£42,854 - £51,847.68 or Senior Lawyer £52,415.28 - £60,030.15 per annum

A fantastic opportunity to join an exciting, innovative law firm where you will be given the opportunity to learn and develop in your chosen field and excel in your career.

Pathfinder Legal Services Ltd is a true one of a kind. Established in 2015 as an ‘Alternative Business Structure’ (ABS) we are wholly owned by public bodies. We pride ourselves on serving our communities with resilience, enthusiasm and focus. Working for public sector and not for profit clients is our focus. A significant proportion of the work we carry out will be for local authorities, however, we have over recent years grown our client base to include more than one hundred organisations across the public and not-for profit sectors. Our clients include Integrated Care Boards, Foundation Trusts, Charities and Fire Services.

We have grown significantly in recent years and are rapidly expanding, with offices based in Huntingdon, Northampton and Shefford. With over 165 members of staff, our Firm is made up of qualified legal officers, administrative support and finance officers. We aim to develop our staff to enable them to reach their full potential and to find a career path suitable to each individual.

If the chance to play a part in this fast paced but increasingly interesting and challenging area of law interests you, we want to hear from you.

Overall purpose of the job:

To provide a range of public sector and not for profit clients with a professional and innovative legal service in respect of their Children’s Social Care functions and other areas of legal practice where necessary.

Who are we?

We are a large team, made up of around 50 lawyers and paralegals of all types and length of qualification. We have team members who have been with us for over 25 years and newly qualified lawyers who have just joined us. We are passionate and dedicated, always ready to help each other out and discuss cases to find a solution. We love working together and developing each other’s knowledge and abilities. We are committed to staff development, training and career progression opportunities. Our supportive team is our strength and we’re ready to welcome you into it.

What do we do?

The Childcare team deals with all types of child protection work for its shareholder local authorities and other clients, including:

• Care Proceedings, including representation in Court
• Pre-proceedings (PLO) work
• Advice in relation to Deprivation of Liberties
• Advice in relation to contact
• Adoption proceedings
• Advice on Local Authorities’ duties and responsibilities
• Advice to Local Authorities in relation to private law proceedings
• Advice in relation to children becoming looked after, ceasing to become looked after and any issues arising

The Childcare team also advise clients on process and improvements that can be made and provide duty advice to the client on a rota basis. Members of the team sit on Local Family Justice Boards, advise Safeguarding Children Local Partnerships, Adoption and Fostering Panels and Agency Decision Makers. We also provide training for clients and for the team.

The work is exciting, varied and interesting. Recently, the team has been involved in a number of reported cases and has represented the Local Authority on cases which have been considered by the Court of Appeal. No two days are ever the same!

Pathfinder Legal Benefits

Local Government Pensions Scheme – considered to be one of the best employer contribution rates.

Flexible working arrangements – we offer flexible hours and hybrid working which allows for remote working but we also require regular office attendance with the aim to give everyone a balanced work/life ratio.

Family Friendly policies including excellent Maternity, Paternity and Adoption entitlements.

An exceptional Employee Assistance Program which helps supports employees with workplace changes as well as other work, family and personal issues.

Cycle To Work scheme.

A generous minimum annual leave entitlement of 25 days, rising on 5 and 10 years service, plus public holidays. With the option to purchase more annual leave.

To apply for this position please send your CV and a covering letter explaining how you meet the Person Specification to recruitment@pathfinderlegal.co.uk. When applying, please quote reference ‘CHI-115’.

For a copy of the full Job Description and Person Specification and details of our other vacancies, please visit our website www.pathfinderlegal.co.uk/careers.

Closing date: 6 February 2026 @ 12:00

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