Location – Working on a hybrid-remote basis from our Huntingdon office.

Contract Type – Permanent – Full Time (37 hours)

Salary – £36,212.88 – £43,395.60 (plus management allowance of £1480.92 per annum)

Principal Paralegal – Childcare Team

We are seeking a dedicated Principal Paralegal to join our dynamic Childcare Team, supporting vital legal work that protects vulnerable children and families. This is a rewarding opportunity to work alongside experienced solicitors in a fast-paced environment where your work directly contributes to safeguarding children and supporting families through complex legal processes.

The successful candidate will have strong organisational skills, excellent attention to detail, and a genuine passion for public law. You will play a key role in managing case preparation, supporting solicitors, and ensuring matters progress efficiently through the legal process.

This role also includes management and mentoring responsibilities within the paralegal team. You will help develop junior colleagues by sharing knowledge, providing guidance on casework, and supporting their professional development. Encouraging a collaborative and supportive team environment will be central to the role.

Supporting others to build their skills and confidence is an important and rewarding part of the position, helping to strengthen the team and ensure the highest standard of service for children and families.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is passionate about public law and committed to developing both their career and those around them.

Who are we?

We are a large team, made up of around 50 lawyers and paralegals of all types and length of qualification. We have team members who have been with us for over 25 years and newly qualified lawyers who have just joined us. We are passionate and dedicated, always ready to help each other out and discuss cases to find a solution. We love working together and developing each other’s knowledge and abilities. We are committed to staff development, training and career progression opportunities. Our supportive team is our strength and we’re ready to welcome you into it.

What do we do?

The Childcare team deals with all types of child protection work for its shareholder local authorities and other clients, including:

• Care Proceedings, including representation in Court
• Pre-proceedings (PLO) work
• Advice in relation to Deprivation of Liberties
• Advice in relation to contact
• Adoption proceedings
• Advice on Local Authorities’ duties and responsibilities
• Advice to Local Authorities in relation to private law proceedings
• Advice in relation to children becoming looked after, ceasing to become looked after and any issues arising

The Childcare team also advise clients on process and improvements that can be made and provide duty advice to the client on a rota basis. Members of the team sit on Local Family Justice Boards, advise Safeguarding Children Local Partnerships, Adoption and Fostering Panels and Agency Decision Makers. We also provide training for clients and for the team.

The work is exciting, varied and interesting. Recently, the team has been involved in a number of reported cases and has represented the Local Authority on cases which have been considered by the Court of Appeal. No two days are ever the same!

For a copy of the Full Job Description. please click here.

Pathfinder Legal Benefits

• • Local Government Pensions Scheme – considered to be one of the best employer contribution rates.
  • Flexible working arrangements – we offer flexible hours and hybrid working which allows for remote working but we also require regular office attendance with the aim to give everyone a balanced work/life ratio.
  • Family Friendly policies including excellent Maternity, Paternity and Adoption entitlements.
  • An exceptional Employee Assistance Program which helps supports employees with workplace changes as well as other work, family and personal issues.
  • Cycle To Work scheme.
  • A generous minimum annual leave entitlement of 25 days, rising on 5 and 10 years service, plus public holidays. With the option to purchase more annual leave.

  Closing date for applications Friday 27th March @ midday.

  To apply for this position please send your CV and a covering letter explaining how you meet the Person Specification to recruitment@pathfinderlegal.co.uk. When applying, please quote reference ‘CHI-118′.