Senior Legal Officer - Disrepair - #1758130

Job Title: Senior Legal Officer (Housing Condition/Disrepair)

Contract: Permanent

Grade: SO2: £36,124 - £37,938

Hours: 37 hours per week.

Leeds city Council Legal Services is looking to recruit a full time permanent Senior Legal Officer to practice in the area of Housing Condition/Disrepair Claims.

The Section solely covers the defending of Housing Condition/Disrepair claims against the Council. The successful postholder will have a personal workload of more straightforward Housing Disrepair Claims.

It is essential that the successful candidate has good interpersonal skills, is able to prioritise their own workload, act as an advocate in contested hearings and work to tight court deadlines. They must be able to work as part of a team and be flexible, enthusiastic and committed.

The post attracts local authority benefits including: access to West Yorkshire Pension Scheme; generous annual leave entitlement; training and development; flexible working, including working from home as well as Civic Hall in the Centre of Leeds.

Our council values are at the heart of everything we do:-

• Being open, honest and trusted – being your best
• Treating people fairly – feeling like you count
• Spending money wisely – making every pound go further
• Working as a team for Leeds – being part of a team with a “can do” attitude
• Working with people, engaging all communities – being proud to make a difference
  
  
  

Leeds City Council is an award winning and progressive authority, which works closely with local communities and businesses. At its core is the overall vision to be the Best City, to tackle poverty and inequality and improve quality of life for everyone who calls Leeds home.

Having a workforce that reflects the people of Leeds is important. We value diversity and fair treatment of employees and applicants. Our Legal Services department reflects the diversity of Leeds, and is a welcoming and inclusive team, with a positive, healthy workplace culture where everyone can be themselves.

Contact Rosemary Keczkes (Team Manager) on tel:0113 5350984 or via email at [email protected] or in her absence Paul Simpson on tel: 0113 3367963 [email protected] for an informal discussion about this post.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose: To carry out legal and administrative work and provide an effective, high quality, professional service within Legal Services and the City Council generally.

The post will be based within the Housing Disrepair team, but the post holder may be required to work flexibly across other sections within Legal Services.

Responsibilities

• To undertake a personal workload of more straightforward Housing Disrepair/Condition matters.
• To give written and oral advice as appropriate.
• To assist the Principal Legal Officers, Team Leaders and Section Head with all legal work carried out by the section.
• T o draft, issue and serve appropriate pleadings.
• To prepare cases for hearing in Courts and Tribunals, including drafting orders, case summaries, correspondence, taking statements, collating documents; to arrange for the attendance of witnesses at Court, and to prepare instructions for Counsel.
• To attend at Court with Counsel.
• To represent the Council, where appropriate, in Courts and Tribunals.
• To undertake legal research .
• To inform instructing services of all outcomes, post hearing; and prepare all necessary updates.
• To maintain and operate computerised systems.
• To deal with enquiries/correspondence from instructing services, external solicitors, members of the public, Council Departments and other agencies.
• To provide administrative support as required.
• To prepare and deliver training.
• To perform all functions and duties effectively and in accordance with the following:
  
  
  

– the Department's Standards, Objectives, Targets and Timescales

– the Department's Quality Procedures

• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
  
  
  

Qualifications

Member of CILEX (level 6), Graduate Diploma in Law (CPE) or a Degree in English Law

or

A non-legal degree level qualification or equivalent AND the applicant can demonstrate s/he has experience of working in a legal environment and dealing with legal work, 12 months experience in the past 5 years.

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

• To prioritise and organise own workload.
• To work within time constraints and meet strict deadlines.
• To establish effective relationships with people at different levels inside and outside the Council, ie external Solicitors, members of the public, and other Council Departments.
• To grasp and assimilate new information quickly.
• To work with minimum supervision within a supportive environment.
• To draft legal documentation, agreements and advice.
• To prepare cases for Courts and Tribunals, including drafting and preparing clear, concise and accurate documents, letters, memoranda and Court documents.
• Ability to act as an advocate for the Council in appropriate cases at Court and Tribunals.
• To express concepts and ideas clearly.
• To communicate effectively as a member of a team.
• Organising and prioritising own workload with minimum direction.
• Dealing with enquiries and/or correspondence from a wide range of people.
• Experience of using IT systems such as Windows, Word, Excel and Databases.
• Experience of legal research.
• Experience of assisting in the preparation of cases for Court or Tribunals.
• Experience of working as a member of a team.
  
  
  

Essential Behavioural & Other Characteristics

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon.
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
  
  
  

Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

• Experience of the preparation of court/tribunal documents e.g. witness statements.
• Experience of giving legal advice in writing and orally.
• Experience of advocacy.
  
  
  

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