Associate/Senior Associate Solicitor

About MSB and the role

We’ve always done things our own way; Innovating new services, nurturing people with ambition and finding better ways for our profession to do good.

MSB is a progressive law firm that prides itself on providing legal services to meet the needs of the communities we serve.

Established in 1988, the firm has forged a reputation for excellence of service and has been the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Law Society’s Legal Excellence Award for Practice Management. We are also proud to be ranked in Legal500 and Chambers & Partners and The Times Best Law Firms.

MSB was founded in Liverpool and is now a Northwest based law firm with offices in Liverpool, Cheshire and Manchester. MSB acquired its Social Housing and Regeneration team from Knox Ellis Solicitors in 2018. Since then, it has gone from strength to strength, and it continues to grow rapidly.

We practice modern law to reflect a modern society and we are committed to the diverse communities and clients we serve.

We are seeking to recruit an experienced social housing litigation solicitor to work within MSB’s award winning Social Housing and Regeneration team.

The role provides an excellent opportunity to join a recognised team and provide legal advice to Registered Providers of Social Housing.  There are also career progression opportunities with this role.

These are the key responsibilities for this role:

• To provide specialist legal advice to clients in respect of Social Housing and Land law.
• To act on behalf of landlords in respect of residential claims for possession.
• To provide housing and asset management legal advice to clients.
• To undertake case work, and to manage all client work in accordance with MSB’s policies and quality standards.
• Provide legal advice to clients on tenancy agreements, leasehold, policy, governance, and procedure.
• To act on behalf of landlords in respect to ASB and breach of tenancy Injunctions.
• To support clients in legislative changes, ombudsman complaints and enquiries from the Regulator.
• To advise on the Equality Act 2010, Human Rights Act 1996, judicial review and public law.
• To act on behalf of social landlords in respect of boundary/land disputes.
• To contribute to MSBs business development strategies.
• Advocacy in the County Court.
• To ensure that all client work is progressed in a timely and professional manner and the client is kept informed on a regular basis as to progress and costs.
• At all times a high degree of standards is to be exercised in client care.
• To ensure all documentation and information relating to the client is kept confidential and secure.
• To achieve agreed levels of billing and time recording.
• To comply with the Solicitors Accounts Rules and the Solicitors Code of Conduct.
• To supervise and support immediate support staff as agreed and to assist in their development.
• To mentor junior members of the Social Housing and Regeneration Team.
• To take responsibility for and to attend to your own training requirements.
• To be active in promoting the service of MSB and its values.
• To be adaptable to new procedures and changes in law.
• To work as part of team with a flexible approach to workload.

The successful candidate will need to have:

• Social Housing Litigation experience and a strong understanding of property/Social Housing Law.
• An ability to adapt to new areas of law, recognising that housing law can change frequently.
• Strong communication skills.
• The ability to translate technical legal issues into clear and practical advice to clients.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Experience in managing and developing people.
• Experience acting for registered providers of Social Housing.
• An alignment with the MSB’s values and social purpose.
• Commercial insight.
• A ‘get it done’ attitude!
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Sound judgement with the ability to provide solution-based legal advice.
• The ability to be a team player.
• A solid knowledge of CPR.
• Excellent advocacy skills and experience in representing clients in the County Court at a variety of hearings, from applications to trials.              
• Competent computer skills.
• The ability to run a profitable case load.