3 months contract with a local authority

Job Purpose

• The Legal Services Manager is responsible for overseeing and delivering high‑quality legal services across Southern Housing. The postholder will manage a team of legal professionals, provide expert legal advice, and ensure that the organisation operates within all statutory and regulatory frameworks. This role will support strategic decision‑making, mitigate legal risks, and ensure that Southern Housing’s policies, procedures, and operations comply with relevant housing, property, and corporate legislation..
  

Key Duties/Accountabilities

• Lead, manage, and develop the Legal Services team to ensure the delivery of a high‑performing, customer‑focused legal function.
  
• Provide expert legal advice to senior leaders, managers, and teams across Southern Housing on a wide range of matters including housing law, property law, tenancy management, litigation, safeguarding, compliance, and corporate governance.
  
• Oversee the management of legal cases, ensuring effective handling of litigation, disputes, tribunals, enforcement actions, and contractual matters.
  
• Ensure organisational compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and sector standards, advising on emerging legislative changes and their implications..
  

Essential Experience Required

• Significant post‑qualification experience working as a solicitor or barrister within housing, property, commercial, or public sector law.
  
• Strong legal practice experience, ideally with exposure to social housing, tenancy management, landlord/tenant law, property litigation, safeguarding, or associated fields.
  
• Proven experience leading or managing a legal team or legal function.
  

Essential Qualifications Required

• Must be a qualified and practising Solicitor or a Barrister with separate certification enabling the conduct of litigation (mandatory requirement for consideration).
  

Additional information to note

• Working hours: 35 hours per week
  
• Fleet House, 59-61 Clerkenwell Road, London, London, EC1M 5LA, United Kingdom
  
• Work pattern - 2 days remote, 3 days in the office at Fleet House and Mosaic East, 4th Floor, 17 Addiscombe Rd,
  
• We work on Bi weekly payment schedule
  

The role closes on 15^th April 2026, apply ASAP.