Paralegal in Norwich

We’re building thriving communities as one of the UK’s largest housing groups and a leading developer of affordable housing. We believe everyone is entitled to a good home they can afford, in a place they are proud to live. More than 100,000 people live in our homes. If you want to experience work that’s truly rewarding, join us. Because when we achieve together, customers and communities thrive.

The role

Orbit are delighted to be recruiting for a Paralegal (Disrepair) to join us in this brand new role, supporting a growing and developing team. To support the In-House Counsel (Disrepair) in managing Orbit’s housing disrepair caseload by assisting with case preparation, documentation, litigation support and administrative tasks, helping to ensure claims are managed efficiently and in accordance with regulatory obligations, risks are mitigated and residents receive timely and appropriate outcomes.

The successful candidate in the role will have prior experience of working within a legal environment and owning projects, and will have either an LPC or SQE qualification. You will need to have access to transport and be willing and able to travel to all Orbit locations as required, with an element of home working included subject to business need. This role is part of Regulatory & Governance where you'll help us give colleagues the support and expertise they need to be brilliant.

Interview process

We will be shortlisting for this role on the 5th of January and inviting successful candidates on that day to an in-person interview on the 9th of January at our Garden Court, Coventry office.

What you'll achieve

• Assist the In-House Counsel (Disrepair) with the day-to-day management of housing disrepair claims from receipt through to resolution.
• Support the preparation of pre-action correspondence, disclosure bundles, instructions to experts and court documentation.
• Maintain accurate case records and documentation within the legal case management system.
• Liaise with internal teams including housing management, repairs, assets and customer services to gather information and evidence relevant to disrepair claims.
• Assist in reviewing inspection reports, repair histories and other documentation required for litigation or settlement discussions.
• Prepare draft correspondence, basic legal documents and summaries for review by the In-House Counsel (Disrepair).
• Assist with the management of pre-action and court deadlines and procedural timetables.
• Support the monitoring and tracking of disrepair claims data, trends and outcomes.
• Assist with the coordination of external solicitors, experts and counsel where required.
• Contribute to the maintenance and development of legal templates, guidance notes and internal processes relating to disrepair claims.
• Promote a proactive and early resolution approach to disrepair issues wherever possible.

What you'll bring

Essential skills

• Law degree (LLB or equivalent).
• Existing understanding of the civil litigation process in England and Wales.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Ability to manage time wisely and prioritise tasks.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with non-legal colleagues.
• High attention to detail and ability to work accurately with legal documentation.
• Strong IT skills including Microsoft Office and case management systems.

Desirable skills

• Experience working within a legal team in a housing association, local authority, law firm or similar organisation.
• Experience supporting litigation or dispute resolution work.
• Understanding of housing law, landlord repairing obligations or housing disrepair claims.
• Experience using legal case management systems and analysing legal or operational data.

Why Orbit?

Choosing us means being rewarded in every sense. Here’s what you can expect to enjoy with us:

• A rewarding experience that works for you. We strive to create an inclusive experience with benefits and wellbeing programmes designed to help you, and your loved ones, to thrive. For a better work life balance, we offer flexible working opportunities for many roles.
• A place to progress. From training programmes to professional qualifications, we provide opportunities to learn and develop at every stage of your career. Whether you’re a student, graduate or experienced professional we’ll support you to grow.
• A purpose to feel proud of. We’re proud to make a difference to people together. We’re values-driven with a commercial focus on performance - because the more profit we make, the more we can achieve for people.

How we hire

We aim to make our hiring process simple and fair: Online application, Interview(s), Decision and offer. We put the safeguarding of our customers, colleagues and contractors at the heart of everything we do and as such, certain roles will be subject to a DBS check.