Job Description
Closing date: Thursday 23 March 2023 at 11.30pm
Apply promptly! A high volume of applicants is expected for the role as detailed below, do not wait to send your CV.
Has your proven post qualification legal experience given you good people management and court advocacy skills and a thorough knowledge of housing law? Then join Shelter as a Lead Solicitor and you could soon be playing a crucial leadership role within our hub communities.
About Shelter
A home is a fundamental human need, as essential as education or healthcare. Yet millions of people across Britain struggle on a daily basis with homelessness, bad housing conditions, soaring rents, discrimination and the threat of eviction. So, we are striving for change, with individuals, in communities, across society, and leading the way to a safe home. We need ambitious, best-in-class individuals who are passionate about our cause to join us at this exciting time. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.
At Shelter we are united by our purpose to defend the right to a safe home. Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. We believe that to win that fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement for change. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, fair, equitable and transparent.
We have committed to combat racism both within and outside Shelter and welcome you on our journey to becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.
About the team
Consisting of a number of paralegals and support staff, including approximately 40 solicitors, our legal team delivers the highest quality housing advice and litigation services from our network of over 13 offices around the country. We also work closely with other teams in Shelter's services, taking referrals of complex casework to bring systemic change in our local communities. This particular role will be based in our Birmingham hub, but comes with national responsibilities.
About the role
As a key member of our Birmingham hub and wider Legal Leadership team, your prime objective will be to lead a specialist team of solicitors and paralegals focused on tackling housing injustice and unfair housing practices by using the law to assist people in our communities with housing need. Each day you'll be able to use your legal skills to challenge and fight cases that defend housing rights, challenge discriminatory practices relating to housing and create system change by defining or changing the law. You'll also get to work alongside the hub Strategic Lead, and with colleagues in other hubs, to represent people in our communities who need specialist legal advice and ensure they're aware of their rights and how to enforce them. And, when it comes to playing a prominent role in the strategic direction of Shelter legal services nationally, or ensuring Legal Aid contract requirements and performance targets are met, again, we'll count on you to deliver.
We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.
About you
To succeed, you'll need to meet supervisor status and have proven relevant experience that includes having carried your own caseload, preferably in housing litigation matters. Someone who leads by example, you're used to supervising and managing staff and relish the opportunity to encourage and support teams to meet Shelter's strategy. What's more, you have a proven ability to manage, supervise and carry out Independent File reviews and accurately time record and maintain good case management and have good all-round communication and writing skills. Put simply, you have everything it takes to ensure the housing priorities of your local community remain at the forefront of the service's work, planning and delivery within the Hub, as well as the wider community.
Benefits
We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.
Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We're here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.
To find out more about the role and the benefits of working for Shelter please visit our website. Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.
Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.
Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.