Temporary Legal Caseworker

Provide specialist legal support to general needs of the housing team, representing the company in court, manage cases referred by housing officers, maximising cost effectiveness, help with ensure rent collection, produce reports and provide legal advice training.

Client Details

Housing Association

Description

Accountabilities

• Manage a varied caseload of housing management legal issues. This will include ASB and community safety, breach of tenancy matters, rent recovery, tenancy fraud and disrepair, succession,hoarding.
• Provide legal advice training and support to housing officers and other colleagues on solutions available to them related to ASB and community safety, breach of tenancy matters, rent recovery, succession and disrepair.
• Manage cases referred by housing officers where legal action is required: including, preparing notices and particulars of claim for possession proceedings, collating evidence, preparing witness statements, consent orders and stay applications and making applications for injunctions.
• Personally representing and advocating on behalf of the company in court on a range of housing management issues. Instructing and liaising with solicitors and barristers and negotiating with defence solicitors where required.
• Maximising cost effectiveness of the company's legal budget, by evaluating cases and offering a range of solutions taking into account business need and customer satisfaction, this may include use of CCTV and professional witnesses, the appropriateness of legal action and negotiating with defence lawyers to reduce overall costs.
• Support the work of the housing team to deliver an excellent standard of customer service, leading to improved resident satisfaction in your area.
• Act promptly on rent/debt cases referred by housing officers to help them ensure rent collection levels increase and rent arrears decrease.
• Working with colleagues and customers to carry out dispute resolution to prevent cases escalating to a legal route.
• Act as a source of expertise to the teams on ASB, succession, tenancy fraud and disrepair.
• Representing the company on a range of issues at local and casework level including ASB borough meetings, safeguarding and and child protection panels and casework panels.

Reporting

• Produce reports and statistical information on your work for panels, casework panels or committees as required.

General

• Understand the importance of taking care of your own health and safety and that of others;therefore, follow the guidance outlined in the company's Safety Management System.

• At all times follow the financial regulations, policies and procedures

• Support the operational teams to ensure legal risks are identified and managed in processes and procedures at an early stage.

• Support the operational teams by providing constructive challenge to decision making.

• Ensure you follow the financial regulations, policies and procedures at

• Ensure that you follow relevant Health and Safety policies and related procedures, keeping up to date with changes and taking action to maintain personal health and safety and that of others.

Profile

Up to date knowledge of housing law in relation to anti-social behaviour and tenancy enforcement

An understanding of the housing association's statutory, regulatory and contractual obligations

Significant experience of evaluating, managing and resolving complex housing and legal casework

Experience ensuring that any fraud investigations comply with relevant legislation

Prepare claims and represent the company in court when necessary

Have a law degree and/or LPC

Customer focus - committed to providing the best service to customers, commercial awareness

Accountability and delivery - accountable for the accuracy and completeness of your work, remaining calm under pressure, making informed and reasonable decisions.

Service improvement - approach your work with rigour, challenging yourself to identify opportunities for service improvement, working in partnership

Communication and inclusion - communicate clearly and openly, including all and celebrating differences, listening and responding positively to others

Job Offer

Temporary position with competitive hourly rate