Social Housing Solicitor-Director - Salary £68K Per Annum - Swansea
Job Description:
Duncan Lewis Solicitors (Ltd):
Regulated by the Solicitor's Regulation Authority, Duncan Lewis Solicitors was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in the City of London (Fenchurch Street EC3M), with offices nationwide. We are recognised by the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners UK as a top-tier law firm in all key practice areas, known for our diligence and professionalism. We are a paperless law firm with over 500 personnel, embracing hybrid working, servicing both corporate and private clients in over 25 legal areas across 60 languages. Our ethos is to give people a voice.
Choosing a career with Duncan Lewis means joining the largest provider of publicly funded (legal aid) legal services in the country, with a growing private client practice. We are Investors in People Gold Standard accredited and nationally recognized for our work. Our awards include Law Firm of the Year (2024 Lexis Nexis Awards, 2023 Modern Law Awards), Times 200 Best Law Firms, and others for diversity, inclusion, and excellence. We are accredited with Law Society Lexcel, Cyber Essentials Plus, and ISO 27001.
We value dedicated, talented professionals and welcome applications from exceptional candidates. We prioritize training and diversity, fostering an inclusive workforce. If you are passionate about our legal areas and eager to advance your career, please submit your CV and application online.
Housing Department Background:
Our Housing team, noted for its legal conviction and advocacy, is ranked and recommended by The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners UK. We provide assistance to landlords and tenants on housing issues, handling both legal aid and privately funded cases in homelessness, disrepair, eviction, possession, property disputes, succession, housing adaptations, neighborhood problems, and more. Our solicitors are experienced in housing disputes and judicial reviews at all court levels, including the High Court.
Main Responsibilities of the Role
* Report directly to and collaborate with the Board to ensure performance targets are met.
* Oversee all aspects of Housing work, providing technical expertise and guidance.
* Significant experience representing clients as a Housing Court Duty Scheme solicitor over the last 2 years.
* Manage and supervise Solicitors, Trainee Solicitors, and Caseworkers, handling appropriate caseloads.
* Assist with training and development within the department.
* Handle a variety of housing cases, including homelessness, disrepair, eviction, possession, property disputes, and more, including advocacy.
* Manage emergency cases and strategic litigation.
* Prepare and manage funding applications to the Legal Aid Agency.
* Draft legal documents, including witness statements and evidence processing.
* Maintain a professional, proactive approach with strong client care skills, and contribute to business development and marketing efforts.
Key Skills Required:
* 3+ years PQE with proven experience in Housing and Litigation, including court representation.
* Experience as Duty Advisor under the Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme within the last 2 years.
* Meet or be willing to work towards the 2013 SQM Supervisor standard in Housing.
* Experience in welfare rights and community care issues.
* Valid Practicing Certificate at application time.
* Strong management skills and team leadership.
* Proactive, client-focused, with excellent networking and marketing skills.
* Knowledge of publicly funded housing work and ability to handle private cases.
* Advocacy experience is an advantage.
* Excellent IT skills, including Microsoft Office and document management.
* Experience in the legal sector is preferable.
* Ability to manage social media to promote the company.
What we offer
* A supportive team environment.
* Excellent career progression opportunities.
* Support for legal awards and recognition.
The recruitment process complies with GDPR and relevant laws. Background checks including CRB/DBS will determine eligibility to work in the UK and suitability for the role.
Equal Opportunities:
Duncan Lewis is committed to diversity and equal opportunities. We aim for our staff to reflect the communities we serve. We guarantee interviews for disabled candidates meeting essential criteria. Please mention this in your cover letter if applicable.
Applications submitted by agencies will not be accepted for this vacancy.
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