Lawstop

Lawstop is a specialist firm of solicitors with offices in London, Brighton, Nottingham, Cornwall, Somerset, Hull, the Wirral, Sandwell, Leicestershire, and Rutland.

We are recruiting an experienced Housing Solicitor to join to join our dynamic legal aid practice. With a modern approach, the firm are legal experts within their areas of law and pride ourselves on high levels of client care, providing an outstanding service at all times.

We require a self-motivated individual with excellent communication and written skills. You will be highly organised, able to manage a varied workload and work well under pressure. Patience and tact are necessary as you will be assisting vulnerable people whose welfare is our priority.

Sound knowledge of legal aid funding is required.

As a solicitor joining our friendly and expanding team, we will provide support and on-going training; however, you must have enough experience to hit the ground running.

We are a versatile and adaptive practice with a unique approach to the delivery of legal services, and we work hard to achieve the best results for our clients.

HOUSING SUPERVISOR SOLICITOR

We are looking for:

A qualified solicitor who should meet the Legal Aid Agency Supervisor Standard for housing law and have significant experience of advising in housing law matters. Must understand the needs of the vulnerable client group that we work with and can balance their needs with assisting paralegals working on their cases.

The Solicitor will work with the Housing team including paralegals and administrative staff. Consistent with the business core objectives, you must demonstrate a commitment to access to social justice for all.

Key Responsibilities

Advice, Casework & Representation / Core Activities

Work with the Housing team to support the day-to-day managerial responsibility for the firm including ensuring compliance with all professional body requirements;

Provide advice, casework, representation, and advocacy services to clients directly on housing law matters, including Homelessness; Disrepair; Eviction; Possession; as well as undertaking your own advocacy

Assist with running the legal aid contract as appropriate, bill files, complete legal aid applications and comply with other Legal Aid Agency and SQM requirements;

Provide support and guidance to paralegals in the development of their professional skills (interviewing, advising, client care, legal research, drafting and advocacy) through one-to-one sessions and case oversight;

Carry out such other duties as may reasonably be requested.

Enabling

Assist in building and maintaining links with local community groups and advice networks and with legal professionals.

Person Specification Essential/ Desirable

Essential Skills

Must have a clean, valid Practising Certificate at the time of applying

Is passionate and enthusiastic about legal aid work and has a proven track record in delivering legal aid work and a wide range of experience.

Strong management skills

Committed team player with ability to approach team concerns fairly, foster culture of positive change

Previous proven supervisory experience and working to key performance indicators

Professional with a pro-active approach; excellent client care skills and ability to deal with vulnerable client matters in a sensitive compassionate manner and resolve complicated practicalities involved in Housing issues

Excellent analytical and organisational skills

Ability to use own initiative and sound judgment

Have extensive experience in dealing with all Housing related work

Experience in own advocacy is an advantage

Excellent IT Skills -familiar with Microsoft Office applications and document management skills

Desirable

• Holds Supervisor status

We offer excellent support and training opportunities to our staff. We reward performance, provide flexible working practices and positively encourage every individual’s contribution as to how we deliver services.

Hours: Full-time – 37.5 hours per week; 9.30am-5.30pm Monday–Friday (alternative working arrangements including part-time hours will be considered)

Salary: Competitive dependent on experience

Anticipated start: as soon as possible

Equal Opportunities: Lawstop is committed to Equal Opportunities and embraces diversity of its staff. The Company strives to ensure that our staff reflects the diversity of the communities we serve, which is reflective at all levels within our workforce. We guarantee an interview for candidates that disclose a disability and meet the essential requirements for the post. Please provide additional details in your covering letter if this applies.

The recruitment process will fully comply with GDPR and other applicable laws.

Mary Ward Legal Centre 

Are you a lawyer with a passion for tackling the injustice of our housing system? Do you want to be part of an organisation that shares your values of fighting for access to justice and changing lives? Mary Ward Legal Centre is a unique pan-London legal advice provider, renowned for providing high quality legal advice,

We are looking for an experienced Housing Solicitor to join our friendly and committed team and to contribute to life changing outcomes for our clients. You will be joining us at an exciting time of growth as we now have a brand-new office in Newham, as well as a base in Camden.

You will have experience of casework and representation in housing law, and of working under a Legal Aid Contract.

We offer excellent terms and conditions.

Salary: up to £40,137

Flexible working.

35 days’ annual leave in addition to statutory bank holidays.

6% employer’s contribution to a pension scheme.

We would consider applications for part-time working.

Application deadline: 5pm 11 September 2024.

To download an application form visit: Vacancies – Mary Ward Legal Centre