Lawyer - Adults

Do meaningful Court of Protection work, with the support and flexibility lawyers often say they’re missing.

This is an opportunity to join Dorset Council’s Adult Care Legal team and build genuine expertise in adult social care law, including Court of Protection work, within a culture that prioritises manageable caseloads, development and wellbeing.

What you will be doing

You will provide high-quality legal advice across adult social care matters, supporting decisions that directly affect vulnerable adults and their families. You will manage your own caseload with appropriate supervision, draft legal documents, advise colleagues and partners, and conduct or respond to Court of Protection proceedings where required.

Hybrid working

We operate a clear and consistent hybrid model. The team attends the office once a week on a set day, Tuesday, to share learning, discuss case law, allocate new work and support one another. The remainder of the week can be worked remotely, subject to service need.

Part-time working will also be considered.

Caseload and support

We are transparent about workload. Caseloads are monitored and discussed regularly to ensure they remain manageable and appropriate to experience. If demand increases, this is addressed through team planning and supervision, not left to individuals to absorb.

You will have:

•  a formal one-to-one every four weeks
• agreed short, medium and long-term objectives
• clear supervision and access to senior legal colleagues
• regular review of workload and complexity

You will not be expected to manage cases outside your competence without support.

Development and progression

There is a clear progression pathway within the legal service. We actively encourage internal and external training, with monthly review of development needs. This may include specialist Court of Protection training, development across other legal areas, and funded external courses where appropriate.

We are committed to supporting lawyers to deepen expertise, broaden experience and, if desired, progress into more senior or leadership roles in the future.

Health and wellbeing

We recognise the pressures of legal practice. Health and wellbeing are treated as a priority. We take a professional and human approach to performance, understanding the impact of personal circumstances and providing practical support where needed.

About you

You will be a qualified lawyer with experience of managing a varied caseload and delivering clear written and verbal advice. You will have working knowledge of adult social care legislation, including the Care Act 2014, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Mental Health Act 1983, or the ability and motivation to develop this quickly.

You will value collaboration, supervision and shared learning, and be motivated by work that safeguards fundamental human rights and has a meaningful impact on people’s lives.

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:

We are a values-driven organisation, committed to creating a fairer, more prosperous and sustainable Dorset. In our Adult Care Legal team, you will find:

•  a supportive and knowledgeable group of colleagues
• interesting, varied and impactful work
• flexibility and trust
• genuine investment in your development

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you are looking for high-quality Court of Protection work, without unmanageable caseloads or lack of supervision, we would welcome your application.

Find out more about how to apply.