A Housing Association is currently looking for a Housing Paralegal for about 3 months on a temporary basis
Key responsibilities are as follows
Involve preparing and submitting legal applications related to lease expiry and arrears cases
Required to attend court hearings to represent company in matters concerning arrears & lease expiry.
Providing guidance and oversight to legal assistants supporting these processes
Manage a caseload and provide legal support to operational teams on escalated housing
Supported and Temporary Housing management and lease matters. This includes but is not limited to
anti-social behaviour, injunction, disrepair, breach of tenancy claims, fraud and sub-letting, property disputes, leasehold management issues including breach of lease claims, tenancy succession and rent debt recovery, service charge and property owner disputes.
Provide comprehensive legal support to the repairs team in respect of disrepair casework, particularly, the handling and management of disrepair claims within the pre-action protocol.
Work effectively with panel solicitors where cases (including disrepair) require external involvement.
Work collaboratively and coach Legal Assistants across casework as needed.
Utilise other departments and work effectively with them on cases that may require their input such as the service charge, assets, repairs and operational teams.
Confidentially represent company in external settings such as court, multi-agency meetings, local authority engagement meetings, mediation and casework panels on tenancy and lease breach issues.
Prepare, draft and respond to all necessary legal documentation and bundles, evidence and witness statements as required and to a high standard. This includes internal reports and papers with recommendations for decision.
Take ownership and accountability for your caseload in accordance with performance indicators and own the end to end process. Seek advice, flag risk and offer mitigations on issues that may arise.
Work closely with the operational teams and tenancy sustainment and safeguarding teams, to be confident that legal escalation takes place once all reasonable proactive
Ad hoc tasks
PAYE £25.88 Umbrella £34.22 3 Days in the office, 2 from home
Essential
Experience of working within a legal department, housing association, local authority or similar organisation
Experience managing your own caseload with cases similar to those required in this role
Good spoken and written English
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Good grasp of applicable legislation and the Civil Procedure Rules.
Good legal drafting skills.
Strong report writing and presentation skills
Must be immediately available or on short notice