Legal Services Manager - North London

Morgan Hunt currently require a Legal Services Manager for Housing Trust based in North London on a Temporary basis
Pay Rate : £48.44ph Ltd
Hours:35 hrs Mon to Fri - 9am and 17.00pm
Location: North London
Duration : 6 month on going contract

About the Role

Leading, and empowering a team to effectively deliver first class legal services improving business and customer outcomes whilst minimising risk and spend.

You will be a voice to the business on legal matters, particularly in housing management issues and associated legal risk, building great relationships with the operational teams in the process. You'll take ownership of cases, working collaboratively to drive them to conclusion.

Duties

Lead and mentor a team of paralegals to ensure assigned casework is managed effectively and to high quality.

Identify career progression, support and training needs in your team and put in place appropriate training and learning plans.

Swiftly address performance and conduct issues in line with trust policy.

Monitor your team's caseloads to ensure performance indicators and are met. Lead on business reporting as required.

Ensure cases are managed in accordance with practice management standards and procedures set for the team and report on compliance.

Ensure a consistent, collaborative and visible service is being delivered during busy periods. Appropriately manage resources where staff are absent.

Manage your own caseload of legal cases as required, providing specialist advice and to support the overall capacity of your team.

Ensure high risk legal cases are flagged and prioritised. Anticipate risks to the organisation and propose mitigations.

Work collaboratively with relevant teams on disrepair cases that present a risk to the organisation.

Build and maintain relationships with third party panel solicitors. Ensure cases referred are managed in accordance with contract agreements and in line with trusts values.

Manage legal spend in accordance with budget and matrix manage operational teams in order to have ownership of legal spend. To this end, maximise cost effectiveness through an evaluation framework weighing up risk and deciding when to settle cases and when to utilise panel solicitors

Skills & Experience

Pending confirmation of legislative changes, this role may require a qualification to demonstrate competence. If not already qualified, there may be an expectation to study towards a professional qualification.

Substantial knowledge and experience in dealing with housing litigation matters including possession, injunction, disrepair, breach of tenancy claims including anti-social behaviour, fraud and sub-letting, property disputes, leasehold management issues including breach of lease claims, tenancy succession and rent debt recovery and service charge disputes.

Experience supervising others' work and managing a high functioning team.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Ability to work independently and lead a team in a fast-paced environment

Proven ability of exercising good judgment and discretion to identify and mitigate against significant risk

Excellent project management and planning skills with the ability to prioritise own work and the capacity and capability of the legal team.

Strong commercial awareness and excellent analytical and problem solving skills.

Excellent organisational skills, accuracy and attention to detail

Proficiency in using legal databases and Microsoft office suite

Excellent research skills

A track record of developing strong relationships within internally and third party stakeholders including panel solicitors

Hold a valid Practising Certificate (or equivalent) to enable the person in post to

Carry out Reserved Work as defined by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (2)

Be responsible for the supervision of members of the team who are not qualified to undertake Reserved Work.

Substantial PQE working within a social housing legal department in private practice, a housing association or local authority and managing own legal caseload of similar cases is required.

Morgan Hunt is a multi-award-winning recruitment Business for interim, contract and temporary recruitment and acts as an Employment Agency in relation to temporary vacancies. Morgan Hunt is an equal opportunities employer, job suitability are assessed on merit in accordance with their skills, qualifications and abilities to perform the relevant duties required in a particular role.