Legal Services Manager (Litigation)

Housing Association in London, Postcode: EC1M 5NW

Initial 3-6 month contract

Rate: Umbrella, negotiable - Please indicate rate sought

35 hours per week

What you’ll be doing:

1. To provide legal advice and assistance housing management and landlord & tenant matters. To include conducting efficient and effective litigation to include but not limited to, anti-social behaviour injunctions; anti-social behaviour possession claims; committal
   applications; tenancy fraud possession claims; access injunctions; housing disrepair claims; prosecutions under the Environmental Protection Act; applications to the Court of Protection and money claims, briefing Counsel and/or conducting advocacy where appropriate in order to protect the interests of Southern Housing and its partners.
2. To assist and provide advice on other contentious matters.
3. To assist with instructing external solicitors for matters that cannot be dealt with in-house.
4. To assist in developing the in-house legal provision to meet the needs of Southern Housing and its partners.
5. To ensure that legal work is carried out in house where this is more cost effective including preparing and drafting all own pleadings to include but not limited to, notices of seeking possession; claim forms; particulars of claim; defences; reply to defences; part 20 counterclaims; injunctions; committal applications, witness statements; case summaries; lists of issues; chronologies and trial bundles. Ensure communication between instructing officers and the legal team is effective and efficient.
6. To develop and implement processes and procedures to ensure the efficient and effective provision of housing management and other litigation services and advice on landlord & tenant law including the provision of witness support in particular to those witnesses involved with anti-social behaviour cases which includes out of office hours
   visits to their homes, if required.
7. To comply with the approved processes and procedures, including maintaining data records and registers as required by the Director of Legal Services. Ensure sound data management, both in case management and in passing on key data to other departments in a timely fashion.
8. To keep up to date with the constitutional, legal and regulatory framework within which Housing Associations operate. This also includes keeping up to date records in accordance with the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s continuing competence requirements. To ensure that such knowledge is shared to encourage a knowledgeable
   and compliance focused culture.
9. To support the junior legal team members and volunteers and provide general assistance to the legal team.
10. Liaising with clients, suppliers and staff at all levels across the organisation. Build and maintain effective working relationships with
    external contacts and partners including updating colleagues in respect of changes in law.
11. Ensure confidentiality, sensitivity and a professional approach in all activities.
12. To provide cover for Head of Legal Services (Litigation) in their absence

If you have any questions about this role or wish to apply, please contact isobel@deekay.co.uk who will respond at the earliest convenience.