Senior lawyer housing and litigation

Our client is looking for a Senior Lawyer for their housing department. The role is to provide legal advice on and manage a caseload of housing matters including rent arrears, housing possession, housing fraud, ASB, encroachments/trespass, service charge arrears, disrepair, homelessness including s204 appeals and JR, breach of leasehold covenants and other general debt recovery, including attending Court and undertaking appropriate advocacy.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• To provide expert advice to client departments on housing law and deal with housing possession casework such as matters relating to non-payment of rent, anti-social behaviour, access, unauthorised occupation and including non-occupation, unlawful sub-letting, disrepair, Injunctions (access and ASB), Homelessness, and any other housing matters.
• To appear as an advocate in the county court in respect of non-contested possession matters and other appropriate hearings.
• To deal with breaches of covenant, leasehold service charges recovery, and other debt cases including non-payment of commercial rents.
• To deal with encroachments/trespass on City-owned/managed land.
• To consider and advise upon any appropriate matter arising out of civil proceedings instituted or defended by the Corporation in the County Court, High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court including preparing the necessary papers therefor, instructing and attending upon Counsel or where appropriate appearing as an advocate on behalf of the Corporation.
• Keep up to date with the Housing Law and advise clients and other colleagues through pro-active advice, training and briefing materials.
• Undertake research upon legal questions arising from the work of team including, where necessary, briefing counsel and/or consultants and instructing experts.
• To ensure continuous improvements within the area of expertise, and that the service is responsive to the changing environment.
• Maintain high standards of client care by developing and maintaining effective relationship with clients and assisting legal staff. This includes responding to clients in a timely fashion and keeping them informed of the progress of matters.
• Maintain high standards of files and record management including ensuring that file checklists are up to date, key dates are recorded, files contain an adequate audit trail and legal documents are processed appropriately.
• To work collaboratively and provide legal and technical support to other fee earners as required including working in a team on special projects, and otherwise fulfilling the role of senior lawyer.
• To support the development and delivery of the Corporation plan strategies, policies and departmental projects that secure the achievement of key service and Corporation objectives.

Minimum Requirements

• Be qualified solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive, or with equivalent civil litigation skills, knowledge and experience.
• Have good knowledge of all aspects of housing litigation law (including rent arrears, ASB, gas service access, disrepair, homelessness, Injunctions (access and ASB), leasehold service charges, leasehold covenants) especially in relation to public sector housing.
• Have good knowledge of debt recovery and insolvency procedures.
• Have good knowledge of the fundamentals of contract law.
• Have knowledge of the Housing Act 1985 and associated regulations.
• Have knowledge of the Civil Procedure Rules.

Skills Required

• Proven experience of an ability to undertake a caseload of routine and more complex matters to LEXEL standards in respect of all aspects of housing litigation and debt recovery, and all other categories of legal work.
• Excellent written skills in order to provide accurate and effective written advice on more complex litigation matters.
• Excellent communication skills in order to advise clients on more complex litigation matters and undertake advocacy on behalf of the Corporation, when appropriate.
• Strong client relationship management skills.
• Strong negotiation and presentation skills.
• Excellent skills in legal research and analysis, and in communicating advice appropriately.
• Skills and abilities to prioritise work and meet deadlines and work well under pressure.
• Excellent organisation skills in order to manage a varied caseload of legal work and time well.
• Excellent IT skills and ability.
• Flexibility as to range of legal work undertaken.
• Ability and motivation to develop own skills.
• Ability to travel and attend Court/Tribunals as required.