Housing Solicitor Director

Gemini Recruitment; Cheltenham; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A legal recruitment agency is seeking a Housing Solicitor Director for a permanent position in the UK. The ideal candidate will oversee a housing team, deal with complex cases, and manage a diverse caseload. They should possess at least 3 years of PQE in Housing and Litigation, alongside strong management and client care skills. The role offers an attractive salary package and supports hybrid working, with a minimum of three days required in-office.

Benefits

Attractive salary package

Supportive team environment

Prospects for promotion

Qualifications

• 3+ years PQE with proven experience in Housing and Litigation.
• Experience as Duty Advisor under Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme in the last 2 years.
• Clean, valid Practicing Certificate at the time of application.

Responsibilities

• Report directly to the Board and ensure performance targets are met.
• Provide technical expertise and guidance to the team.
• Manage and supervise Solicitors, Trainees, and Caseworkers.

Skills

Housing and Litigation experience

Court representation

Management skills

Client care skills

Excellent networking

IT Skills

Advocacy experience

Education

Clean Practicing Certificate

PQE level > 3

Tools

Microsoft Office

Document management systems

Job description

Job Description

Role: Housing Solicitor Director - Nationwide (Outside London)

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 clients 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 27001-2013 accredited and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Housing Department Background:

Our clients 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 and collaborating with the Board to ensure performance targets are met
• 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.

About Gemini Recruitment and Equal Opportunities

Gemini Recruitment is a leading recruitment agency specialising in legal recruitment. We provide a highly focused service specialising in placements for Solicitors, Legal Executives, Trainee Solicitors, Paralegals and Legal Support Staff. We have intimate knowledge of specific opportunities in the legal market across the UK.

The company is committed to Equal Opportunities and embraces diversity and inclusivity of its staff and strives to ensure that their workforce reflects the diversity of the communities they serve.

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