Location: Bolton
Employment Type: Full-time, onsite
Salary: Depending on experience

Role Overview

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a motivated and experienced Housing Disrepair Fee Earner to join an established Housing Disrepair team in Bolton.

You will manage a caseload of Housing Disrepair claims from initial instruction through to settlement, ensuring that matters are progressed efficiently and clients receive a consistently high standard of service.

The role will involve reviewing evidence, assessing liability and quantum, progressing claims through the pre-action process, conducting negotiations and preparing cases for litigation where necessary.

You will work under the supervision of a Senior Housing Disrepair Solicitor, escalating complex, high-risk or litigated matters when appropriate.

Key Responsibilities

Case Management and Progression

• Manage an allocated caseload of Housing Disrepair claims.
• Take ownership of cases and ensure they are actively progressed towards resolution.
• Review new instructions and assess the merits, available evidence and appropriate next steps.
• Identify issues relating to notice, access, liability, causation, evidence and quantum.
• Draft and serve Letters of Claim and other pre-action correspondence.
• Review landlord responses, disclosure documents, repair records and supporting evidence.
• Obtain and review photographs, tenancy documents and further evidence from clients.
• Instruct and liaise with surveyors and other relevant experts.
• Review expert reports and identify any further evidence or action required.
• Maintain regular communication with clients and provide clear updates throughout their claims.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date case management records.
• Meet all internal, procedural and case progression deadlines.

Negotiation and Settlement

• Progress claims to negotiation promptly once sufficient evidence is available.
• Prepare clear, professional and well-reasoned responses to landlords and their legal representatives.
• Assess settlement offers with consideration for liability, evidence, quantum, repair works and litigation risk.
• Conduct negotiations with landlords, housing associations, local authorities and their legal representatives.
• Obtain and accurately record client instructions regarding settlement offers.
• Advise clients clearly on the benefits and risks of accepting or rejecting an offer.
• Progress appropriate settlements covering compensation, repairs and legal costs.
• Identify matters where negotiations have stalled and take appropriate action to move them forward.
• Escalate suitable cases for litigation instead of allowing them to remain inactive.

Litigation Preparation

• Identify cases that may require court proceedings and escalate them to the supervising Solicitor.
• Prepare files for litigation, ensuring all necessary evidence and documentation are available.
• Assist with drafting witness statements, schedules, pleadings and other litigation documents where appropriate.
• Support the supervising Solicitor with disclosure, expert evidence and preparation for hearings.
• Monitor limitation dates and immediately escalate any potential procedural or limitation risks.
• Comply with court directions and litigation deadlines on allocated matters.

Legal Quality and Compliance

• Conduct claims in accordance with the Housing Conditions Pre-Action Protocol and relevant housing legislation.
• Follow established procedures, precedents and supervisory requirements.
• Produce accurate, professional and well-reasoned legal correspondence.
• Ensure that advice, decisions and client instructions are properly recorded on the case management system.
• Identify and escalate legal, evidential, procedural, costs or compliance risks.
• Maintain high standards of client care and communication.
• Comply with SRA requirements and all relevant internal policies and procedures.
• Act constructively on supervisory feedback and contribute to ongoing training and development.

Essential Requirements

• Previous experience handling Housing Disrepair claims or working within a similar area of claimant civil litigation.
• A good understanding of Housing Disrepair claims and the relevant pre-action process.
• Experience managing a caseload and progressing matters with appropriate supervision.
• The ability to review evidence and identify issues affecting liability and quantum.
• Strong written communication and legal drafting skills.
• Confident negotiation skills.
• Excellent organisational and time-management abilities.
• The ability to manage a busy caseload and competing deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail.
• The ability to work independently while recognising when a matter requires escalation.
• A commitment to delivering excellent client care and high-quality legal work.

Desirable Requirements

• A law degree, LPC, SQE, CILEX qualification or another relevant legal qualification.
• Previous experience within a claimant Housing Disrepair practice.
• Experience dealing with social housing providers and local authorities.
• Experience negotiating Housing Disrepair settlements.
• Experience drafting legal rebuttals and responding to liability disputes.
• Knowledge of claims involving damp and mould, leaks, structural defects, heating, ventilation and other housing-condition issues.
• An understanding of the Civil Procedure Rules and County Court litigation.
• Experience preparing matters for issue or assisting with litigated claims.
• Experience supporting vulnerable clients.

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing legal team and take responsibility for a varied Housing Disrepair caseload. The successful candidate will benefit from senior supervision, ongoing professional development and the opportunity to strengthen their experience in both pre-action and litigated claims.