Social Housing Solicitor-Director - Salary £68K per annum - Birmingham
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 key practice areas, known for our diligence and professionalism. As a paperless law firm with over 500 personnel embracing hybrid working, we serve both corporate and private clients across 25 areas of law in 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 services in the UK, with a growing private client practice. We are Investors in People Gold Standard accredited and nationally recognized for our work, having received numerous awards including Law Firm of the Year (2024 LexisNexis, 2023 Modern Law), and being named in the Times 200 Best Law Firms. We are committed to diversity, inclusion, and continuous professional development.
Housing Department Background:
Our Housing team is renowned for legal conviction and advocacy, recognised by The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners UK. We provide legal assistance to landlords and tenants on issues like homelessness, disrepair, eviction, possession, neighborhood disputes, and more. Our solicitors are experienced in housing disputes, representing clients at all court levels, including judicial review matters at the High Court.
Main Responsibilities of the Role
1. Report directly to and collaborate with the Board to meet performance targets.
2. Provide technical expertise and guidance in all aspects of Housing work.
3. Have significant experience representing clients under the Housing Court Duty Scheme over the last 2 years.
4. Manage and supervise Solicitors, Trainee Solicitors, and Caseworkers, overseeing caseloads.
5. Assist with training and development within the department.
6. Handle a variety of housing cases, including homelessness, disrepair, eviction, possession, property disputes, and more, including advocacy.
7. Manage emergency cases and strategic litigation.
8. Prepare and manage funding applications to the Legal Aid Agency.
9. Draft legal documents, including witness statements, and process evidence.
10. Maintain a proactive professional approach, with strong client care skills and an interest in business development and marketing.
Key Skills Required:
1. 3+ years PQE with proven experience in Housing and Litigation, including court representation.
2. Experience as a Duty Advisor under the Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme in the last 2 years.
3. Meet or be willing to work towards the 2013 SQM Supervisor standard in Housing.
4. Experience in welfare rights and community care issues.
5. Valid Practicing Certificate at application time.
6. Strong management and supervisory skills.
7. Team player with fair approach to team concerns and fostering positive change.
8. Excellent networking, communication, and marketing skills.
9. Knowledge of publicly funded housing work and ability to handle privately funded cases.
10. Advocacy experience is an advantage.
11. Excellent IT skills, familiar with Microsoft Office and document management systems.
12. Legal sector experience is preferable.
13. 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
Our recruitment process complies with GDPR and other applicable laws. Background checks, including CRB/DBS, will determine eligibility and suitability.
Equal Opportunities:
Duncan Lewis is committed to diversity and equal opportunity. We ensure our staff reflect the communities we serve. We guarantee interviews for candidates with disabilities who meet the essential requirements; please specify in your cover letter if applicable.
Note: Applications submitted by agencies will not be accepted for this vacancy.
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