Hammersmith & Fulham Law Centre

Position:                       Trainee Solicitor

Working hours:             35 hours per week

Salary:                          £28,000 pa

Benefits:                       Payment of SQE Preparation Course and SQE 1 and 2 exam fees by the Law Centre

flexible working, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays

Location:                      Hammersmith & Fulham Law Centre, 1st floor, Hammersmith Library, Shepherds Bush Road, London W6 7AT

Reports to:                   Training Principal

Start date:                    1 October 2023

Application deadline:  5pm, 22 September 2023

Hammersmith & Fulham Law Centre uses the law as a tool for social change. Our expert lawyers help individuals and communities tackle the problems of everyday life: legal problems that, if unaddressed, can lead to homelessness, destitution, family breakup, detention or deportation. We represent people in: housing, immigration, employment, public law and welfare benefits.

We are currently recruiting a law graduate to join us as a trainee solicitor. We will cover the costs of your training and SQE 1 and 2 assessments. Following the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) pathway you will be supported to qualify as a solicitor specialising in social welfare law.

As an organisation that strives to be led by our community, we particularly welcome applications from people who have personal experience of the problems we support our clients to address.

Job Description here.

Please Send your CV to Dorota by 5pm, 22 September 2023 at: Dorota.Hubiak@hflaw.org.uk

Sandwell MBC

Housing Disrepair Solicitor
An opportunity has arisen for a knowledgeable Housing Disrepair Solicitor to join Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council. This is a newly created permanent role which will see you taking the lead on housing disrepair matters for the council.
You will have conduct of a Housing Disrepair caseload and benefit from a strong departmental structure and excellent client relationships. You will manage a caseworker who will give you support with your caseload.
One exciting element of this post is the strategic input that you will have over the Council’s approach to this vibrant area of law. You will advise on Council policy with relation to Housing disrepair law and have the scope to further build upon strong client relationships.
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council is situated at the very heart of the West Midlands, just a stone’s throw from Birmingham. A large, diverse, metropolitan borough, Sandwell offers exciting opportunities for all in a friendly, supportive environment.
This position allows for hybrid working with a significant remote working component.
Responsibilities:
Undertake all aspects of legal work relating to housing disrepair and litigation
Manage housing disrepair cases at all stages of pre-litigation/litigation
Have conduct of Section 82 Environmental Protection Act 1990 cases
Ensure compliance with the Housing Disrepair Pre-Action Protocol
Advise on the management of risk on complex and contentious legal issues
Represent the Council in court and Conduct advocacy where appropriate
Negotiate and draft complex and sensitive agreements and documents in the area of Housing Disrepair and litigation and to provide clear case strategy on cases
Assess evidence in relation to Housing disrepair matters and determine the likely prospects of success and the public interest in prosecuting matters
Experience:
Qualified solicitor or barrister with three or more years PQE
Two or more years’ experience of housing disrepair law
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
Benefits
Hybrid working with significant remote working
Formal policy allowing for flexible working
Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme
Access to an award-winning employee benefits scheme
31 days annual leave, rising to 36 after five years continuous service
Option to buy an additional 10 days annual leave per annum
Apply Today
Please send any applications or requests for information to our retained recruitment partners Venn Group at sandwellmbc@venngroup.com or 0121 616 0660

Closing date: 22 September 2023

Shelter

Team Leader

£35,090 pa plus excellent benefits

Remote, with travel to Sheffield when required

Closing date: 24 September 2023 at 11.30pm

*This role is being advertised as a Team Leader however on appointment your job title will be NHAS Expert Advice Service Team Leader.

Do you have a good understanding of homelessness legislation and housing law, plus some experience of working in a team leader or senior role in a service offering welfare advice or a similar customer service organisation? Then join Shelter as Team Leader and you could soon be playing a vital role within our expert advice service in the National Homelessness Advice Service (NHAS) team.

About Shelter
A home is a fundamental human need, as essential as education or healthcare. Yet millions of people across Britain struggle on a daily basis with homelessness, bad housing conditions, soaring rents, discrimination and the threat of eviction. So, we are striving for change, with individuals, in communities, across society, and leading the way to a safe home. We need ambitious, best-in-class individuals who are passionate about our cause to join us at this exciting time. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

At Shelter we are united by our purpose to defend the right to a safe home. Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. We believe that to win that fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement for change. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, fair, equitable and transparent.

We have committed to combat racism both within and outside Shelter and welcome you on our journey to becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.

About the team

Consisting of a Service Manager, three Team Leaders and around 15 advisers, the NHAS is provided by Shelter and funded by DLUHC as part of its Voluntary & Community Frontline Sector Grant Programme. Responsible for promoting and supporting best practice in the provision of high-quality Housing and Welfare Benefits advice, we handle over 10,000 calls and webchats per year on the NHAS Expert Advice line from professionals, while our training team provides free training in housing law to 4,500 advisers from both local authority and advice sectors.

About the role

As Team Leader, you’ll be responsible for the day-to-day management of the service, including ensuring it’s resourced effectively and that contract KPIs are delivered. Indeed, we’ll rely on you to see that we provide a high-quality service that delivers Shelter’s strategy. That means leading and supervising a staff team delivering a professional, impartial and pragmatic specialist housing & welfare benefits advice service to local authorities, Citizens Advice and other advice agencies, whilst working to Shelter quality standards. Monitoring the level, nature and quality of the service, mentoring, supporting and coaching advisers, identifying best practice and helping the Service Manager to develop and integrate new ways of working – these are just some aspects of this interesting and varied role.

About you

In addition to familiarity with the relevant legislation, ideally including including landlord and tenant law, you’ll need proven experience of supporting and managing staff in an advice/ customer service related setting. An inclusive and open mindset is important too, as are good decision making skills and the ability to delegate effectively. Proactive, collaborative, compassionate and open to change, you’re as comfortable working your own initiative as you are supporting your team. Proficiency using Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel and email, is also required.

Benefits
We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.

To find out more about the role and the benefits of working for Shelter please visit our website. Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.

Safeguarding is everyone’s business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.