Property Litigation Lawyer

Salary: £46,000 - £48,000 + benefits

Location: Remote, with regular travel to hub locations

Are you looking for a new Legal opportunity that offers professional development, flexible working, creative autonomy, in an organisation that prioritises wellbeing and development? 

We have a fantastic opportunity for a talented Property Litigation Lawyer to join our national Legal & Governance team; assisting the Trust’s Senior Property Lawyer with the handling and management of contentious property matters across the Trust’s network.

The Trust

The Canal & River Trust is a charity entrusted with the care of over 2000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs in England and Wales. These historic, natural and cultural assets form part of the nation’s strategic and local blue-green infrastructure network, linking urban and rural communities as well as habitats. Our waterways contribute to the health and well-being of local communities and economies, creating attractive and connected places to live, work, volunteer and spend leisure time. They also play an important role in mitigating the impact of climate change and provide valuable habitats and much-needed biodiverse corridors for wildlife.

About our Legal Team

The Trust’s legal team plays a vital role in protecting the Trust’s interests, across the whole range of our activities, to ensure regulatory compliance with charity, environmental, planning, heritage, health and safety (as well as the Trust’s unique historic waterways Acts of Parliament dating back over 200 years), providing advice and drafting on contractual and property documentation, bringing and defending litigation (including judicial review) plus a full range of commercial, employment and boat licensing matters.

As Property Litigation Lawyer you will be providing advice and management on a range of property law dispute matters (e.g. title, trespass, boundary disputes, rights and easements, restrictive covenants, rights of support and claims for nuisance) . This is a national role, working collaboratively with a team of 10 qualified lawyers, providing legal advice across a property litigation matters affecting the Trust’s operational estate.

Location & coverage

This is a remote, home-working role with a requirement to attend our main hub spaces as and when required for team working a collaborative meetings.   

Main hubs include: Leeds, Liverpool, Burnley, Newark, Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Gloucester, London.

The regularity & flexibility of travel will be discussed further at interview stage

See our canal network here: (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-and-river-network). 

We’re a complex organisation and our Legal & governance team work closely every day across the organisation in supporting our Estates, Property Investment, Utilities, Engineering and Regional Operations teams, in addition to liaising with a variety of external partners, stakeholders and advisors.

Key accountabilities:

• Providing legal advice on property law disputes across the Trust’s operational estate (e.g. title, trespass, boundary disputes, rights and easements, restrictive covenants, rights of support and claims for nuisance).
• Conduct of property law disputes with adjoining landowners, occupiers and other third parties under supervision of the senior members of the team.
• Advice on the Trust’s rights and duties in respect of land under the Trust’s historic waterway enabling legislation and the enforcement of the Trust’s other modern statutory powers.
• Liaising with external solicitors and Counsel to facilitate effective and efficient conduct of those property litigation matters being handled externally.
• Drafting letters before action, claims, witness statements, applications and other court documents, and compiling court bundles for issue at court and service on Defendants under supervision of the senior members of the team.
• Working with the Trust’s Claims Handler in relation to property law claims for third party loss
  

Knowledge, Experience & Skills:
Our Values really matter to us. It is important for us that they also resonate with you, and will be evident in the way you deliver your work, and work with stakeholders and colleagues alike.

• Qualified solicitor with a minimum of 5 years‘ property litigation law experience gained in private practice or in-house.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Track record of providing proactive, expert and timely legal advice
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across all levels and disciplines within the Trust and with external legal advisers and to participate effectively in meetings.
• Comply with Canal & River Trust Health & Safety policy and defined standards, report incidents, accidents and near misses. Assess the risks and make adjustments to work methods where appropriate. Ensure all equipment (PPE, plant, materials etc.) is appropriate for the task. Consider your own and others behaviour.
• To be aware of your own responsibilities regarding safeguarding and to support our commitment to providing safe environments and working practises that promote and protect the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk at all times.
• To Apply: click on the "Apply for this job" button and follow the process - complete the application form & upload current CV.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient suitable applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

In addition to your salary of £46,000 - £48,000, you will benefit from a competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, great holiday entitlement and numerous other employee benefits, including several salary sacrifice benefits, all of which can be found here (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits).

Other benefits include: 

• Competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, where we will double your contribution to a maximum of 10%.
• 25 days paid holiday (plus paid Bank Holidays), increasing to 30 days after 5 years.
• Home working status with ‘hub’ facilities available should you need the flexibility to work outside of home.
• Personal learning & growth opportunities through internal and external development programmes  
• Free access to specialist counselling on a range of issues, e.g. health, financial, well-being and domestic matters.
• Access to a range of employee benefits including store discounts, boating holiday discounts and holiday purchase scheme.
• 2 days paid volunteering leave per annum, allowing you to volunteer for a local community project etc.
• Free fishing facilities across our canal network.

At the Trust we care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We strongly believe that a diverse workforce brings with it a diversity of ideas, thinking and ways of working which enhances what we do as a Trust. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.

All candidates will be treated on the basis of their merits, skills and abilities and solely by being assessed against the requirements for the job.

When you join the Canal & River Trust you become a member of an engaged team working to preserve our heritage for future generations. Come and share your passion and knowledge with a team that makes a difference to millions of people every day.

Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us