Job Title: Housing Litigation Solicitor

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: £ 51,550 (up to depending on experience)

Working Hours: Full-Time 35 hours

Working Pattern: Monday – Friday

Location: Speke, Liverpool (Hybrid)

For your application to be considered please attach a current CV and cover letter.

Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment.

Why Riverside?

At Riverside, we ’ re a housing association with a difference – enhancing the everyday for all our customers. For 90 years, we ’ ve been revitalising neighbourhoods and supporting communities by providing the homes they need to live full, fulfilling and rewarding lives.

We have a portfolio of over 75,000 affordable residential and retirement homes across the UK. Our work ranges from homelessness services to social care, employment support to retirement living, and we need the best people on board to help us.

Working with us, you ’ ll enjoy:

• Competitive pay & generous pension
• 28 days holidays plus bank holidays (Full Time Equivalent)
• Flexible working options available
• Investment in your learning, personal development and technology
• A wide range of benefits
  

The difference you will make as a Housing Litigation Solicitor.

The Role holder will ensure that all casework is well managed and dealt with in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Ensuring that the Group’s regulatory, legislative and common law obligations are met.

You will also raise awareness of developments within the sector, identify risk and provide training as required to the Group. And be an effective business partner to all key internal stakeholders within the Group who require support and advice in respect of their housing management operations and housing litigation

About you

We are looking for someone with:

• Professional legal qualification as recognised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or equivalent body.
• Strong technical experience in dealing with a wide range of non-contentious housing management matters and contentious landlord and tenant matters (including disrepair; anti-social behaviour, possession, Injunctions and contempt of Court applications), either on the Claimant or Defendant side.
• Experience of successfully managing a caseload achieving excellent outcomes.
• Knowledge of the pre-action protocols for dealing with housing condition (disrepair) and possession claims, as well as the Civil Procedure Rules
  

Role Profile

Accountabilities or “What You Have to Do”

• Conduct contentious casework to provide high quality, responsive and consistent legal advice on housing management matters, disputes, and housing litigation across the Group, including but not limited to: -
• Disrepair and Environmental Protection Act claims.
• Anti-Social Behaviour cases.
• Possession proceedings (unauthorised subletting/tenancy fraud/unauthorised occupiers), Injunctions and Contempt of Court applications.
• Gas Injunctions.
• Termination of tenancies and licence agreements.
• Money claims and County Court Judgments.
• Provision of high-quality legal advice to the Group on non-contentious housing matters including but not limited to succession, assignment, and mutual exchange.
• Manage a caseload of complex contentious and non-contentious matters with a view to ensuring sensible outcomes for the Group.
• Attend and represent the Group at Court as required (local hearings only).
• Support the Housing Litigation Team with identifying and delivering training for the wider Group to upskill colleagues and promote a knowledgeable workforce.
• Support the Housing Litigation Team with the improvement of systems and processes used within the Legal Team and the wider Group to deliver a value for money service.
• Support the Housing Litigation Team with maintaining their case management system and any other databases used for auditing purposes.
• Support the Legal Team to ensure that risks to the Group are appropriately managed. Ask the right questions at the right time, appropriately challenging the business where required.
• Work in partnership with other teams and colleagues across the Group and attend business partner meetings with the Housing Litigation Team’s key internal stakeholders. Assist the Housing Litigation Team to maintain strong working relationships with internal stakeholders across the Group and to support the cohesion of teams to realise the benefits from cross-working.
• Be an excellent ambassador for the team and support the Group positively and constructively in achieving its corporate objectives, particularly with the integration of the legal functions of Riverside and One Housing Group.
• Adhere to the Groups’ policies and procedures.
• Assist in applying robust reporting processes and help the Housing Litigation Team develop good quality management information to demonstrate the impact of the Legal Team more generally.
• Actively support and constructively challenge colleagues in the continued strengthening of the Group’s legal position.
• Work towards personal and team objectives and attend training opportunities, as required.
  

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential

• Degree from a recognised UK university or equivalent (or qualification gained from a non-UK university).
• Professional legal qualification as recognised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or equivalent body.
• Strong technical experience in dealing with a wide range of non-contentious housing management matters and contentious landlord and tenant matters (including disrepair; anti-social behaviour, possession, Injunctions and contempt of Court applications), either on the Claimant or Defendant side.
• Experience of successfully managing a caseload achieving excellent outcomes.
• Knowledge of the pre-action protocols for dealing with housing condition (disrepair) and possession claims, as well as the Civil Procedure Rules.
• Knowledge of the relevant statutory, regulatory and common law applicable to the housing management functions of a social landlord, and the provision of regulated social and affordable housing.
• Practical awareness and/or experience of the Data Protection Act 2018.
• Can demonstrate having worked successfully in a complex organisation.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and confident in advocacy.
• Excellent database management skills.
• High level of IT literacy and excellent research skills.
• Ability to build strong working relationships within the Group and with external stakeholders and advisers.
• Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills. Ability to work under pressure, deliver to strict deadlines and manage conflicting priorities.
• Outcome focussed with strong analytical skills, including the ability to analyse, sort and summarise information.
• Ability to work independently, using own initiative, taking ownership for decision-making and proposing solutions to issues identified.
• Ability to take ownership for workload.
• Can demonstrate a high level of motivation, resilience, and commitment to provide a high performing service.
• Excellent team player who can work flexibly to meet business requirements.
• Commercially aware with a strong focus on continuous improvement, risk management and good governance.
• Customer focussed and ability to engage with internal and external stakeholders alike in an honest and transparent manner to inspire confidence, trust, and respect.
• Ability to influence and inspire others to work innovatively and proactively.
• Can demonstrate a commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in the workplace and in the delivery of legal services.
• Commitment to continual professional and personal development within the Group’s Legal Team on a long-term basis.
  

Desirable

• Experience of working in the social housing sector, ideally in or for a housing association or local authority, or for tenants in private practice.