Housing Solicitor

Southwark (Local Authority role)

Contract role

Hourly rate negotiable

Full Time - 2 days in the office, 3 days remote (dependent on caseload)

An experienced Housing Solicitor is required to act as an authorised person, conducting litigation across a number of teams within Exchequer Services. The solicitor will have knowledge and experience in dealing with service charge recovery, rent and possession and housing benefit (Appeals) matters.

We are looking for the right applicant, who should be a UK solicitor registered with the SRA, a barrister registered with the BSB and specifically authorised to conduct litigation, or a CILEX lawyer, specifically authorised by CILEX to conduct litigation 

Must have experience in a local authority or similar of conducting difficult/complex general litigation across a range of litigation areas at all levels of courts and tribunals with an excellent understanding of court rules and practice. 

Main duties and responsibilities:

1. General litigation conduct activity such as issuing claims and reviewing applications and documents made to court or Tribunal, providing advice, support, and case management (including managing own caseload) on all legal matters affecting Exchequer Services income streams (housing rent, variable service charges and Housing Benefit Appeals).
2. Review and authorisation of documentation completed by officers, to be presented before courts and tribunals where the postholder has a right of audience on all matters in relation to the work of the council.
3. Being responsible and accountable for cases authorised, advice, support, case management and legal representation in respect of housing rents, benefits, and leasehold and freehold litigation.
4. Making key decisions which impact on the organisation in relation to legal positions, including highlighting and managing reputational and financial risks.
5. Deal directly with all officers involved in litigation proceedings.
6. To maintain good governance in managing own caseload of complex and busy work, ensuring statutory, court and council timescales are met, under minimal supervision.
7. Representing the organisation at court and tribunals as appropriate.
8. Supporting the Litigation Team and Business Unit Managers in ensuring that information and legislation is accurately reflected, monitored, reviewed and communicated in accordance with the organisation’s policies, procedures and plans etc.
9. Associated general advice given in the normal course of a lawyer to client relationship to staff.

Person Specification 

1. Appropriate legal qualifications to undertake litigation for housing law and general litigation
2. Experience of general litigation
3. Some experience of housing law casework, working with housing benefit claims is desirable
4. Ability to work collaboratively and effectively across a number of teams
5. An ability to manage a varied caseload
6. A commitment to Diversity and Equality
7. IT skills in Microsoft Word and associated software; using case management systems
8. An understanding of and commitment to professional advice standards including conflict of interest and client confidentiality
9. Ability to prioritise your workload with minimum of supervision
10. Good communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work well in a team, encourage effective team work and maintain effective working relations with other teams.

If you have any questions about this role or wish to apply, please contact isobel@deekay.co.uk who will respond at the earliest convenience.