£40,000 per annum

Bristol

Closing date: 14 September 2018 at 11.30pm

Interview date: 24 September 2018

We’re looking for an experienced, strategic and target-driven Managing Solicitor with inspirational leadership skills to join our team. Here, you will provide a wide range of legal services for Shelter staff, external organisations and the public, including litigation and consultancy work, while also taking direct line management responsibility for Shelter solicitors.

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.

Shelter Bristol operates a dynamic city centre hub offering a range of holistic advice and support services to a diverse range of clients, including legal advice and representation and housing related support services. Shelter Legal Services has a national reputation for excellence in housing law. Working closely with other teams in Shelter’s services, our aim is to be able to offer all Shelter clients a complete advice, advocacy and litigation service and to fill gaps in existing legal services.

About the Role

Based within Shelter Legal Service in the Bristol Hub, our Managing Solicitor will maintain an active caseload, including litigation, which enables homeless people or those with housing problems to enforce their existing rights. You will also carry out follow-up casework and litigation, including research, dispatching copies of relevant material, writing briefing papers and providing support to advisers. You will also be expected to provide strong leadership and effective management to a staff team of solicitors, including providing training as necessary. This will see you ensure that every target and objective is met and the highest standards of casework quality from all team members.

About you

You will have a substantial post qualification experience, including litigation and representing in court on behalf of homeless people or people in housing need, plus extensive experience of handling a wide range of housing cases, both public and private sector. A sound knowledge of legal aid work is essential, as is experience providing effective management and mentoring to a team of staff. Approachable, proactive and resilient, you will be an outstanding communicator, both verbal and written, with excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills.

Benefits include: 30 days’ annual leave, the possibility of flexible working, enhanced family friendly policies and significant opportunities for learning and development.

For further information about the role and the benefits of working for Shelter, please visit our website.

Safeguarding is everyone’s business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

At Shelter, we welcome and encourage applications from everyone regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation. We are facing diverse problems, so need diverse people to tackle them.

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.