Property Litigation Solicitor - PQE 5

Job Title: Property Litigation Solicitor – PQE 5
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £57011.73 (£63013 is achieved after 12 successful performance in the role)
Working Hours: 35 hours per week, full time
Working Pattern: Monday to Friday
Location: Speke, Liverpool

If you share our values and are excited about making a significant impact at Riverside, please ensure you attach a current CV and covering letter. At Riverside we recruit to potential not just on skills and experience, so we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the essential criteria on the job description.

Please note that whilst we will accept applications on the basis of any form of valid legal permission to work in the UK, we will be surrendering the Riverside Sponsorship licence, so for the avoidance of doubt, we are unable to apply for any further sponsorships whether on behalf of existing colleagues or candidates.

About you
We are looking for a capable and commercially minded solicitor who can provide practical, well-judged advice across residential leasehold management and wider property disputes. Around five years’ relevant post-qualification experience is a useful guide, not an absolute barrier. We welcome applications from excellent candidates with slightly less experience who can demonstrate technical ability, judgement and confidence to manage a varied caseload with appropriate support from external panel firms.

Why Riverside?
At Riverside, we’re a housing association with a difference – enhancing the everyday for all our customers. For 90 years, we’ve been revitalising neighbourhoods and supporting communities by providing the homes they need to live full, fulfilling and rewarding lives.
We have a portfolio of over 75,000 affordable residential and retirement homes across the UK. Our work ranges from homelessness services to social care, employment support to retirement living, and we need the best people on board to help us.

Working with us, you’ll enjoy:
• Competitive pay & generous pension
• 28 days holidays plus bank holidays
• Flexible working options available
• Investment in your learning, personal development and technology
• A wide range of benefits

Diversity and Inclusion at Riverside:
We are inclusive. At Riverside, we value diversity in all its forms. We foster a workplace where all individuals are respected, empowered, and heard. Our commitment to inclusivity drives our success and enriches the lives of our customers and colleagues.
Riverside is a Disability Confident Employer and operates a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for any applicant who declares they have a disability. If the applicant meets the minimum requirements for the role (as set out in the role profile and/or person specification) they will be guaranteed an interview.
This role also falls under our Ethnic Diversity guaranteed interview scheme. If you are Ethnically Diverse and demonstrate you meet the minimum criteria for the role you will be guaranteed an interview.

Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to be considered.

Role Profile
Legal Advice
Residential leasehold management and landlord and tenant disputes
• Advise on service charge disputes, including reasonableness, consultation requirements, section 20 issues and applications to the First-tier Tribunal.
• Handle the recovery of rent and service charge arrears, including possession, forfeiture and related enforcement options.
• Advise on lease breaches, interpretation and enforcement of lease covenants, and other residential landlord and tenant issues.
• Advise on Right to Manage, enfranchisement and associated leasehold management matters.
• Provide advice on contentious issues arising under the Building Safety Act 2022 and related building safety legislation.
Wider property disputes
• Advise on disputes involving rights of way and other easements, boundaries, trespass, nuisance, adverse possession and restrictive covenants.
• Handle property contract and assist with development and construction-related projects.
• Support the team on contentious commercial landlord and tenant matters where required, which may include recovery of rent and service charge arrears, tenant breaches, Landlord and Tenact Act 1954 proceedings and forfeiture.
Case management, advocacy and dispute resolution
• Manage matters from instruction to resolution, identifying objectives, risks, evidence requirements and the most proportionate route to resolution.
• Draft pre-action correspondence, pleadings, applications, witness evidence, settlement documents and other litigation materials.
• Coordinate disclosure, comply with court and tribunal directions, and maintain accurate and timely case records.
• Negotiate pragmatic settlements and use alternative dispute resolution where appropriate.
• Undertake advocacy where appropriate and proportionate, and instruct and manage external solicitors, counsel and experts when specialist support is required.
• Monitor costs, outcomes and lessons learned to ensure matters are handled efficiently and deliver value for money.
Role in the team
• Build trusted relationships with internal stakeholders and translate complex legal issues into clear, practical and commercially aware advice.
• Identify legal, regulatory, financial, reputational and operational risks, asking the right questions and providing constructive challenge.
• Deliver training, guidance and horizon-scanning updates to help colleagues prevent disputes and make better-informed decisions.
• Improve precedents, systems, workflows and knowledge-sharing across the Legal Team and the wider business.
• Maintain the case management system and support robust reporting and management information that demonstrates the Legal Team’s impact.
• Support colleagues across Property, Conveyancing and Housing Litigation to provide a high-quality, joined-up legal service and reduce avoidable external legal spend.
• Act as a positive ambassador for the Legal Team and contribute to Riverside’s corporate objectives, policies and values.
Learning and development
• Develop knowledge of new areas of law if required, in order to provide an internal point of expertise.
• Work towards personal and team objectives and attend training opportunities, as required.

Person specification
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Essential
• Strong experience of contentious landlord and tenant and/or property disputes, gained acting for claimants, defendants or both. Experience of residential leasehold management and service charge disputes is particularly valuable.
• Typically around five years’ post-qualification experience, or equivalent relevant experience. Applications are welcomed from strong candidates with slightly less experience who can demonstrate readiness to perform the role.
• Experience of managing a varied caseload independently and progressing matters efficiently to successful, proportionate outcomes.
• Good working knowledge of the Civil Procedure Rules, relevant pre-action protocols and court or tribunal procedure.
• Ability to draft clear, accurate and persuasive legal documents and correspondence, with confidence in negotiation and advocacy.
• Ability to analyse complex information, identify risk and give concise, practical advice tailored to non-legal stakeholders.
• Commercial awareness and a strong focus on value, continuous improvement, proportionate risk management and good governance.
• Excellent organisation and attention to detail, with the resilience to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to work collaboratively within a complex organisation and with external advisers.
• High level of IT literacy, legal research capability and experience of case management systems and databases.
• Practical awareness of data protection and confidentiality requirements.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and to continuing professional and personal development.
Desirable
• Experience in the social housing sector, whether in-house, in private practice, for a local authority or acting for residents or leaseholders.
• Experience of First-tier Tribunal proceedings, residential leasehold management, Building Safety Act matters or commercial landlord and tenant disputes.
• Experience of delivering legal training, improving processes or contributing to management information and legal operations.
Additional Information
• This is a hybrid role with remote working but the expectation to attend head office in Speke, Liverpool and/or any other TRGL offices, in accordance with the demands of the business.
• The Group has offices across the UK and on this basis, they may be the rare occasion that the role holder travels to other locations to effectively perform this role.
• The role will be exposed to sensitive information; therefore, the role holder is expected to maintain levels of confidentiality at all times.
• To fulfil the requirements of this role, you will be required to work flexibly during the hours of operation.
• The role holder is expected to be committed to equal opportunities and to promote non-discriminatory practices in all aspects of work undertaken.