£57,678 - £71,742 per annum +  benefits package to the value of £2,724 per annum (pro-rata) for staff which can be used towards benefits or taken as cash.

Southwark Council’s Safeguarding and Community Services Legal team is seeking an exceptional In-House Childcare Advocate on a 12-month fixed-term contract.

This is an outstanding opportunity to work in-house at a well-regarded London local authority, where your advocacy will directly shape the futures of children and young people across our borough.

Joining Southwark means being at the heart of legal decision-making that protects the most vulnerable. You will undertake life-changing litigation while contributing to the direction of Children’s Services in a council committed to excellence, collaboration, and tackling inequality.

Whether you are a Barrister, Solicitor, or CILEX Fellow with rights of advocacy, this role is ideal if you are seeking a change in practice or looking to move away from the pressures of self-employment, VAT, and irregular income. Southwark cases are heard in the Central Family Courts or the Royal Courts of Justice,  and so travel outside of London is rarely required, supporting a good work life balance.

What sets this role apart?

• In-House Advocacy Team: Work within a small, supportive, and and highly experienced team of childcare advocates who work flexibly and manage their own diaries, enabling continuity of representation wherever possible.  
• Collaborative and experienced in - house lawyers and clients who are predominantly permanent staff.  Benefit from taking instructions from an established   team of lawyers and social work clients from diverse backgrounds.   
• Strategic Influence: Advise senior leaders in the council  in shaping governance, policy, and service delivery in respect of children and young people.
• Complex, Career-Defining Work: Represent and advise children services across a range of complex and high-risk cases involving significant legal and social issues for children and young people.

What you'll be doing

• Represent Southwark Children’s Services in all levels of court, managing your own advocacy diary.
• Provide expert legal advice on complex childcare law to senior management, officers, Cabinet, and committees.
• Take instructions from an experienced in-house legal team and collaborate closely with colleagues across services.
• Lead on identifying legal issues arising from litigation or legislative change, developing effective strategies.
• Draft complex pleadings, reports, and legal submissions.
• Advise on governance, risk, and case management within a public law framework.
• Deliver training to social work clients and legal colleagues, supporting continuous professional development.
• Represent Southwark in external networks, including Local Family Justice Boards and working groups.

What we're looking for

We’re seeking a practical, proactive, and skilled advocate with:

• A current practising certificate as a Solicitor, Barrister, or CILEX Fellow with rights of advocacy
• Strong expertise in public and private childcare law, including child protection, adoption, and fostering
• Significant advocacy experience in contested, fact-finding, and final hearings
• A track record of managing complex cases and delivering high-quality outcomes under pressure
• Excellent drafting, communication, and client care skills
• The ability to build trusted relationships and influence at senior levels and in multi-agency environments
• A collaborative approach and commitment to continuous learning and development

About Southwark Council
Southwark Council is the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues such as The Shard, The Tate Modern and Borough Market along with many social enterprises and we have a young, diverse, and growing population.

At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities.

Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities.

This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative.

We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme
As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role, in which case we will move the key dates for the process. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Closing date: 11 May 2026 @ 23:59
Interview date: W/c 1 June 2026

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