SEND Lawyer

Use your legal expertise to make a real difference for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

The Service and Team

You’ll join a supportive and purpose-driven legal team working closely with SEND, Education and Children’s Services. Together, you’ll help make sure decisions are fair, lawful and focused on what’s best for children and families.
Our team provides specialist legal advice across education, SEND and aspects of social care. We play an important role in helping the Council meet its duties under the Children and Families Act 2014 and related legislation, ensuring children and young people receive the support they need.  You’ll work alongside experienced colleagues and have opportunities to build your expertise and contribute to improving how we deliver our services.

The Role
As a Lawyer, you will manage your own mixed caseload of SEND matters, providing clear, practical legal advice and representation.
 

You will:
•    Provide legal advice on SEND law and related education matters, including EHC assessments, plans, annual reviews and placement decisions, supporting the Council to meet its statutory duties
•    Represent the Council at SEND Tribunal proceedings, including preparing case statements, working documents, witness evidence, bundles and advocacy at hearings
•    Manage your caseload effectively, ensuring compliance with Tribunal directions, statutory deadlines and Court orders
•    Advise on complex and sensitive matters, supporting lawful, fair and robust decision-making
•    Build effective working relationships with council teams, schools, external professionals, legal representatives and partner agencies
•    Support the Senior Lawyer in supervising and supporting junior members of the team
•    Liaise with support staff to ensure the efficient progression and management of cases
•    Maintain accurate case records and contribute to shared guidance, precedents and best practice
 

This is a public/customer-facing role, where the statutory English language requirement for public sector workers applies.      

This position will be subject to a basic or standard criminal record disclosure check. 

Why You Should Join Us:
Joining Cornwall Council means more than just working in a legal role, it’s a chance to build a fulfilling career with opportunities for growth and progression. We offer a flexible, supportive environment with a focus on both professional development and work-life balance. Whether through hybrid working options or flexible working hours, we ensure our team members can manage both their personal and professional commitments effectively.

Don’t worry if you don’t have local government experience as we’ll give you the support you need to excel with us. By joining us, you will be at the forefront of building on our excellent children’s legal services for Cornwall, working collaboratively with dedicated colleagues while advancing your career in a supportive environment.

As one of the largest unitary authorities in the UK, you'll be contributing to a wider team that ensures Cornwall has a strong and united voice when engaging with national government, regional agencies, and partner organisations.

Working Pattern
We are recruiting 2 Lawyers on a permanent, full-time basis, with flexible working and hours considered. The roles are fully remote for candidates based outside of Cornwall, or hybrid working for those living within reasonable commuting distance of our Truro office.

What you’ll need to Succeed:
•    A qualified solicitor (or equivalent) with experience in children’s law, or an interest in developing in this area 
•    Experience managing a complex caseload 
•    Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain legal issues clearly 
•    Good organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities 
•    A collaborative approach and commitment to team working 
•    The ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines

What you’ll get in return:

Cornwall Council’s ambition is to be an employer of choice, a high performing Council and a learning organisation. We commit to providing a reward and benefits package to attract, motivate and reward our employees. We offer a range of flexible working options to our staff. This helps provide our employees with a greater work/life balance. Whilst still ensuring that service needs are met. 

Our core employee rewards and benefits include:
•    a competitive salary.
•    a defined benefit pension scheme, based on your career average earnings. This includes the option for extra voluntary contributions.
•    a generous annual leave entitlement.
•    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.

Additional Information:
Cornwall Council is unable to offer visa sponsorship or transfer existing sponsorship for this role.

Please see the role profile for full details attached here. 
We recommend saving a copy of this to refer to if you are invited to an interview.

For more information or an informal chat about the role please contact Samantha Wright Samantha Wright Samantha Wright Samantha.Wright@cornwall.gov.uk and Alison White alison.white@cornwall.gov.uk

Application Process

Please attach a supporting statement to your application, you can add your Education & Qualifications details manually using the application form timeline or you can upload your CV. Remember to demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points marked as ‘Application’ on the Role Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. Guidance on how to complete your application can be found here – The application process.

Please note that applications cannot be edited after they have been submitted, please contact careers@cornwall.gov.uk if you have any queries or require assistance with your application.