6 Month Contract With A Local Authority

Job Purpose

To provide senior-level legal advice, representation, and strategic support across housing and litigation matters, with particular responsibility for housing disrepair. The postholder will lead and support a team of up to six lawyers, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, timely, and effective legal services. The role will involve managing a complex caseload, advising senior stakeholders, mitigating legal risk, and supporting the organisation in achieving its strategic and operational objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and provide professional support to a team of up to six lawyers, ensuring high standards of performance, service delivery, and professional development.
• Manage a varied and complex caseload of housing and litigation matters, with a particular focus on housing disrepair.
• Provide expert legal advice to internal clients, senior managers, and stakeholders on housing, litigation, and related matters.
• Provide specialist advice and representation in housing disrepair claims, including complex and high-value matters.
• Conduct and oversee litigation proceedings, including possession proceedings, disrepair claims, injunctions, tenancy disputes, and other housing-related litigation.
• Review and advise on complex legal issues, identifying risks and providing practical, proportionate, and solution-focused advice.
• Draft and review pleadings, witness statements, legal correspondence, agreements, applications, and other legal documentation.
• Prepare cases for court and represent the organisation in hearings, negotiations, mediations, and other legal proceedings where appropriate.
• Negotiate with claimants, tenants, solicitors, barristers, courts, enforcement officers, and other external stakeholders.
• Provide leadership and oversight on complex or high-risk cases, ensuring appropriate case management and timely progression.
• Support the development and implementation of legal strategies, policies, procedures, and service improvements.
• Ensure legal work is undertaken in accordance with relevant legislation, case law, procedural rules, professional standards, and organisational policies.
• Monitor caseloads, deadlines, performance, costs, and legal risks across the team.
• Develop effective working relationships with internal departments and external partners to ensure coordinated and effective delivery of legal services.
• Keep abreast of developments in housing law, disrepair law, civil litigation, local government law, and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of the Legal Services function and promote best practice across the team.