Senior Lawyer - Housing and Litigation

Major Recruitment are currently recruiting for a Senior Lawyer

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.

Location: Guildhall

Pay rate: £35.01

Working hours: Hybrid working - 2 days required in the office. In September this will change to 3 days in the office.

Length of Assignment: 6 month placement with potential to extend

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• To provide expert advice to client departments on housing law and deal with housing possession casework
• 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
• Undertake research upon legal questions arising from the work of team including, where necessary, briefing counsel and/or consultants and instructing experts.
• 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

Technical Skills :

• Proven good level of experience in the following areas:
• Experience of public sector housing litigation.
• Experience of debt recovery and insolvency procedures.
• Experience of advocacy in the County Court.
• Experience of effective case management to Lexcel standards.
• Experience of working in a team.
• Experience of researching into different areas of law - desirable.
• Ability to travel and attend Court/Tribunals as required.
• A willingness to undertake appropriate technical training

Professional Qualifications:

• Must be a qualified solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive, or with equivalent civil litigation skills, knowledge and experience
• 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.
• Good knowledge of debt recovery and insolvency procedures.
• Good knowledge of the fundamentals of contract law.
• Knowledge of the Housing Act 1985 and associated regulations.
• Knowledge of the Civil Procedure Rules.

Other Relevant Information

• Ability to travel and attend Court/Tribunals as required.
• A willingness to undertake appropriate technical training

INDLS