Why Southwark?
Step into a role where your expertise can help shape the future of Adult Social Care. Southwark Council’s Safeguarding and Community Services Legal Team is now hiring an ambitious Assistant Adult Social Care Lawyer.
By joining us, you will be at the heart of legal decisions that protect the most vulnerable, and be part of life changing litigation, steering the direction of services that touch many adult lives every day.
Here, your legal expertise won’t just resolve cases, it can help drive meaningful change within a council committed to excellence, collaboration and bold ambition for Adult Social Services.

WHY THIS ROLE STANDS OUT:

• Impact with meaning: Your advice directly influences life‑changing decisions for vulnerable adults and their families.
• Grow where you’re valued: Work with a close‑knit, progressive legal team that invests in your development and gives you space and support to thrive.
• Do law with edge: Handle, real-world cases where local government meets cutting-edge legal challenges.
  What You’ll Be Doing

You’ll be at the forefront of providing first-class, cost-effective legal advice to the Adult Social Care team, making sure every decision meets the highest standards of good governance. Key responsibilities include:

• Delivering a high-quality, sustainable legal service in line with statutory and contractual obligations.
• Managing your own caseload of less complex adult social care matters under minimal supervision, drafting documents, responding to correspondence and advising at meetings.
• Preparing cases for courts, tribunals and inquests, with the possibility of undertaking advocacy where appropriate.
• Supporting senior lawyers with initial case reviews, investigations, research and case preparation.
• Researching legal questions and providing clear, practical briefings to clients, colleagues and counsel.
• Driving continuous improvement in your area of expertise, ensuring the service stays responsive in a changing environment.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for a practical, proactive Lawyer who brings a blend of the following:

• A qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of CILEx with a current (or eligible) practising certificate.
• Knowledge of the law in relation to vulnerable adults – including community care, mental health, Court of Protection, no recourse to public funds and children leaving care services.
• Understanding of good governance and local government, human rights and equalities legislation.
• Experience working in a legal service or practice, confident with legal research tools and case management systems.
• A clear commitment to continuing professional development and staying at the leading edge of your field.
• Track record of proactive case management with the ability to deliver solutions under pressure and to work as part of a team.
• Experience of drafting legal documents and responding to pre action correspondence.

Additional Information

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you’ll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• 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 health condition