Housing Paralegal – AR

Housing Paralegal

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Housing Paralegal to join a busy Housing Litigation Team within a local authority legal service.

You will join a team of paralegals managing their own caseloads, with an immediate focus on helping to reduce a significant backlog of rent arrears cases and warrant applications. You will be responsible for progressing cases efficiently, maintaining accurate records and ensuring case trackers and spreadsheets are kept fully up to date so clients can monitor progress.

In the longer term, you will provide wider legal support to fee earners dealing with housing disrepair and tenancy matters, including unauthorised occupant and nuisance cases.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage an individual caseload of rent arrears and housing litigation cases.
• Progress and reduce the existing backlog of rent arrears cases and warrant applications.
• Prepare and progress warrant applications and possession-related matters.
• Maintain accurate case records, spreadsheets and case trackers.
• Provide clients with clear and up-to-date information on case progress.
• Support fee earners with disrepair and tenancy litigation.
• Assist with cases involving unauthorised occupants and nuisance matters.
• Draft straightforward legal correspondence and letters.
• Assist with issuing court proceedings and preparing court documentation.
• Prepare bundles and disclosure documents.
• Book Counsel and liaise with external legal professionals where required.
• Process and arrange payment of legal invoices.
• Carry out general legal research and case administration.
• Work effectively within a busy team and manage competing deadlines.

Essential Experience

• Previous experience working as a Paralegal or Legal Officer, ideally within housing litigation.
• Practical experience of housing law and litigation.
• Experience dealing with possession, rent arrears or warrant applications.
• Experience managing an individual caseload.
• Good understanding of court processes and legal documentation.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills.
• Ability to work accurately under pressure and manage a high-volume workload.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable

• CILEX qualification or relevant legal qualification.
• Local authority or social housing legal experience.
• Experience in housing disrepair and tenancy cases.
• Experience preparing court bundles, disclosure and proceedings.

Team Structure

You will be joining an established Housing Legal Team consisting of a Principal Lawyer, Senior Lawyer and a Disrepair & Tenancy Team of lawyers, alongside the existing paralegal team.

This is an excellent opportunity for a Housing Paralegal with practical litigation experience to join a busy team and play an important role in reducing the current caseload backlog while providing wider support across housing litigation.