Solicitor (PO3)

Job Description

Job Category : Legal (Specialist)
Location : Tower Hamlets Homes
Hours Per Week : 35.00
Start Date : Immediate Start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:00
Salary: £23.29

Key Accountabilities:

1. Preparing cases for service charge debt recovery in County Court including: drafting and filing claims; applications to enforce judgments and other court applications; preparing and managing case files so as to comply with court directions and representing THH and the council at the County Court.
2. Preparing cases for hearing in the First-tier Tribunal including: drafting and filing applications; preparing and managing case files so as to comply with tribunal directions and representing THH and the council at the First-tier Tribunal.
3. Assisting with the management of the day-to-day activities of the Leasehold Services legal team (particularly ensuring that referrals from the collections team are processed effectively and efficiently in order to maximise recovery of service charge arrears).
4. Providing legal advice to Leasehold Services on County Court and First-tier Tribunal matters or procedures to ensure maximum recovery of leaseholder debt owed to the council.
5. Providing legal advice to Leasehold Services in order to allow them to make informed decisions on how to operate the service in compliance with the lease, statute and common law.
6. Establishing and maintaining an effective relationship with and upholding the reputation of THH and the council at County Court and First-tier Tribunal.
7. Liaising with all relevant officers in THH or the council to progress cases at County Court and First-tier Tribunal.
8. Supervising the Legal Officer and Legal Support Officer in the absence of the Senior Solicitor.
9. Attending THH and council meetings at the request or in the absence of the Senior Solicitor.
10. Supporting staff to develop their knowledge of leasehold management, in particular the law and practice of subjects such as disputes, consultation, reasonableness of costs, and income recovery.
11. Helping develop new procedures and work practices to maximise income, minimise risk or loss and achieve targets and deliverables in the Leasehold Services team plan.
12. Providing information and data and help produce reports to senior management, the Housing client and Legal Services on the legal activities of Leasehold Services.
13. Carrying out other reasonable ad-hoc duties to support the Directorate which are commensurate with the expectation of the post as directed by the line manager or the Head of Service.

Education and Experience

Essential Criteria

• Qualified Solicitor (Supreme Court of England & Wales).
• Experience of housing and litigation work especially relating to landlord & tenant, leasehold, freehold and service charge matters.
• Experience of dealing with debt recovery matters in County Court and matters relating to service charges in First-tier Tribunal.
• Advocacy experience in County Court and First-tier Tribunal.
Desirable Criteria
• Understanding of the workings of local government and the issues affecting a multi-cultural inner city area.

Knowledge

Essential Criteria
• Knowledge of housing, landlord & tenant and freehold law relating to residential leasehold and freehold and recovery of service charges.
• Knowledge of practices relating to litigation in the County Court and First-tier Tribunal.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to personally handle with some supervision all matters/cases within the post holder’s area of responsibility.
• Ability to give clear and proactive legal advice in a manner which supports clients in meeting their business needs and achieving their organisational objectives.
• Good presentation skills, including the ability to communicate clearly and concisely in writing and orally and present arguments in a confident, articulate and persuasive manner.
• Ability to analyse information, evaluate evidence, present solutions and negotiate where necessary.
• Ability to supervise.
• Ability to deputise for the Senior Solicitor.

Additional Requirements

• Personal and professional demeanour which generates creditability and confidence amongst customers, senior officers, managers, staff, external partners and all other stakeholders.
• Willing to be flexible and adopt new ways of working to manage a varied workload.
• Able to take own initiative to be proactive and work independently to ensure tasks are completed on time and to the required standard.
• Able to take personal responsibility for maintaining and developing professional knowledge and expertise.