The posting
Contract to start ASAP
Duration: 12 weeks with a possible extension.
Full job description
Solicitor – Litigation
Hours: Full-time (35 hours per week)
Contract: 12 Week Temporary Contract, ending 10 January 2027
Provide Specialist Litigation Support Across a Major Housing Organisation
We're recruiting an experienced Solicitor – Litigation to join Southern Housing, providing high-quality legal advice and representation across a varied litigation caseload.
This is a specialist legal role suited to a qualified solicitor with strong experience in housing litigation, civil litigation, dispute resolution, or a related area. You'll support the organisation in managing complex legal matters, reducing risk, protecting its interests, and ensuring cases are handled efficiently and professionally.
You'll work closely with housing teams, senior managers, external counsel, residents, operational colleagues, contractors, and other stakeholders, providing practical and commercially sound legal advice.
About the Role
As Solicitor – Litigation, you'll manage a varied caseload of contentious matters, providing legal advice, drafting court documents, managing proceedings, negotiating settlements, and representing Southern Housing where appropriate.
You'll need strong analytical skills, sound legal judgement, and the ability to manage complex and sensitive matters within tight deadlines.
What you'll be doing:
- Managing a varied litigation caseload from initial instruction through to resolution
- Providing specialist legal advice on contentious housing and civil litigation matters
- Drafting pleadings, witness statements, correspondence, settlement agreements, and other legal documents
- Preparing cases for court, tribunal, or other formal proceedings
- Managing possession, injunction, disrepair, tenancy, leasehold, anti-social behaviour, and related housing litigation matters
- Advising internal teams on legal risk, strategy, and appropriate courses of action
- Representing the organisation in negotiations, hearings, and case conferences where appropriate
- Instructing and managing external counsel and legal experts
- Working closely with housing management, property, compliance, and operational teams
- Reviewing evidence and advising on prospects of success
- Negotiating settlements and alternative dispute resolution outcomes where appropriate
- Ensuring litigation is progressed efficiently and within required timescales
- Maintaining accurate case records and legal files
- Monitoring legal developments relevant to housing and civil litigation
- Supporting policy, procedure, and service improvement from a legal perspective
- Providing training and guidance to colleagues on litigation-related issues
- Managing legal costs and supporting value-for-money decision-making
- Escalating significant legal, reputational, or financial risks appropriately
- Ensuring compliance with professional, regulatory, and organisational standards
Requirements
We're looking for an experienced, commercially aware, and confident litigation solicitor with strong legal judgement and the ability to manage complex cases independently.
You'll ideally have:
- Qualified Solicitor status in England and Wales
- Current practising certificate
- Significant post-qualification experience in litigation
- Experience in housing litigation, civil litigation, property litigation, or a closely related field
- Strong knowledge of court procedures and civil litigation processes
- Experience handling possession, disrepair, injunction, tenancy, leasehold, or anti-social behaviour matters
- Strong drafting and legal research skills
- Experience preparing witness statements, pleadings, and court documentation
- Strong negotiation and dispute resolution skills
- Ability to provide clear and pragmatic legal advice to non-legal colleagues
- Experience managing external counsel and legal suppliers
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong organisational and case management skills
- Ability to manage competing priorities and tight deadlines
- Strong understanding of legal risk and governance
- Experience within housing associations, local authorities, or public-sector organisations would be highly advantageous
- Eligibility to work in the UK
- Ability to provide three years of references/work history
- Ability to complete a Criminal Convictions Declaration
- Ability to sign a Confidentiality Agreement
Why Apply
- Opportunity to work with Southern Housing
- Specialist litigation role within a major housing organisation
- Varied caseload across housing and civil litigation matters
- Opportunity to work closely with senior stakeholders and operational teams
- Chance to influence legal strategy and risk management
- Senior interim opportunity at £414.27 per day
Benefits
- Weekly Pay
- Company Pension
- Ongoing Agency Support
Additional Information
Client: Southern Housing
Location: Fleet House, 59-61 Clerkenwell Road, London, EC1M 5LA
Number of Positions: 1
Hours: 35 hours per week
Start Date: 19 October 2026
Contract End Date: 10 January 2027
Contract Duration: 12 weeks
Pay Rate: £414.27 per day Umbrella
Contract Type: Temporary
Job Types: Full-time, Temporary contract
Pay: £414.27 per day
Benefits:
- Company pension
Application question(s):
- Are you a qualified Solicitor in England and Wales with a current practising certificate?
- Do you have significant experience managing litigation matters independently?
- Do you have experience in housing litigation, property litigation, civil litigation, or a closely related field?
- Do you have experience preparing court documentation, witness statements, pleadings, and legal advice?
- Are you able to work 35 hours per week from 19 October 2026?
Experience:
- Litigation: 3 years (preferred)
- Housing / Property Litigation: 2 years (preferred)
- Social Housing / Public Sector Legal Work: 1 year (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- Solicitor Qualification – England & Wales (required)
- Current Practising Certificate (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
Disclaimer: On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client for their consideration of your suitability for the role. I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify iWork Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.
OR118914-10-26
