[Hiring] Senior Lawyer @Cornwall Council

Role Description

Join our Adult Social Care legal team and play a vital role in supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. Working at the heart of local government, you'll provide specialist legal advice that enables the Council to meet its statutory responsibilities and deliver high-quality services to adults with care and support needs.

Our team works closely with Adult Social Care professionals, senior leaders, health partners and external agencies to provide practical, solution-focused legal support across a wide range of matters. These include:

• Safeguarding
• Mental Capacity Act matters
• Court of Protection proceedings
• Deprivation of liberty
• Community care law
• Other complex issues affecting adults who require support and protection

This is an opportunity to join a collaborative and highly regarded legal service where your expertise will directly contribute to positive outcomes for residents while helping to manage legal risk and promote best practice across the organisation.

The Role:

Lead on Complex Legal Matters That Change Lives

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Senior Adult Social Care Lawyer to join our Legal Services team. This is an exciting opportunity for a specialist lawyer to take a leading role in delivering high-quality legal advice across a broad range of adult social care matters. You will work at the heart of public service, supporting the Council to meet its statutory duties while safeguarding the rights, wellbeing and independence of vulnerable adults.

As a senior member of the team, you will:

• Manage a varied and complex caseload of adult social care matters.
• Advise on responsibilities arising under the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and related legislation.
• Conduct and oversee Court of Protection proceedings.
• Advise on Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), safeguarding enquiries and best interests decisions.
• Represent the Council in courts, tribunals and hearings as appropriate.
• Support strategic decision-making by providing clear, pragmatic legal advice to senior managers and members.
• Supervise and mentor junior lawyers and legal support staff.
• Contribute to service improvement, policy development and corporate projects.

We're looking for a qualified legal professional with experience of adult social care law and a strong understanding of the legislative framework governing local authorities. You'll be confident managing complex cases, providing expert legal advice and building trusted relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

In return, you'll have the opportunity to work on meaningful and rewarding cases that make a real difference to people's lives, while developing your career within a supportive and forward-thinking legal service.

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive
• Substantial experience in adult social care law

Requirements

• Significant post-qualification experience in adult social care law.
• Excellent knowledge of the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, Human Rights Act 1998 and related legislation.
• Experience of handling complex Court of Protection matters.
• Strong advocacy, drafting and negotiation skills.
• The ability to provide clear, practical advice on complex and sensitive issues.
• Experience of supervising, mentoring or supporting colleagues.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Local government experience is desirable, although applications from candidates with relevant specialist experience from other sectors are welcomed.

Benefits

• A competitive salary.
• A defined benefit pension scheme, based on your career average earnings, including 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.