The London Borough of Ealing has recently reorganised its Legal Services Department and you will be part of the combined Housing and Social Care Team. We are seeking to appoint a Housing lawyer, with the drive to contribute to the development of innovative legal strategies and delivering further improvement and efficiency in providing cost effective legal support and advice to the Council’s Housing Department.
This is an exciting opportunity for the successful candidate to handle an interesting and varied workload, to provide important and cost-effective legal advice and support regarding a wide range of issues, with significant consequences for the clients in the Council. It is also an opportunity to work in a local authority that is committed to ongoing improvement in all aspects of its organisation and service delivery.
You will provide legal advice and support on all matters relating to housing law and issues relating to community safety and to ensure the provision of a high quality, efficient, cost effective and customer focused service. You will conduct legal proceedings and represent the client department with a particular focus on the Council’s functions with regard to housing, homelessness and issues relating to community safety. You will also provide legal advice on other council functions as appropriate.
The successful applicant will:
• Be a qualified solicitor, barrister or legal executive.
• Have the ability to obtain and evaluate evidence, prepare cases and advocate effectively on behalf of the Council before courts, tribunals, inquiries and other bodies.
• Have the ability to adopt a clear and systematic approach to problem solving, including the ability to effectively research new law and policy and to apply that research to meet the needs of the client.
• Have the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with non-lawyers and with lawyers and advise at all organisational levels including Members and Directors.
• Have experience of handling their own caseload and of working unsupervised or with little supervision.
• Have experience of providing lawful innovative and creative solutions to legal issues where appropriate.
• Have experience of drafting legal and court documentation.
• Have some advocacy experience.
• Have experience or express a willingness to adapt to working remotely.
• Have excellent knowledge and understanding of the law and procedure relating to the Council’s housing and community safety functions.
• Have a sound ability to conduct straight forward and complex legal proceedings relating to housing matters and community safety and assist in the development of policy relating to those areas.
• Have an excellent ability to develop and maintain an expert knowledge of the law and practice in relation to housing and community safety issues.
Any offer of a position shall be subject to a Criminal Records Bureau statement and DBS checks. The post is suitable for a job share.
This role is subject to Ealing’s enhanced vetting process.
Closing date: 13 June 2022
