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:
  • 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. 
Manchester City Council has grown its team of effective team of lawyers, legal officer and business support team who produce amazing, outstanding results with an enhanced vision for the future.  Aligning ourselves with Children’s Services to deliver safe, efficient, and effective services to families, the enhanced vision is supported by new team structures, an enriched training, mentoring and coaching tool and a new Case Management System.  Highly valued by our clients, our excellent relationships and continual looking for better ways of doing things and achieving greater heights produces an innovative, responsive, inclusive and transparent legal service. 

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.

There is little else in life graver than children being the victims of abuse and serious criminal offending. Children’s Services work in partnership with the police to support victims and the prosecution of serious crime. The legal disclosure team play an integral part in supporting Manchester Children’s Services. You will manage a small team of lawyers, provide complex legal advice to children's services, with a strong understanding of supporting them in all aspects of their statutory functions, but with a key specialist focus on third-party disclosure of social care records to support criminal investigations and the prosecution of serious offences against children.

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
If practising in a supportive public service legal team is the right cultural fit for you, please get in touch for an informal discussion.

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
 For more information about working for Manchester Council, please visit Careers - Manchester City Council 

 

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 

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?

 When You Join Us 

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.

For more information about the role or any adjustments, email jobs@manchester.gov.uk. 

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.
 

Ready to apply?

Location

, , Manchester, , United Kingdom

Job ID

8919

Supporting You Through Every Step of Your Journey

We want every candidate to feel welcomed, informed and confident when applying for a role with us.

This section brings together everything you need to succeed - from guidance on writing an authentic application to understanding how to use AI responsibly.

You’ll also find information about our Greater Manchester commitments, including our inclusive employment schemes and standards, as well as tools to help you explore your potential pay, benefits and entitlements. We’re here to ensure you have the support you need at every stage.

Working for a local authority in Greater Manchester

Local authorities across Greater Manchester are proud to be part of a shared commitment to widening access to employment and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

These commitments span a number of long‑standing schemes and initiatives designed to open doors, remove barriers and ensure all applicants feel valued and respected throughout their employment journey.

Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter

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Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter

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Our Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

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Our Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

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Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment

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Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment

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Greater Manchester People Inclusion Standards

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Greater Manchester People Inclusion Standards

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Your Pay, Your Benefits, Your Future

Explore easy‑to‑use tools that help you understand your take‑home pay and how different employment situations may affect the financial support available to you and your household.

  1. Calculate Your Take‑Home Pay

    Use this salary calculator to estimate your net pay after tax, National Insurance, and pension contributions.

    Estimate your Income Tax for the current year (Gov.uk)

  2. Check Your Benefits Entitlement

    See how changes in employment, hours or salary may affect your benefits and household income.

    Turn2us Benefits Calculator

Applying Authentically With AI: Our Greater Manchester Approach

Across Greater Manchester’s local authorities, we want to hear your genuine experiences, skills and motivations, expressed in your own words.

To keep our recruitment process fair and inclusive, please complete your application personally and follow the instructions carefully. AI can be used to support you - for example, to help structure your answers or as a reasonable adjustment - but your application should still reflect your authentic voice.

Applications that depend too heavily on AI‑generated content may not progress to shortlisting.

This guidance outlines acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI, along with suggestions for using it in a way that supports you while keeping your application true to you.

  1. What Is AI and How Do We Use It Across Greater Manchester?

    AI refers to technology that can create or refine content, such as text, ideas, summaries, or planning. It can help improve productivity, problem-solving, and creativity.

    We’re open to using innovative digital tools where they can help us work smarter and deliver better services for our residents. However, every use of AI is carefully considered to make sure it is ethical, responsible, and aligned with public-sector values.

    When it comes to recruitment, we take a human-centred approach.

    This means:

    • A trained hiring manager reads every application

    • Shortlisting is based on objective criteria required for the job

    • Interviews are conducted in person or via teams by the hiring manager for the role

    • All hiring decisions are made by hiring managers, not algorithms

    AI does not make decisions in our recruitment process and our managers are being upskilled to spot AI in applications, particularly when this might have been used in a way that doesn’t feel genuine. If something in an application raises a question or concern, we will test this out with assessments or at the interview stage to confirm authenticity.

    Our aim isn’t to catch anyone out but to make sure we’re getting to know the real you, giving every candidate a fair chance and finding the right person for the role.

  2. Using AI in Your Application

    When it comes to job applications, what matters most to us is you. We want to see your personality, your experience, and what excites you about joining our team. 

    We recognise that AI can be a helpful tool to support accessibility during the application process. If you choose to use AI for support, please read the instructions carefully and make sure your application is written in your own words, reflecting your genuine skills, knowledge, experience and enthusiasm.

    We’re looking forward to hearing your story.

  3. How to use AI Effectively and Responsibly

    Your application is your chance to show us:

    • Who you are

    • What you can bring

    • The values you hold

    • Why you want to make a difference

    AI can help you organise your thoughts or improve clarity but it cannot express your unique voice, experiences, or motivations.

    AI is most helpful when used to:

    • Help you structure the information you are providing to evidence the criteria

    • Give examples of how to use STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result)

    • Proof-read to highlight grammar or spelling errors

    • Provide inspiration if you're finding it difficult to find the right words to explain something

    But remember: your honesty, lived experience, and motivations are irreplaceable.

  4. Do’s and Don’ts for Using AI in the Recruitment Process

    Do:

    • Use AI as a supportive tool, not a replacement

    • Ask AI to help tidy up your writing or clarify structure

    • Use it to brainstorm examples, then rewrite them in your own voice

    • Reflect on AI suggestions and adapt them to match your experience

    • Use AI to help with research, but express your understanding yourself

    Don’t:

    • Copy and paste AI-generated content directly into your application

    • Let AI exaggerate or invent experience you do not have

    • Rely on generic statements that don’t reflect the specific role requirements

    • Remove your individuality, we want to hear your voice

Stay Safe When Applying

To protect yourself from recruitment scams, please only apply for roles through the official greater.jobs website and associated recruitment systems. We will never ask for your personal information outside of this process.