Assistant Housing Lawyer (Housing and Litigation)

Salary details: £44331 - £47532

Are you a housing law specialist ready to make a real impact in your community?

We’re looking for a skilled and proactive legal professional to join our high-performing in-house team as Assistant Housing Lawyer (Housing and Litigation). If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and want to contribute to meaningful public service, this could be the next step in your legal career.

About Royal Greenwich

At Royal Greenwich, we’re proud of our heritage and ambitious for our future. Home to a World Heritage Site and a thriving, diverse community, we are committed to delivering high-quality services and supporting our residents through challenge and change. Legal Services are at the heart of achieving that mission — and you could be too.

The Role

As Assistant Housing Lawyer (Housing and Litigation), you will play a key role in supporting the Council’s Housing functions. You’ll be responsible for a varied and rewarding caseload focused on rent arrears, debt recovery, and possession proceedings — including commercial premises — with the opportunity to advocate directly in the County Court.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a legal professional seeking hands-on litigation experience in a supportive and collaborative legal team. You will provide expert advice to officers and members, help shape housing enforcement strategies, and contribute to keeping vulnerable residents housed and supported.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage a caseload focused on housing litigation, particularly rent arrears and possession claims.
• Represent the Council in County Court hearings.
• Draft legal documents, pleadings, witness statements, and negotiate settlements.
• Advise on debt recovery and commercial premises possession issues.
• Interpret and brief officers on changes in housing law and regulations.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders including courts, counsel, and solicitors.

Embrace the use of digital tools and case management systems to support efficient working.

What We’re Looking For

We’re seeking a legally qualified and motivated individual who’s ready to contribute from day one.

Essential Criteria:

• A qualified solicitor, barrister or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx).
• Strong understanding of housing and debt recovery law, with relevant litigation experience.
• Confident County Court advocate.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to manage a busy caseload with minimal supervision.
• Commitment to the Council’s values, equality, and service excellence.

Why Join Us?

At Royal Greenwich, your work matters. We invest in our staff and offer a package designed to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

Employee Benefits:

• 29 days annual leave (rising to 32 after 5 years)
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Cycle to Work and Season Ticket Loan schemes
• Access to childcare support and wellbeing initiatives

Excellent learning and development opportunities

Our Commitment to Diversity

We’re proud of the diversity of our workforce and community. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

How to Apply

To be considered, please ensure your supporting statement clearly outlines how you meet each point in the Person Specification. Each application is assessed against the Person Specification, so detail and clarity are key.

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Karen Mitchell;    Karen.mitchell@royalgreenwich.gov.uk     020 8921 5176  

Diversity Statement: Royal Borough of Greenwich values the diversity of its community and aims to have a workforce that reflects this. We therefore encourage applications from all sections of the community.

High Volume Applications: Royal Borough of Greenwich reserves the right to close any vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date should there be a high volume of applications received.

Advert Close: All vacancies close at midnight unless otherwise stated.

Full Employment History: A full employment history is required for this role. Please provide a full employment history, together with a satisfactory written explanation of any gaps in employment.

Salary: Salaries advertised are for a standard working week of 35 hours unless otherwise stated. Please use this 'Salary Calculator to help you calculate a pro rata salary.

Our Staff Values: Our Staff Values are important to us. Candidates will be continuously assessed against our staff values throughout the recruitment process. Where candidates demonstrate views and behaviours that do not meet the standards of our staff values, we reserve the right to reject their application/ registration.