Location: Bolton
Employment Type: Full-time, onsite
Salary: £40,000–£50,000, depending on experience

Role Overview

An excellent opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior Housing Disrepair Solicitor to provide legal supervision and leadership to a team of Housing Disrepair Fee Earners.

The position will focus on supervising Fee Earners, providing technical legal guidance, reviewing case strategy and ensuring matters are progressed effectively and in accordance with all legal, procedural and regulatory requirements.

You will oversee the quality and progression of the team’s caseload, supporting Fee Earners with complex matters involving liability, evidence, quantum, negotiations and litigation strategy. Where court proceedings are required, you will take a direct role in managing cases through to settlement or trial.

Key Responsibilities

Fee Earner Supervision and Case Progression

• Supervise and support Housing Disrepair Fee Earners with the day-to-day management of their caseloads.
• Review case progression and ensure matters are actively and appropriately advanced.
• Provide technical guidance on liability, notice, access, causation, evidence, quantum, remedies and costs.
• Review complex or higher-risk matters and provide clear direction regarding case strategy.
• Support Fee Earners with negotiations, rebuttals and responses to landlords and their legal representatives.
• Review and approve key legal documents and correspondence where required.
• Ensure all procedural, court and internal deadlines are met.
• Identify cases that are not progressing effectively and establish clear actions to move them forward.
• Monitor the quality of legal work and provide constructive feedback, coaching and training.
• Ensure the appropriate escalation of limitation, litigation, compliance, costs and other material risks.
• Promote accountability, consistency and high professional standards throughout the team.

Litigation

• Assess matters for litigation and advise on prospects of success, proportionality and litigation risk.
• Take conduct of matters requiring court proceedings where appropriate.
• Draft and review pleadings, witness statements, applications and other court documents.
• Ensure proceedings are issued correctly and within the relevant limitation periods.
• Manage directions, disclosure, expert evidence, witness evidence and other procedural requirements.
• Instruct and liaise with counsel, surveyors, medical experts and other professional parties.
• Conduct settlement negotiations and advise on Part 36 and other settlement offers.
• Attend hearings, conferences and trials, or arrange suitable representation where required.
• Ensure litigated matters comply with the Civil Procedure Rules, relevant Practice Directions and court orders.
• Manage litigation risk, proportionality and costs exposure throughout proceedings.

Legal Quality and Compliance

• Ensure matters are conducted in accordance with the Housing Conditions Pre-Action Protocol and relevant housing legislation.
• Maintain high standards of legal drafting, analysis and case strategy.
• Ensure accurate and up-to-date case management records are maintained.
• Identify and manage limitation, evidential, procedural and costs risks.
• Maintain appropriate standards of client care and communication across the team.
• Support compliance with SRA requirements and internal policies and procedures.
• Contribute to improvements in departmental processes, precedents, training materials and working practices.

Essential Requirements

• Qualified Solicitor in England and Wales with a current practising certificate.
• Demonstrable experience handling Housing Disrepair litigation.
• Strong knowledge of landlord and tenant law and the Housing Conditions Pre-Action Protocol.
• Experience conducting litigation in the County Court.
• Strong understanding of the Civil Procedure Rules and litigation procedures.
• Ability to review cases and provide clear legal and strategic direction to Fee Earners.
• Excellent legal drafting and analytical skills.
• Strong negotiation skills and sound commercial judgement.
• Ability to identify legal, procedural and evidential risks at an early stage.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Strong commitment to professional standards, regulatory compliance and client care.

Desirable Requirements

• Previous experience supervising or managing Fee Earners, Paralegals or junior legal professionals.
• Experience managing a high-volume claimant litigation team.
• Advocacy experience.
• Experience dealing with social housing providers and local authorities.
• Knowledge of claims involving damp and mould, leaks, structural defects, heating, ventilation and other housing-condition issues.
• Experience supporting vulnerable clients.
• Experience developing legal precedents, processes or training materials.

Benefits of the Role

• Competitive salary of £40,000–£50,000, depending on experience.
• Senior position with responsibility for legal supervision and team development.
• Opportunity to influence case strategy, departmental standards and working practices.
• Varied caseload combining technical supervision with hands-on litigation.
• Full-time, permanent opportunity based in Bolton.