Principal Solicitor (Housing & Litigation)

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced housing and litigation lawyer to join our supportive and forward-thinking legal team. This is an excellent opportunity to undertake a broad spectrum of litigation and housing work within a large and ambitious district council.

We offer modern working practices including agile and remote working with full administrative support and a new modern case management system. The role will include a requirement to attend Court hearings in Leicestershire.

Who are we looking for?

We are seeking a qualified Solicitor or Barrister with substantial post-qualification experience in litigation and advocacy in both the civil and criminal Courts. The successful candidate will have experience of managing a varied and complex caseload, ideally including housing litigation such as possession proceedings, injunctions, anti-social behaviour and tenancy enforcement matters. Experience of wider local authority enforcement work, including environmental health, licensing, planning enforcement and debt recovery, would be advantageous. Applicants should be confident advocates, capable of representing clients in courts, tribunals and formal hearings, and able to provide clear, practical and commercially focused legal advice to officers, senior managers and elected members.

The role requires excellent drafting, negotiation, analytical and case management skills, together with the ability to work independently and effectively under minimal supervision. You will be a self-motivated and organised legal professional who can manage competing priorities, exercise sound judgement and develop productive working relationships with clients and colleagues. Applications are welcomed from candidates both within and outside the public sector, provided they can demonstrate the relevant litigation experience, advocacy skills and the ability to adapt quickly to the legal and operational environment of local government. Agile and remote working arrangements will be considered; however, the successful candidate must be able to attend court hearings and other meetings across Leicestershire as required.

If you feel you have the necessary experience and skills to undertake this role we would like to hear from you.

In return, we offer the following key benefits:

• Agile working policy
• Remote working
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme
• 35.5 to 40.5 days of annual leave (including bank holidays, depending on continuous service length. Pro rata for part time). Most services are closed over Christmas
• Professional fees paid
• Staff discounts and benefits scheme
• Car benefit scheme
• Free parking
• Subsidised leisure facilities, cycle to work scheme
• Town Centre & Train Station walking distance to office
• Leicester, Nottingham & Derby less than 30 mins away

About the Council

Charnwood Borough Council in Leicestershire is an ambitious and dynamic organisation with a strong focus on supporting communities, looking after the environment, and creating a thriving economy.

We are also customer focused, both internally and externally.

We are looking for a talented legal professional to help us deliver our ambitions and values.

Charnwood is one of the largest shire district councils in the country based on population, serving around 183,000 people.

We offer a range of services, with everything from refuse and recycling collections to the operation of a theatre and historic markets.

The Council strongly believes a diverse and inclusive workforce helps make our services better. We value the individual strengths of each colleague and the potential they bring.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and strive to promote a disability confident culture. To find out more about our Disability Confident commitments including reasonable adjustments and the guaranteed interview scheme please visit: www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/equality_diversity_and_inclusion.

We have also signed the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) and have achieved the AFC's Employer Recognition Gold Award.

Colleagues are also actively engaged through our Staff Forum and groups such as our Health and Wellbeing Group and Equality Working Group.

For an informal and confidential discussion about the role, please contact Nicola Ford, Head of Legal & Electoral Services Nicola.ford@charnwood.gov.uk

No agencies please.