Senior Lawyer

Connect2Hackney; England; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A local borough's legal services are seeking a qualified Locum Senior Housing Lawyer to provide expert legal supervision over a critical caseload. You will manage disrepair claims, homelessness Judicial Reviews, and possession proceedings effectively. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in local government housing law, advocacy, and the ability to work independently. This role is vital for maintaining service quality and ensuring compliance with legal standards.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor or barrister with experience relevant to local authority services.
• Extensive experience managing complex legal matters, especially disrepair, homelessness Judicial Reviews, and possession.
• Ability to provide accurate legal advice and undertake advocacy.

Responsibilities

• Manage a complex caseload of legal matters.
• Provide clear, consistent legal advice to clients.
• Draft legal documentation and reports.
• Advocate on behalf of the Council in courts.

Skills

Experience in local government housing law

Legal documentation drafting

Case management

Advocacy

Clear legal advice

Education

Qualified solicitor or barrister

Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives

Job description

Connect2Hackney is seeking a highly experienced and dedicated Locum Senior Housing Lawyer to join the London Borough of Hackney’s Legal & Governance Services on an interim basis for up to 12 months. This is a critical role to provide immediate resilience and specialised legal supervision within the Housing Legal team.

The Challenge and The Role

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 (Adapted from the Lawyer Job Description)

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.

What You Will Need

We are looking for a qualified professional with extensive experience in local government housing law.

Essential Experience and Qualifications

• 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!