Lawyer

Overview

We have a fantastic opportunity for an Adult Social Care Lawyer to join our in-house Legal Services team at Buckinghamshire Council.

Are you committed to making a difference? Do you want the work you do to have a real impact for the local community? Are you looking for an opportunity to develop your career to undertake varied and complex case work?

The salary advertised for this role is dependent on experience. We have a full-time post available, however, we would consider applications for part-time work. Please note if you are working part-time the salary would be pro-rata.

This is a fixed term/secondment opportunity for 6 months.

About us

Legal Services is at the heart of the Organisation and provides a fast paced and rewarding career in a supportive environment. Career development is something we are passionate about; we are committed to building an exceptional in-house Legal Service, utilising our colleagues talent and making the most of what they have to offer.

This is an exciting time to join us, as we continue to grow and develop our service. The recently redesigned in-house legal service is expanding to support the varied work of this diverse authority and to provide a wider range of in-house specialism.

Please click here to find out further information on our Legal Services: https://buckinghamshire.pagetiger.com/legal-services/1

‘We have a large legal service covering a wide range of Local Authority law and legal practice. There is great support from management and the wider team and we have a long-established and highly productive working relationship with our adult social care client team. Our work is varied and interesting, covering all aspects of adult social care law. The team is stable, and colleagues are genuinely welcoming and work collaboratively’ - Glynis Shepherd, Team Leader.

If that’s not enough reason to join us, you will be entitled to a range of benefits from Buckinghamshire Council including a very competitive employer pension contribution, generous annual leave allowance and discounts in a range of services and restaurants.

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.  

About the role

We are seeking an Adult Social Care lawyer who is able to offer proactive, innovative and customer-focussed advice. You will work collaboratively with colleagues and our client departments to deliver the Council’s statutory functions.

We offer a vibrant and stimulating legal environment, fostering a culture of learning and knowledge sharing.  We aim to inspire and develop our in-house lawyers to be leaders in their field.  Our in-house lawyers take pride in their professional approach and the quality of the service provided.  These roles are an opportunity for lawyers who share that ethos to join a team which provides a pathway to a dynamic and rewarding professional future.

Key Accountabilities 

• To have conduct of legal files on behalf of Buckinghamshire Council and provide advice, representation and undertake research as required in relation to adult social care including advising on the Council’s responsibilities in respect of adults with support needs, Court of Protection, community care, adult safeguarding and judicial review work.
• To attend meetings and court to advise officers and members in a proactive and politically sensitive manner and uphold the highest standards of client care.
• To give guidance, mentor and give training to less experienced team members and to contribute to the development of the team of specialist lawyers. 

For further information on this role please see the attached job summary.

About you

We welcome applications from Solicitors, Barristers and Legal Executives with standalone practice rights who have experience of advising in relation to adult social care matters including mental capacity and DoLs, court of protection work, judicial reviews, ordinary residence queries, and other matters relating to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults. 

Naturally, you’ll be highly motivated and proactive.  Whether you are newly qualified or have significant experience of adult social care work built from a career in the public or private sector, we are interested to hear.

Other information

Please see the attached job summary for further information on this role and person specification.

Any-Desk:

As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements.

Number of positions available: 1

Closing date: 30th July 2026

Interview date: TBC

Interview-type / process: In person

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact: Glynis Shepherd on (01296) 674764 or [email protected]

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

a fair and inclusive culture

• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

 

About the Business Unit

The Assistant Chief Executive directorate is central to Buckinghamshire Council’s journey to establish itself as one of the best councils in the country. With a clear focus on service improvement through transformation and a drive to build better relationships with the local community, the directorate is fast-paced; but extremely rewarding. Our teams are not only proactively delivering on projects and plans but also reacting to developing situations. If you are ambitious, innovative, and would relish the opportunity to influence change - a role within our service area could be your next career move.

The team includes exciting areas of work, including our Policy and Communications, Legal and Democratic Services teams – innovating the way we communicate with our colleagues, Members and the local community, and role-modelling best practice through policy, planning and legal services. If you think you can help us achieve our goals, and want to be a part of this exciting journey, we would love to hear from you!

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/