Principal Legal officer - Grade PO

Job title: Principal Legal Officer (PO4) (Social Care Legal)
Salary: PO4 £ 46,142 - £49,282
Hours: Full Time – 37 hours per week
Contract
:
Permanent
Location: Leeds City Centre

This is a rolling advert, however applications will be shortlisted at the end of each month

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 full time Principal Legal Officer (PO4) to practise primarily in the area of Children’s Social Care Law.

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 Principal Legal officer (PO4), you will bring to the role:

• good interpersonal skills,
• ability to prioritise your own workload,
• manage a personal caseload,
• act as an advocate in contested hearings and work to tight court deadlines (with more complex advice and advocacy being dealt with by higher grade officers)
• be able to work as part of a team and be flexible, enthusiastic and committed.

About the role
You will undertake a substantial personal caseload of legal professional work in the area of Children’s Social Care.

As our next Principal Legal officer (PO4), you’ll actively support the delivery of the Council’s strategic objectives as set out in the Best City Ambition.

The role is integral to our Social Care Legal team. You will be supported by an experienced team of Principal legal Officers (PO6), Legal Officers and Legal Assistants; with supervision and management by a Team Leader. The section comprises of a mix of PLO posts, with allocation of work accordingly.

This position would suit a newly qualified solicitor or Legal Executive (with advocacy certificate (family). Previous experience of child care law would be welcomed but not essential.

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
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

Complete online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.

Closing date for applications: 2 March 2026.

Interviews shall take place periodically in the month following each round of shortlisting.

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 visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria.

Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose: The section covers the following areas of work:
Childrens Social Care Law. The postholder will provide a high quality, value for money legal service, which actively supports the delivery of the Council’s strategic objectives as set out in the Leeds Ambitions. The post holder would be expected to deal with advice and contested hearings, with more complex advice and advocacy being dealt with by higher graded officers.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Undertake a substantial personal caseload of legal professional work primarily in the…