Legal Officer

Job Purpose

To provide support to solicitors and legal advice and assistance to various sections and teams within Housing Services in matters where it both intends to instruct the Law and Governance Division and otherwise, or has already instructed it.

Responsibilities

• Assisting solicitors in the day-to-day management of individual cases, taking much of the initiative and responsibility for cases involving notices to quit, notices to extend introductory tenancies and abatement notices, carrying out file reviews as required and deputising for the solicitor with responsibility for a matter when necessary
• Providing legal advice to Housing and other Council staff on any legal issues relating to housing issues, tenancy enforcement and/or proposed or current possession proceedings based on breach of tenancy (including neighbour nuisance and anti-social behaviour) and/or injunction orders and/or committal applications and/or closure orders and/or removal orders and legal issues arising thereupon based on several pieces of legislation.
• In company with Solicitors or acting independently, attending multi agency or other meetings to provide legal input, clarify the law and guide Housing staff and external agencies and partners on available options.
• Assisting solicitors with the creation and drafting of policies and procedures relating to housing issues, explaining their applicability and relevance to cases having been referred to or under consideration for referral to the legal team and providing guidance for colleagues in the housing team on the same
• Checking referrals and evidence provided for legal action from various sections and teams in Housing Services , advising therein and helping ready that referral for legal action
• Drafting various types of notices, claim forms, particulars of claim, applications to court, gas warrants and directions to leave.
• Interviewing members of the public, technical staff from various sections and teams within Housing Services, staff from a wide range of external partner agencies, often to source evidence directly from them, in order to prepare witness statements and affidavits
• Clarifying and explaining the legal process to and supporting complainants and witness in difficult circumstances
• Liaising and corresponding with Housing staff, partner agencies and technical officers
• Assisting in the preparation of trial indexes and bundles of documents for High Court, County Court and Magistrates Court.
• Assisting in all aspects of the preparation of cases for the purposes of providing legal advice to Housing Services, seeking Possession and/or Removal Orders and/or injunctions and/or committal proceedings and/or closure orders and/or gas abatement notices and warrants of entry sought under various pieces of legislation and to be heard in the County Court, High Court and the Magistrates/Youth Court
• Attending at County Court, High Court and Magistrates/Youth Court hearings with Counsel.
• Drafting and sending out correspondence on the LHOs own initiative; drafting, checking and advising on correspondence for housing colleagues and otherwise.
• Dealing with correspondence and telephone queries in relation to individual cases
• Paying for Public Trustee fees on a purchase card up to an agreed limit
• Carrying out such duties as may from time to time be assigned to the postholder having regard to the grade and scale of the post and the experience and qualifications of the postholder.

Experience

• Experience in Civil Law (preferably Housing Law)
• Interviewing and taking statements/affidavits from witnesses.
• Experience of drafting legal documents, preparing cases for Court and advising client.

Qualifications / Training

• Degree level, a legal executive or other similar qualification.

Connect2

Dudley is a trading style of Dudley & Kent Commercial Services LTD - A joint venture between Dudley Metropolitan Council & Commercial Services Kent Ltd. Connect2

Dudley is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business. It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.