Are you a solicitor with an interest in social justice and human rights, with post-qualification experience of housing litigation, including representing in court on behalf of homeless people or people in housing need? Then join Shelter Scotland as a Housing Solicitor and you could soon be playing an important role within an exciting new partnership.

A home is a fundamental human need, as essential as education or healthcare. Yet millions of people across Britain struggle on a daily basis with homelessness, bad housing conditions, soaring rents, discrimination and the threat of eviction. So, we are striving for change — with individuals, in communities, across society – and leading the way to a safe home. We need ambitious, best-in-class individuals who are passionate about our cause to join us at this exciting time. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

The ‘Street Legal’ project is a recently formed partnership with CLAN Childlaw that’s funded by the National Lottery Community Fund. Its goal is to prevent homelessness and engage in early action to deal with the causes of homelessness for children, young people and families. It also aims to improve access to specialist legal advice and representation and increase the capacity of Edinburgh’s third sector organisations to use the law to prevent homelessness through the delivery of lawyer led workshops.

As a Housing Solicitor, we’ll rely on you to maintain an active caseload and provide legal advice and representation to families and young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Edinburgh, in partnership with CLAN. You’ll also be responsible for developing housing and homelessness law for families, children and young people and devising and delivering lawyer led training for front line third sector services. Working collaboratively within the sector to directly address issues that may arise with the implementation of the ‘Ending Homeless Together High Level Action Plan’ will be important too, as will promoting an understanding of the legal framework and ensuring a rights based approach from the outset.

Proactive, customer-focused and driven to achieve the very best outcomes for clients, your substantial experience of handling a wide range of housing cases in the public and private sector includes issues relating to homelessness, security of tenure and possession proceedings. What's more, you have a sound knowledge of publicly funded legal aid work, including legal representation and legal help. You’re great at influencing others too, and are able to maintain your professionalism and communicate effectively in a range of situations. And, when it comes to applying creative and lateral thinking, challenging the status quo and introducing new ideas, methods and processes, again you’ll excel.

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

Shelter Scotland helps over half a million people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help.

Safeguarding is everyone’s business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.