Housing Law Director

GEMINI RECRUITMENT SERVICES LTD; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working policy

Career progression opportunities

Job summary

Gemini Recruitment is working with a large, established law firm to recruit a Housing Solicitor Director on a permanent basis. Based in Leeds, you will report to the Board and lead the Housing Department, supervising a team and driving business development.

The role requires 3+ years PQE in housing and litigation with court experience, a valid practising certificate, and strong management and client-care skills. A hybrid working model with three days in the office is offered.

Qualifications

• 3+ years PQE in Housing and Litigation with court representation.
• Duty Advisor experience under Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme in last 2 years.
• Clean, valid Practising Certificate at time of applying.
• Welfare rights and community care experience.
• Strong management and supervisory abilities.
• Pro-active approach with excellent client care and cross referrals.
• Marketing and new business generation experience.
• Advocacy experience is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Report directly to the Board and help achieve performance targets.
• Lead all housing work and provide technical guidance to the team.
• Supervise Solicitors, Trainee Solicitors and Caseworkers.
• Deliver training and development within the department.
• Handle a range of housing cases including homelessness and eviction.
• Oversee strategic litigation and funding applications to Legal Aid Agency.
• Prepare draft documents and witness statements.

Skills

Housing litigation experience

Court representation

Management skills

Team supervision

Business development

Client care

Advocacy

Marketing

IT skills

Education

Practising certificate

SQM Supervisor standard in Housing

Tools

Microsoft Office

Document management

HR systems

Job description

Role: Housing Solicitor Director

Leading law firm looking to recruit dedicated and experienced Housing Solicitor Director for highly sought permanent position.

Gemini Recruitment are currently partnering with a large and established law firm. Our client serves corporate entities and private individuals in over 25 practice areas from offices throughout London and across England and Wales. Our client's accomplishments are acknowledged and recommended in The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners, as a top tier firm.

Our client holds the Investors in People Gold Accreditation Quality Standard Mark and is LEXCEL, Cyber Essentials Plus and ISO accredited and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Housing Department Background:

Our client's Housing team, ranked by The Legal 500 directory for its services across England and Wales, provides assistance to both landlords and tenants on all housing issues. Their practitioners are highly experienced in finding solutions to housing disputes and aim to address the issues quickly and effectively. Our client offers lawyer supported dispute resolution or alternative dispute resolution (ADR) as a means to resolve housing disrepair matters. Their department also regularly represents clients in the courts for unlawful eviction, possession proceedings and prepare applications for judicial review in cases of homelessness.

Main Responsibilities of the Role:

• Report directly to the Board and collaborate to ensure performance targets are achieved.
• Responsible for all aspects of Housing work including providing technical expertise and guidance to other team members
• Significant experience in representing clients as Housing Court Duty Scheme over the last 2 years.
• Ability to manage and supervise Solicitors, Trainee Solicitors and Caseworkers to manage appropriate caseload types and complexities
• Assisting with delivery of appropriate training and development in the department
• Variety of duties including dealing with a range of Housing cases including Homelessness; Disrepair; Eviction; Possession; Property Ownership Disputes; Succession for Tenants; Housing adaptations; Social Housing; Neighbourhood Problems matters as well as undertaking your own advocacy
• Dealing with emergency cases and identifying and carrying out strategic litigation.
• Preparing and managing funding applications to the Legal Aid Agency
• Preparing draft documents including witness statements and processing evidence
• You will have a professional pro-active approach, strong client care skills and be interested in Business Development and Marketing to supplement the substantial work volumes brought in by the company.

Key Skills Required:

• 3 Years+ PQE with proven experience of Housing and Litigation, including court representation essential
• Must have experience as Duty Advisor under Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme over the last 2 years
• Must meet the 2013 SQM Supervisor standard in Housing, or willing to work towards this
• Experience in welfare rights and community care issues Must have a clean, valid Practicing Certificate at the time of applying
• Strong management skills
• Committed team player with ability to approach team concerns fairly, foster culture of positive change and encourage cross referrals
• Previous proven supervisory experience and working to key performance indicators
• Professional with a pro-active approach; excellent client care skills and ability to deal with vulnerable client matters in a sensitive manner and resolve complicated practicalities involved in Housing issues
• Excellent networking and communication skills with the ability to successfully market the Company and generate new business
• Working knowledge of the publically funded Housing work including legal representation and legal help and have the ability to service privately funded cases
• Have extensive experience in dealing with all Housing related work
• Experience in own advocacy is an advantage
• Excellent IT Skills -familiar with Microsoft Office applications and document management skills Excellent IT Skills -familiar with Microsoft Office applications and able to use HR systems
• Experience within the legal sector is preferable
• Ability to manage social media activity to promote the Company

On offer is an attractive salary package, a supportive team environment and real prospects for promotion.

The Company supports hybrid working in line with its policy. Please note that a minimum of three days per week in the office is mandatory.