Principal Lawyer (Children and Families Disclosure Team)
Manchester Area, United Kingdom Full-time Posted 1 hour ago
Working hours: 35 hours per week
Contract type: Temporary for 12 months
Working style: Hybrid - Employees split their time between working remotely (e.g., from home) and working on-site (e.g., in an office).
Closing date: 11.59pm, 11 October 2026
Interview method: in person
Applicants must have existing right to work in the UK, as visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
This Role Is Subject To
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
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 and Salford 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.
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
You will be able to demonstrate that you have acquired the following skills with examples from your career so far:
Working for Manchester City Council is a chance to make a real difference in a diverse city that leads change and improves lives. Whether you’re supporting communities or improving public services, you’ll help create opportunities and shape a better future for everyone
Benefits We Offer
Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council values equality and works to provide a fair and inclusive environment for a workforce that is as diverse as the communities it serves. We want to further increase the diversity of our workforce, in particular the number of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and disabled staff at all levels of the Council. This advert is open to all applicants, and we would particularly welcome applications from candidates identifying with one or both of those characteristics.
Guaranteed Assessment Scheme
Requirements
We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:
We’re a Disability Confident Employer, Offering
What We Will Need From You If You're Successful
In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.
Other Relevant Information
We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.
For more information about the role, please ensure that you read the role profile attached.
GM Elevate Programme
If you have completed the GM Elevate( Leadership Development) Programme within the last two years, please indicate this within the 'Personal Statement' section or 'Supporting Statement' section of your application.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
Accessible Formats
Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.
Calculate your take home pay. Use this service to estimate how much Income Tax and National Insurance you should pay for the current tax year.
Privacy Notice
Contract type: Temporary for 12 months
Working style: Hybrid - Employees split their time between working remotely (e.g., from home) and working on-site (e.g., in an office).
Closing date: 11.59pm, 11 October 2026
Interview method: in person
Applicants must have existing right to work in the UK, as visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
This Role Is Subject To
- Legal right to Work: In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment.
- 2 References - where possible we require 3 years' history.
- Qualification - Solicitor, Barrister (with authorisation to conduct litigation) or CILEX (with practising rights)
- 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.
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.
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 and Salford 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.
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
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
Working for Manchester City Council is a chance to make a real difference in a diverse city that leads change and improves lives. Whether you’re supporting communities or improving public services, you’ll help create opportunities and shape a better future for everyone
Benefits We Offer
- Up to 26 days’ annual leave, rising to 31 days after five years’ service
- Buy up to two extra weeks’ leave
- Up to 3 days’ volunteering leave
- A 35-hour work week for full-time roles
- We review pay each year and recognise three trade unions
- The UK’s largest local government pension scheme
- Enhanced parental and carers leave
- Employee discounts and perks
- Good Employment Charter member
Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council values equality and works to provide a fair and inclusive environment for a workforce that is as diverse as the communities it serves. We want to further increase the diversity of our workforce, in particular the number of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and disabled staff at all levels of the Council. This advert is open to all applicants, and we would particularly welcome applications from candidates identifying with one or both of those characteristics.
Guaranteed Assessment Scheme
Requirements
We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:
- 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 condition
- Have you completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme or any MCC positive action programmes?
We’re a Disability Confident Employer, Offering
- A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
- Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
- A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.
What We Will Need From You If You're Successful
In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.
Other Relevant Information
We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.
For more information about the role, please ensure that you read the role profile attached.
GM Elevate Programme
If you have completed the GM Elevate( Leadership Development) Programme within the last two years, please indicate this within the 'Personal Statement' section or 'Supporting Statement' section of your application.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
Accessible Formats
Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.
Calculate your take home pay. Use this service to estimate how much Income Tax and National Insurance you should pay for the current tax year.
Privacy Notice
