role is subject to:

• 2 References - where possible we require 3 years' history.
• DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance - this post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (amended in 2013). Appointable candidates will be required to apply for a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Information provided by you or the DBS will be dealt with in a confidential manner and in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice which can be viewed here. We have a policy on the Employment of Ex-Offenders and it is available upon request.
• Qualification - Solicitor, Barrister or CILEX (with advocacy rights) and registration with Law Society, Bar Counsel or CILEX  

Manchester City Council has grown its team of effective team of lawyers, legal officer and business support team who produce amazing, outstanding results with an enhanced vision for the future.  Aligning ourselves with Children’s Services to deliver safe, efficient, and effective services to families, the enhanced vision is supported by new team structures, an enriched training, mentoring and coaching tool and a new Case Management System.  Highly valued by our clients, our excellent relationships and continual looking for better ways of doing things and achieving greater heights produces an innovative, responsive, inclusive and transparent legal service.   

We are looking for a dynamic qualified solicitor, barrister or Chartered Lawyer or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives to join our Children and Families Legal Team. This role presents an exciting opportunity to lead one of our legal disclosure teams and manage a small team of lawyers, legal officer with business support.

At the heart of everything we do is: 

• the safety and needs of children and vulnerable adults 
• high-quality representation of Children’s Services. 

There is little else in life graver than children being the victims of abuse and serious criminal offending. Children’s Services work in partnership with the police to support victims and the prosecution of serious crime. The legal disclosure team play an integral part in supporting Manchester Children’s Services. You will manage a small team of lawyers, provide complex legal advice to children's services, with a strong understanding of  supporting them in all aspects of their statutory functions, but with a key specialist focus on third-party disclosure of social care records to support criminal investigations and the prosecution of serious offences against children. 

How do we do this emotionally demanding work? It’s through teamwork – working together, trusting each other, combining our experience, and sharing our knowledge and expertise to get the right result.  

We support each other, laugh, interact, problem-solve and have difficult conversations. This promotes deep learning and a strong sense of belonging and common purpose, creating effective mutual relationships that achieve our team’s goals.  We feed on one another’s contagious enthusiasm for our projects with a dynamic team spirit made possible by the synergism between us all. 

Why work with us? 
We offer our lawyers flexible start and finish times with an effective hybrid working-practice model.  There’s opportunity for development and variety thanks to the way our teams practise in our Lexcel-accredited and supported legal service. 

Legal work for public services in Manchester, Salford and Rochdale Councils and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority puts you among the few practitioners in England’s first, and biggest, devolved region, where major decisions are now taken in-house rather than in Whitehall and by NHS administrations.

About the Candidate
You will be able to demonstrate that you have acquired the following skills with examples from your career so far:

• Communication Skills
• Analytical Skills 
• Planning and Organising
• Problem Solving and Decision Making 
• Strategic Thinking 
• Creative skills 
• Policy Skills 
• People Management 
• Relevant experience and expertise of dealing with a broad range of complex, highly value and sensitive cases relating to children and family law 
• Managerial experience via direct management of people or project delivery related management is desirable  

If practising in a supportive public service legal team is the right cultural fit for you, please get in touch for an informal discussion. 

To arrange an informal discussion on this role please contact Chris Wall, Group Manager and lead for disclosure within Children & Families Legal Services by email at christopher.wall@manchester.gov.uk 

About Us
We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities. 

Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone. 

Our Manchester is our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – a vision shaped by the people of Manchester. It guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours:

• We take time to listen and understand
• We work together and trust each other
• We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
• We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
• We’re proud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits we offer 

• Generous holiday allowance - Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks. 
• A buzzing pension - You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum. 
• Enhanced parental and carers leave - Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events. 
• Brilliant perks - Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more. 
• Learn and grow - We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process. 
• A Good Employment Charter member - We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life. 
• Up to 3 days volunteering leave - Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits. 

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council 
At Manchester City Council, we’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people. 

Closing date: 26 October 2025

For further information or to apply, please click on the 'Enquire/Apply' button below.