Property Litigation - Associate

Job title

Associate

Department

Dispute Resolution – Property Litigation

Our Purpose

To forge long-term relationships that have a positive impact on our people, our clients, our business partners, and our communities.

Our Commitment to Our People

We do not think there is a magic formula to the Higgs culture. The key is to listen to and respect our people. If we take care of our people and our people take care of our clients, then everything we want as a firm will take care of itself. We are friendly and open to new ideas.

Our Core Values

Higgs core values are “CLEAR” – Care, Legacy, Excellence, Authenticity, Relationships

Role Purpose

We are seeking a skilled and proactive lawyer to manage a varied caseload of residential and commercial property disputes. You will be working as part of the Property Litigation Team, which sits within the firm’s Dispute Resolution department. The role requires a strong understanding of landlord and tenant law, residential boundary disputes, excellent case management skills, and a collaborative approach to client service.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage live lease renewal matters and advise comprehensively on the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954

• Advise on tenancy at will, periodic tenancies, and related occupational arrangements

• Prepare, serve, and advise on break notices, including compliance with pre-conditions

• Advise on interim repairs, dilapidations, forfeiture proceedings, and enforcement options

• Provide advice on rights of way, legal boundaries, and restrictive covenants

• Represent clients in dispute resolution processes, including mediation, without prejudice meetings, and telephone hearings

• Build and maintain strong client relationships through effective communication and trusted advice

• Contribute to business development initiatives and client-facing growth activities

Person Specification

The criteria below will be assessed via application (A), interview (I), Test (T), or multiple (A/I/T).

Essential Criteria

• Communicates clearly and professionally, adapting style to suit the recipient and purpose. (A/I)

• Owns deadlines and workload with calm assertiveness and drives solutions with resilience and positivity. (A/I)

• Shows a positive and flexible approach to teamwork, contributing to shared goals. (A/I)

• Demonstrates a commitment to delivering high-quality services that meets the needs of stakeholders and upholds the firm’s policy, procedures and standards (A/I)

• Understands how their work supports the team and contributes to the firm’s wider objectives. (A/I)

• Shows a clear understanding of financial hygiene and contributes to achieving team and individual performance goals. (A/I)

Technical Knowledge

• Proficient in using Microsoft 365 applications to organise tasks, manage time effectively and support collaborative working.

• Uses resources and new technologies effectively.

• Broad knowledge of residential and commercial property law, with experience in all forms of ADR and a strong working understanding of the Civil Procedure Rules and the litigation process.

What We Offer You

We offer more than just a job. Our benefits reflect our commitment to your development, wellbeing and work-life balance. Click here to discover more.

Higgs offers hybrid working wherever possible. Our Higgs’ Best FIT (flexible, inclusive, together) principles are designed to ensure that people can complete their best work from the most appropriate location. If you are looking to work flexibly then let us know and we will do what we can to accommodate your request.

We also encourage a ‘dress for your diary’ approach which means dressing in a manner appropriate for your schedule or the specific appointments you have on any given day.

Equal Opportunities

Higgs LLP is proud to be a signatory of The Law Society’s Diversity, Inclusion Charter and a Disability Confident Committed Employer. These commitments reflect our dedication to building a workplace that is inclusive, accessible, and welcoming to all. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities.

As part of our Disability Confident commitment, we offer a guaranteed interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role and choose to opt into the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.

We are also committed to ensuring that all applicants can fully participate in the recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments, please let us know by contacting us at recruitment@higgsllp.co.uk.

We recognise that inclusion is an ongoing journey, and we regularly review and publish our diversity data, which can be accessed here.

People Driven. Legal Excellence.