Trainee Solicitor

Job Introduction

Trainee Lawyers – Education, Employment & Prosecutions (specifically SEN) Team and Childcare Team

Fixed term contract for Two Years 

Starting August/September 2026

Salary: £30024 - £32597

Location: Lincoln (Hybrid)

Job closes: 17th June 2026

Interviews: 2nd & 3rd July 2026

About the Roles

LSL are actively planning for the future lawyers within local government in the areas of Education, Employment and Prosecutions (specifically in the area of Special Educational Needs (SEN)) and the Childcare Departments. 

As part of this process we are looking for two Trainee Solicitors who have a keen interest in these dynamic and fascinating areas of legal practice and someone who is interested in practising in these areas of law in the future. 

You will be working within a friendly and supportive team environment where your professional development will be nurtured and appreciated.

For the SEN Trainee role, you will be involved with appeals to the SEN Tribunal, including advice and preparation of the appeals along with advocacy at the Tribunal itself.  The role will also provide an opportunity to be involved in wider advice to the SEND Team, including training of caseworkers.

Within the Childcare Trainee role, you will be involved with advising Children’s Services across the County on all aspects of Child Safeguarding, both pre-proceedings and within Court Proceedings. You will also have the opportunity to develop your skills in other aspects of Children law, such as Adoption, some elements of Private Law Children Proceedings (where there is the involvement of Children’s Services) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards for under 18’s. 

Accordingly, we are looking to primarily grow our own Special Educational Needs and Childcare lawyer, so a significant part of the training contract will be within those areas of practice. The successful candidate will therefore be required to demonstrate advocacy skills and a willingness to undertake advocacy.

However, in order to comply with the Law Society requirements, the successful candidate will not be based exclusively in the Education, Employment & Prosecutions or Childcare teams and will have an opportunity to gain substantial pre-qualification experience in other areas of contentious and non-contentious Local Government legal practice with the aim of developing public sector lawyers with a strong working knowledge of the practice of law in local government.

About You

We are looking for candidates who will have commenced or completed their LPC at the time of commencing the training contract or are eligible and committed to qualifying via the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) route. 

From the commencement of your training contract you will be a fee earner within our practice. You will have a strong academic record, be organised and committed, with good communication and inter-personal skills with an interest in pursuing a career in local government.

We will provide you with excellent training and support, the opportunity to take on responsibility from an early stage (including advocacy) and strong foundations for your future career. 

About Us

Legal Services Lincolnshire is a local authority shared legal practice providing a full range of legal services to local authorities and public bodies. The main areas of our work include public law, property, highways and planning, commercial, adult care, prosecutions, civil litigation and childcare.

We are organised as a trading unit following private practice disciplines and with LEXCEL accreditation.

What can we offer you?

As well as the satisfaction of helping improve thousands of lives across Lincolnshire, you can look forward to an environment that encourages a healthy balance between your work life and your personal life. You will also enjoy a generous annual leave entitlement and membership of the excellent Local Government Pension Scheme. In addition, you can choose from a number of staff benefits and discount schemes.

Closing date for applications: 17th June 2026

Interview date: 2nd and/or 3rd July 2026

For further information on post contact Leigh Middleton, Principal Lawyer, 07825 357875

Due to recent changes in immigration law in the UK we are unable to offer skilled worker visa sponsorship for this role as it does not meet the requirements.

If you would like an open and informal discussion regards this role then please contact; Leigh Middleton via email Leigh.Middleton@lincolnshire.gov.uk

PLEASE NOTE: It is imperative that your personal statement clearly states why you have applied, how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role as set out in the Job Description (attached on LCC jobs Site) and what you feel you can bring to this role, the team and the wider County Council.

Please refer to our Job Information Pack here to support you in your application.

On occasion we receive significantly more applications than expected for some vacancies and under such circumstances we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date of the advertisement. We therefore strongly advise you to apply for the role promptly to avoid disappointment should the closing date be brought forward. Please also note: once an application is submitted it is final and cannot be amended. If you withdraw your application, it cannot be reinstated and you will not be able to submit another application for that vacancy. If you have an issue with your submitted application, please contact recruitment@lincolnshire.gov.uk.

We operate a talent pool scheme whereby candidates who are not successful on this occasion may be considered for a period of up to 3 months for equal positions.

Lincolnshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

A Smarter Working Employer

We have embraced new ways of working and hybrid working will be a feature of this role. You will be given a nominated contractual work base and you will be required to commute to this work base when necessary.  Working arrangements regarding hybrid working will be discussed as part of the appointment process.

Our technology platform and equipment is very good enabling you to connect and collaborate remotely. We require that you have in place good connectivity, and we will discuss during the recruitment process if support with this is needed.

Our values – collaborative, adaptable, eco-conscious, supportive, and responsible – guide everything we do. We’re looking for candidates who share these values and bring them to life in their work, helping us build strong teams and make a real difference in the communities we serve.