Housing and Litigation Solicitor – Permanent
Salary: £44,075 – £47,181 (pay rise pending)
Location: Ormskirk / Hybrid, with travel to other locations required
We are seeking a skilled and motivated Solicitor with extensive experience in Housing Conditions Claims to play a key role in delivering a high quality, proactive and customer focused legal service to the Council.
Reporting to the Assistant Director of Law and Governance, you will manage a varied caseload while supporting strategic priorities and ensuring the Council operates within a robust legal framework. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of local government, contributing to the delivery of vital housing and regulatory services that directly impact our communities
Please note that this role will involve appearing in Court and as such, you will need to have the relevant rights of audience and be able to attend Court hearings in Wigan on regular basis.
About the Role
As a Solicitor in this role you will:
Manage a diverse legal caseload with a primary focus on housing matters, including housing conditions claims, possession proceedings, injunctions and anti-social behaviour cases
Provide clear, pragmatic and solution-focused legal advice to officers and elected Members on complex and often sensitive issues
Represent the Council in court, tribunals and inquiries, acting as an advocate and ensuring effective legal outcomes
Advise on a broader range of local government matters where required, including environmental health, planning, licensing, employment and regulatory work
Stay up to date with evolving legislation, policy and guidance, ensuring compliance and best practice across service areas
Support committees, working groups and meetings by providing timely and accurate legal input
Contribute to the development of legal procedures, policies and service improvements to enhance efficiency and effectiveness
Build strong working relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners to support joined-up service delivery
You will play a key role in supporting the Council’s corporate objectives, helping to manage risk, uphold governance standards and strengthen legal compliance across the organisation.
What You Will Bring
You will be a capable and confident legal professional with experience in housing law and litigation, and a strong commitment to public service. You will bring:
Qualification as a Solicitor with demonstrable experience in housing litigation and public sector law
Strong technical knowledge of housing law, specifically, housing conditions claims, possession, ASB and injunctions.
Experience of working in a local government or similarly complex environment, with an understanding of political and regulatory sensitivities
The ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work to tight deadlines
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to advise senior officers and elected Members
A proactive, solution-focused approach with sound judgement and attention to detail
The ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a collaborative team environment
You will be driven to deliver excellent outcomes, contribute to continuous improvement and support a culture that is customer-focused, professional and responsive.
For more information please see the job description here [pdf. 277kb]
If you are interested in this fantastic opportunity or would like to discuss the role in more detail, please contact Katherine Brioude Katherine.Brioude@northyorks.gov.uk or Penny Keatings Penny.Keatings@northyorks.gov.uk
Key dates:
Closing date: Monday 20 July ( midnight)
Shortlisting date: Thursday 23 July
Apply:
To apply please visit https://nyresourcing.co.uk/west-lancashire-borough-council-legal-opportunities/
Provide us with your CV including a supporting statement in one Microsoft Word document. Your supporting statement should outline your motivation for applying and how you meet the criteria for the role.
Please state which role or roles you are applying for in the header of your email.
Please also complete and email the following questionnaire to accompany your application.
Applications should be emailed to Executive.ResourcingSolutions@northyorks.gov.uk. Please do not send PDFs.
It is important that your CV includes: your full contact details (telephone, email, address), full employment history (name of employer, job titles, dates of employment and salary), full education history (qualification, grade, dates and place of study), explanation of any gaps in employment and the contact details of at least two referees including your current / most recent employer indicating whether you consent to us contacting each referee prior to interview. Please also provide details of your current salary and notice period.
These are politically restricted posts (see Section 2 Local Government and Housing Act 1989).
