Job title: Legal Assistant (B1) (Social Care Legal)
Salary: B1 £25,185 - £25,989 pro rata
Hours: Part Time (22 hours per week)
Contract: Permanent
Location: Leeds City Centre
Leeds City Council is a progressive authority which works closely with local communities and businesses to create a vibrant and economically thriving city.
We serve an outstanding Children’s & Families Department, and seek a legal officer to be based in the Social Care Legal section.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
About you
As a Legal Assistant (B1), you will bring to the role:
- ability to prioritise and organise a demanding workload,
- ability to meet strict deadlines,
- ability to work flexibly as part of a team,
- ability to communicate effectively,
- possess excellent IT skills and understand and assimilate new information quickly,
- have a minimum of 4 GCSEs (grades 4-9) or equivalent, including maths and English.
About the role
You will work closely supporting the Principal Legal Officers, Senior Legal and Legal Officers to undertake legal professional work, primarily in the area of Children’s Social Care law. The role includes amongst other tasks;
- providing general legal administrative support,
- operating and maintaining information, case management and monitoring systems, records and files,
- arranging for filing and serving of legal and other documents,
- dealing with routine correspondence,
- preparing electronic court bundles,
- attending court with counsel, solicitors or other representatives where necessary,
- liaising with other agencies, stakeholders, court staff, parties, witnesses, and advisers.
The role is integral to our Social Care Legal team. You will be supported by an experienced team of Principal Legal Officers, Senior Legal and Legal Officers; with supervision and management by a Team Leader.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
- a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
- continuing professional development opportunities
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Upload your CV and complete a personal statement of no more than 500 words.
Read our guidancefor further advice on completing your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role contact Safeena Koshar (Team Leader) on 0113 3789101 or in her absence Rebecca Roberts (Section Head) on tel:0113 3789134 or email at safeena.koshar@leeds.gov.uk or rebecca.roberts@leeds.gov.uk
Closing date for applications:5th Janaury 2026 at 11:59pm
Interviews will take place during: tbc
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description
Job Purpose: Working as part of a team to carry out legal administrative duties and work, particularly electronic bundling, in support of Social Care (Legal) within Legal Services; the post-holder will model the Council’s values and behaviours in order to help us achieve our ambition of being the best council in the country.
Responsibilities for Grade:
- To provide general legal administrative support to the Principal Legal Officers and Legal Officers, to including the following
- To operate and maintain information, case management and monitoring systems, records and files (including computer systems).
- To operate and maintain information, case management and monitoring systems, records and files (including computer systems).
- To arrange for the serving and filing of legal and other documents.
- To deal with routine correspondence and produce standard and routine letters.
- To produce clerical and administrative support as required (including filing, complex photocopying, document processing, telephone, and electronic mail messages, local deliveries) and monitoring records.
- To prepare electronic court bundles.
- Counsel, Solicitors and other representatives where this is deemed necessary by the Team Leaders in consultation with the Section Head.
- To liaise on behalf of other staff with the Courts, other agencies and persons involved in Court and other proceedings, including parties, witnesses, and advisers.
- To participate in appraisal, training, and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills
- To improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
- To work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
- Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
- Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the values, standards, and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.
- The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Qualifications
Minimum of 4 G.C.S.E’s (9-4) or equivalent including Maths and English.
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION: Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate.
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.
Skills Required
- Ability to prioritise and organise a demanding workload within a busy office.
- Ability to work within strict deadlines, whilst maintaining accuracy and professionalism.
- Ability to work flexibly as part of a team.
- Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people at different levels inside and outside the Council.
- Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people at different levels inside and outside the Council.
- Possess IT skills with the ability to develop these skills, learning new systems quickly.
- Ability to understand and assimilate new information quickly.
- Ability to work with a minimum of supervision within a supportive environment and to show initiative.
- Ability to produce to a professional standard a range of correspondence and documents.
- Ability to deal with sensitive and confidential information in an appropriate manner.
Knowledge Required
- An understanding of procedures and practices relating to the recording, storage and disposal of confidential information.
Experience Required
- Experience of using computers and software applications including Microsoft Office.
Behavioural & other Characteristics required
- To demonstrate the council’s values, behaviours and manager habits in all aspects of your day to day work.
- Positively promote the equalities agenda.
- To carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under the Council’s Health & Safety Policies and Code of Conduct.
- To take ownership of your personal development planning and be willing to actively participate in learning and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge and skills
DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS: It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role. Candidates are not required to meet all the Desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.
Knowledge Required
- Knowledge of office procedures and practice.
Experience Required
- Experience of working in a legal office.
- Experience of working in a local authority.
- Experience of workin in a busy office environment.
