Solicitor

JR United Kingdom; Oldham; On-site; GBP 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A reputable housing organization in Oldham is seeking a qualified Solicitor to join their Legal Services Team. The role involves managing a busy caseload in housing law and civil litigation. Benefits include a salary of £46,860 per annum, flexible hybrid working options, and a supportive working environment. Applicants should possess strong advocacy and drafting skills and have a commitment to excellent service in a values-driven organization.

Benefits

Salary of £46,860 per annum

Flexible hybrid working options

30 days holiday and all UK bank holidays

Defined contribution pension scheme

Private health insurance

Discounted gym membership

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Chartered Legal Executive required.
• Experience handling housing law and disrepair cases needed.
• Prior in-house legal experience, ideally in social housing is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert legal advice and representation across housing management cases.
• Manage and support the Disrepair Paralegals.
• Represent FCHO at County Court, Magistrates Court and Tribunals.

Skills

Housing law

Civil litigation

Advocacy skills

Interpersonal skills

Team leadership

Education

Law degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Excel

SharePoint

Job description

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Are you a qualified legal professional looking to take the next step in your career? Do you want to work for an organisation that values your expertise, supports your development, and makes a difference in people’s lives every day?

First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) has an exciting opportunity for a committed and skilled Solicitor to join our dedicated Legal Services Team, helping us deliver a service to be proud of and protect the interests of our business and customers.

This role is perfect for someone with a solid grounding in housing law and civil litigation, who is confident managing their own caseload and passionate about providing excellent legal services in a values-driven organisation. If you enjoy working collaboratively, influencing outcomes, and mentoring junior colleagues, we’d love to hear from you.

What’s in it for you?

When you join FCHO, you don’t just get a job – you get a great place to work and grow. Our benefits include:

• A salary of £46,860 per Annum
• 37-hour working week with flexible hybrid working options
• 30 days holiday and all UK bank holidays plus one company shut down day
• Defined contribution pension scheme with an employer contribution of up to 10%
• Automatic enrolment into a healthcare cash plan and private health insurance
• Access to our colleague benefit platform with discounts across hundreds of brands
• 24/7 GP helpline (Doctorline) for you and your family
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption, and sick pay
• Discounted gym membership
• Paid professional subscriptions where essential to your role
• Long service awards
• Supportive, flexible working arrangements and a strong focus on wellbeing

Who are we looking for?

We are seeking a proactive and detail-focused legal professional who can manage a busy caseload, represent FCHO in legal proceedings, and lead our disrepair legal function.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Providing expert legal advice and representation across housing management cases (disrepair, ASB, possession, injunctions, etc.)
• Managing and supporting the Disrepair Paralegals
• Ensuring legal compliance and mitigating organisational risk
• Advising internal stakeholders at all levels, contributing to legal strategy and best practice
• Representing FCHO at County Court, Magistrates Court and Tribunals
• Drafting legal documentation and case pleadings
• Maintaining accurate records and staying current with relevant legislation
• Supporting development of legal resources, templates and training
• Collaborating across teams, especially with the Assets Team, to enhance service delivery

What do you need?

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Chartered Legal Executive
• Law degree or equivalent
• Experience handling housing law and disrepair cases
• Advocacy and strong drafting skills
• Excellent interpersonal and team leadership skills
• Experience managing a caseload and working to tight deadlines
• An understanding of Awaab’s Law, housing legislation, and civil litigation procedures
• The ability to maintain confidentiality and work with integrity
• Experience supporting or managing junior team members
• Prior in-house legal experience, ideally in social housing
• Knowledge of SharePoint and Microsoft Excel for reporting
• Exposure to EDI-led environments

Who are we?

First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) owns and manages around 11,500 homes and is proud to have the highest regulatory rating (G1/V1). We are committed to improving lives – whether by providing safe, quality homes, delivering excellent services, or offering a great place to work.

We champion equality, diversity and inclusion, and strive to reflect the diverse communities we serve.

We’re inclusive and proud

We are committed to building an organisation that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills & are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. As an equal opportunities employer, FCHO is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective colleagues and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join us.

We care that you have a great experience with us at FCHO. If you need us to make any reasonable adjustments to make your experience smoother, please let us know – we’ll do all we can to help.

Join us, and use your legal expertise to make a lasting difference at FCHO.