Solicitor - Debt Recovery

NOTTING HILL; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent annual leave

Generous pension

Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption

Employee assistance

Health cash plan

Staff discounts

Cycle to work

Life Assurance x4

Job summary

Notting Hill Genesis is seeking a Solicitor - Debt Recovery to lead NHG's Legal Services team in London. You will manage a varied caseload of debt recovery litigation, including arrears and enforcement actions, while guiding a team of paralegals to deliver high-quality work.

You will provide expert legal advice to operational teams, prepare court bundles, and develop processes to improve compliance and efficiency.

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor of England and Wales with a valid Practising Certificate.
• Minimum 2 years PQE.
• Experience working within a social housing legal department, housing association, local authority, or private practice environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage a varied caseload of debt recovery litigation matters, including arrears possession claims, leasehold forfeiture claims, service charge disputes, debt claims, and enforcement actions.
• Lead and mentor a team of paralegals, ensuring high-quality case management and performance standards are achieved.
• Provide expert legal advice and guidance to operational teams on debt recovery and income collection matters.
• Prepare and oversee legal documentation, witness statements, court bundles, and evidence to a high standard.
• Identify and mitigate legal and operational risks, ensuring high-risk cases are prioritised appropriately.
• Support and deputise for the Head of Legal (Litigation) on complex or substantial matters.
• Develop and improve legal processes and procedures to enhance efficiency, compliance, and service delivery.
• Work collaboratively with other in-house legal teams including disrepair and compliance functions.
• Manage legal spend in line with budget requirements and the legal services framework.
• Deliver training and guidance to operational colleagues to improve legal awareness and support proactive debt management.

Skills

Debt recovery

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Litigation

Legal advice

Case management

Legal databases

Microsoft Office

Education

Law degree or equivalent

Tools

Legal databases

Case management systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

As a Solicitor - Debt Recovery, you will play a key role within NHG's Legal Services team, leading and empowering a team to deliver first-class legal services focused on debt recovery and associated litigation matters. You will manage a varied caseload while working collaboratively with operational teams to ensure legal matters are resolved efficiently, compliantly, and with a resident-focused approach. You'll act as a trusted subject matter expert across debt recovery matters, supporting NHG's ability to recover debts owed while balancing legal obligations, operational effectiveness, and customer outcomes.

• Manage a varied caseload of debt recovery litigation matters, including arrears possession claims, leasehold forfeiture claims, service charge disputes, debt claims, and enforcement actions.
• Lead and mentor a team of paralegals, ensuring high-quality case management and performance standards are achieved.
• Provide expert legal advice and guidance to operational teams on debt recovery and income collection matters.
• Prepare and oversee legal documentation, witness statements, court bundles, and evidence to a high standard.
• Identify and mitigate legal and operational risks, ensuring high-risk cases are prioritised appropriately.
• Support and deputise for the Head of Legal (Litigation) on complex or substantial matters.
• Develop and improve legal processes and procedures to enhance efficiency, compliance, and service delivery.
• Work collaboratively with other in-house legal teams including disrepair and compliance functions.
• Manage legal spend in line with budget requirements and the legal services framework.
• Deliver training and guidance to operational colleagues to improve legal awareness and support proactive debt management.We believe great service starts with great people, and we are committed to recruiting and developing passionate, enthusiastic, and talented individuals who can add value to our thriving organisation.

Pending confirmation of legislative changes, this role may require a qualification to demonstrate competence. If not already qualified, there may be an expectation to study towards a professional qualification. Essential:

• Qualified Solicitor of England and Wales with a valid Practising Certificate.
• Minimum 2 years PQE.
• Experience working within a social housing legal department, housing association, local authority, or private practice environment.
• Strong knowledge of housing law, landlord and tenant legislation, and litigation processes relating to debt recovery.
• Experience managing complex caseloads within a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Leadership and team management capability.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise competing demands.
• Experience using legal databases, case management systems, and Microsoft Office.
• Ability to provide pragmatic, risk-aware, and resident-focused legal advice.

Notting Hill Genesis is a not-for-profit organisation providing affordable homes for Londoners and it is now one of the largest housing associations in London. We are both a landlord and a developer, with more than 65,000 existing homes and 10,000 more in our pipeline and we employ around 1,800 employees.

• Excellent annual leave allowance and flexible working opportunities (qualifying period may apply)
• Generous pension scheme
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption pay in addition to statutory entitlements (qualifying period may apply)
• Employee assistance - free confidential advice and counseling services provided by independent specialist organisations.
• Health cash plan
• Staff discounts - we give our staff access to discounts at hundreds of major retailers, gyms, restaurants, entertainment, days out, insurance, and much more.
• Interest free loans - season ticket loan, tenancy deposit loan, and training loan
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Life Assurance x 4 annual salary