InHouse Legal Counsel

Job Introduction

DBS Level: Basic

Hybrid / Ealing

About A2Dominion

We are a UK housing association committed to a new vision – providing homes people love to live in. With over 38,000 homes in management across London and southern England, we provide a wide range of homes for social, affordable, and private rent, specialist services, as well as homes for sale and shared ownership. 
     
Role Overview

As In House Legal Counsel, you will be providing pragmatic solution focused legal services and support the head of legal and team managers in the protection of A2Dominion’s property portfolio and brand.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide specialist legal advice and carry out legal work on behalf of our in house client.
• Manage own files from inception to completion
• Contribute to the drafting of policy, process and technical guidance on legal issues.
• Take client instructions, and provide legal advice both orally and in writing, and client care/case management generally
• Be a trusted, commercial and solutions-focused business partner, keeping up to date with legal developments and sharing knowledge across the business.
• Represent the team/department with internal and external stakeholders where appropriate.
• Respond to requests for information from across the business in good time to enable the business to meet its SLAs, in particular in respect of MP enquiries and complaints
• Conduct cross-tenure legal work and advocacy across housing and property management matters, particularly possession work, delivering early cost-effective solutions and providing client advice and care.

More about you:

• GCSE maths and English A*-C or equivalent
• Educated to degree level or equivalent with relevant post graduate qualification to enable practice at solicitor/CILEx fellow level.
• A qualified lawyer (solicitor or CILEx fellow equivalent) with experience in practice – in house and/or private practice.
• A strong property background with good working knowledge of all legal tenures, in particular those relating to social housing, Landlord and Tenant, and the work of the Group.
• Experience in housing management litigation, CPR practice and procedure, settlement negotiations, and advocacy in county courts and tribunals.
• An understanding of social housing and housing associations as a business
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, a confident negotiator, with an ability to influence at all levels and explain and put complex legal and technical terms into practical workable solutions.

Please refer to the attached Job Description for full details of the role, including key responsibilities and requirements.

Why A2Dominion?
As an employee of A2Dominion, we want you to feel rewarded and have a choice of flexible benefits, salary exchange benefits, and rewards and discounts that work for you, wherever you are in your life.
 
 We offer a wide range of staff benefits. For this role, these include:
     * 25 days’ holiday (Plus Bank Holidays)
     * Up to 8% contributory pension
     * In addition, all permanent and fixed-term employees receive a generous annual allowance of up to £300 to use towards health and lifestyle benefits for both you and your family.
     
Diversity & Inclusion
We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. Our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible, and we guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the process - just contact our Resourcing Team at resourcing@a2dominion.co.uk
     
We know some people hesitate to apply if they don’t meet every requirement. If that’s you, we encourage you to apply if your skills and experience align – please get in touch with us to talk it through. At A2Dominion, we value diversity, embrace flexibility, and are a family-friendly employer. Everyone belongs here. Join us and help make a lasting difference in the lives of our customers.

This vacancy is being managed by Hollie Shepherd. We reserve the right to close this role upon appointment of a successful candidate.