Lawyer

Social Care Locums; England; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in London seeks an interim Senior Housing Lawyer to supervise a significant caseload of 188 housing matters. This crucial role requires a qualified solicitor or barrister with extensive housing law experience, advocacy skills, and the ability to manage complex cases independently. You will draft legal documentation and provide essential legal advice, ensuring compliance with statutory duties and relevant legislation. This position is critical in maintaining service quality and effective risk management.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor or barrister in England and Wales or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.
• Extensive experience in local government housing law is essential.
• Experience managing complex legal matters including disrepair, homelessness, and possession.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of housing legal matters with minimal supervision.
• Provide clear, consistent legal advice to the Council's services.
• Undertake advocacy on behalf of the Council in courts and tribunals.
• Draft complex legal documents and ensure compliance with practice standards.

Skills

Experience in Housing law

Advocacy skills

Ability to manage caseload

Local authority services understanding

Education

Qualified solicitor or barrister

Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives

Job description

Overview

The Council's Housing Legal team is facing an unprecedented operational demand, requiring immediate, senior‑level legal supervision for approximately 188 existing housing matters. As an interim Senior Housing Lawyer, you will play a vital role in ensuring effective risk management and compliance by supervising this significant caseload, which includes:

• Disrepair claims
• Homelessness Judicial Reviews
• Possession proceedings

Your expertise will be essential in reducing pressure on our five existing qualified solicitors, each of whom already manages a demanding volume of complex cases, and in upholding the Council's statutory duties and professional conduct requirements.

Key Responsibilities

You will be expected to manage a complex and demanding caseload with minimum supervision, providing clear, consistent, and accurate legal advice to clients in the Council's services. Your primary duties will include:

• Case Management & Supervision: Managing a caseload of routine and non‑routine legal matters, with a focus on supervising the 188 affected housing matters to ensure compliance and timely progression.
• Expert Advice: Providing clear, consistent, and accurate legal advice to clients across the Council, particularly within Housing Services.
• Advocacy: Undertaking advocacy on behalf of the Council in courts and tribunals, where required.
• Documentation: Drafting complex reports and legal documentation.
• Compliance: Managing cases within the Service's practice management standards and ensuring all work is carried out to the standards required by formal client arrangements.
• Teamwork & Development: Working collaboratively with colleagues and keeping up to date with developments in relevant areas of law, legal practice, and local authority services.

Essential Experience and Qualifications

We are looking for a qualified professional with extensive experience in local government housing law. The essential experience and qualifications are:

• Qualified solicitor or barrister (Supreme Court of England and Wales / English Bar) or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.
• Significant experience in Housing law relevant to local authority services.
• Experience of undertaking a caseload of complex legal matters, specifically including the matters listed above (disrepair, homelessness JRs, possession).
• Experience of providing clear, consistent, and accurate legal advice on the interpretation of the law.
• Experience of advocacy.
• Ability to manage a demanding caseload of legal matters and to work independently.

This interim appointment is essential to maintain service quality, ensure effective risk management, and uphold our duties under relevant housing legislation and professional conduct requirements. If you are a highly‑skilled Housing Lawyer ready to take on a critical role in one of London's most diverse boroughs, apply today!