Lawyer (Adults)

£40,452 – £47,885 per annum

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Adult Social Care Lawyer to join our friendly and supportive Legal Services team.

This is an excellent opportunity to work on a varied and rewarding caseload, helping to protect and promote the rights and wellbeing of adults who require care and support. You will play a key role in advising the Council on complex legal matters and supporting frontline services to deliver positive outcomes for vulnerable adults.

You will provide high-quality legal advice and representation across a broad range of adult social care matters, including:

• Care Act 2014 duties and responsibilities
• Adult safeguarding
• Mental Capacity Act 2005 matters
• Court of Protection applications and proceedings
• Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS)
• Human Rights Act and Equality Act considerations
• Ordinary residence.

This position will be subject to a criminal record disclosure check.

Working Pattern:

Full time, 37 hours a week, Monday to Friday, Permanent.

Flexible working can be considered along with remote working within the UK for the right candidate.

What you’ll need to succeed:

We are looking for a qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive who can demonstrate:-

• Significant experience in adult social care law
• Strong knowledge of the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and associated legislation
• Experience of conducting Court of Protection proceedings
• Excellent advocacy, drafting and negotiation skills
• The ability to manage a demanding and varied caseload
• A collaborative approach and commitment to excellent client service

Local government experience would be advantageous but is not essential for candidates with relevant specialist expertise.

What you’ll get in return:

Cornwall Council’s ambition is to be an employer of choice, a high performing Council and a learning organisation. We commit to providing a reward and benefits package to attract, motivate and reward our employees. We offer a range of flexible working options to our staff. This helps provide our employees with a greater work/life balance. Whilst still ensuring that service needs are met.

Our core employee rewards and benefits include:

• A competitive salary.
• A defined benefit pension scheme, based on your career average earnings. This includes the option for extra voluntary contributions.
• A generous annual leave entitlement with the potential to purchase additional leave.
• A national award-winning employee health and wellbeing programme.
• Employee benefits scheme giving employees access to a wide range of discounts to local and national goods and services.

Additional Information:

Cornwall Council is unable to offer sponsorship or transfer existing sponsorship for this role.

For more information or an informal chat about the role please contact Nancy Steer at Nancy.Steer@cornwall.gov.uk

Application Process

Please attach a supporting statement to your application, you can add your Education & Qualifications details manually using the application form timeline or you can upload your CV.

Remember to demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points marked as ‘Application’ on the Role Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had.

Guidance on how to complete your application can be found here – The application process.

We recognise that you may choose to use AI tools when preparing your application. We ask that any information you include is an accurate reflection of your own skills, knowledge, experience and achievements. You may be asked to discuss the examples and evidence you provide during the selection process.

We may adapt our shortlisting approach where we receive a high volume of applications. Any shortlisting decisions will be based on the information provided in your application and the essential requirements of the role.

Please note that applications cannot be edited after they have been submitted, please contact careers@cornwall.gov.uk if you have any queries or require assistance with your application.

Closing date: 15 November 2026

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