£36,124 - £37,938 per annum

Leeds city Council Legal Services is looking to recruit a full time permanent Senior Legal Officer to practice in the area of Housing Condition/Disrepair Claims.

The Section solely covers the defending of Housing Condition/Disrepair claims against the Council. The successful postholder will have a personal workload of more straightforward Housing Disrepair Claims.

It is essential that the successful candidate has good interpersonal skills, is able to prioritise their own workload, act as an advocate in contested hearings and work to tight court deadlines. They must be able to work as part of a team and be flexible, enthusiastic and committed.

The post attracts local authority benefits including: access to West Yorkshire Pension Scheme; generous annual leave entitlement; training and development; flexible working, including working from home as well as Civic Hall in the Centre of Leeds.

Our council values are at the heart of everything we do:-

• Being open, honest and trusted – being your best
• Treating people fairly – feeling like you count
• Spending money wisely – making every pound go further
• Working as a team for Leeds – being part of a team with a “can do” attitude
• Working with people, engaging all communities – being proud to make a difference

Leeds City Council is an award winning and progressive authority, which works closely with local communities and businesses. At its core is the overall vision to be the Best City, to tackle poverty and inequality and improve quality of life for everyone who calls Leeds home.

Having a workforce that reflects the people of Leeds is important. We value diversity and fair treatment of employees and applicants. Our Legal Services department reflects the diversity of Leeds, and is a welcoming and inclusive team, with a positive, healthy workplace culture where everyone can be themselves.

Contact Rosemary Keczkes (Team Manager) on tel:0113 5350984 or via email at Rosemary.Keczkes@leeds.gov.uk or in her absence Paul Simpson on tel: 0113 3367963 paul.simpson3@leeds.gov.uk for an informal discussion about this post.

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 £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description
To carry out legal and administrative work and provide an effective, high quality, professional service within Legal Services and the City Council generally.

The post will be based within the Housing Disrepair team, but the post holder may be required to work flexibly across other sections within Legal Services.

Responsibilities

• To undertake a personal workload of more straightforward Housing Disrepair/Condition matters.
• To give written and oral advice as appropriate.
• To assist the Principal Legal Officers, Team Leaders and Section Head with all legal work carried out by the section.
• To draft, issue and serve appropriate pleadings.
• To prepare cases for hearing in Courts and Tribunals, including drafting orders, case summaries, correspondence, taking statements, collating documents; to arrange for the         attendance of witnesses at Court, and to prepare instructions for Counsel.
• To attend at Court with Counsel.
• To represent the Council, where appropriate, in Courts and Tribunals.
• To undertake legal research.
• To inform instructing services of all outcomes, post hearing; and prepare all necessary updates.
• To maintain and operate computerised systems.
• To deal with enquiries/correspondence from instructing services, external solicitors, members of the public, Council Departments and other agencies.
• To provide administrative support as required.
• To prepare and deliver training.
• To perform all functions and duties effectively and in accordance with the following:
  • the Department's Standards, Objectives, Targets and Timescales
  • the Department's Quality Procedures

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Closing date: 30 June 2025

For further information or to apply, please click on the 'Enquire/Apply' button below.