5+ Pure Property Litigation Senior Associate/Legal Director
Job description
Original text imported from Reed
This is a role for an ambitious lawyer who is looking for high-quality work, genuine progression opportunities and the chance to play a visible role within a highly regarded and growing real estate disputes team.
The firm has built an exceptional reputation across the Yorkshire market for its culture, quality of work and long-standing client relationships. Consistently recognised in the legal directories, the team acts for an impressive portfolio of commercial landlords, developers, investors and corporate occupiers on a broad range of complex and high-value property disputes.
The Opportunity Joining a specialist Property Litigation team in Leeds, you will handle a varied and rewarding caseload whilst also taking on a leadership and mentoring role within the wider team.
The work will include:
- Landlord & tenant disputes
- Lease renewals
- Rent reviews
- Dilapidations
- Break notices
- Easements and restrictive covenants
- Option agreements
- Vacant possession strategies for residential developers
- Estate management disputes
- Mortgage repossessions
This is an excellent platform for someone looking to step into a more senior position within a collaborative and forward-thinking environment.
About You Applications are welcomed from solicitors with 5+ years’ PQE and strong experience within property litigation.
You will ideally:
- Have trained and qualified within a respected real estate disputes team
- Be confident managing a busy caseload independently
- Have experience advising commercial clients on a range of landlord & tenant matters
- Enjoy mentoring and supporting junior team members
- Be commercially minded and client-focused
- Thrive in a collaborative but high-performing environment
Benefits include:
- Hybrid working (2–3 days from home)
- Excellent quality work and clients
- Clear progression prospects
- Profit share scheme
- Private healthcare
- Enhanced family-friendly benefits
- Strong wellbeing programme
- Additional annual leave benefits
- Modern city-centre offices
- A collaborative and inclusive culture with excellent staff retention
For more information, please reach out to me here:
Key skills
AI-extracted from the job advert
Application advice
5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.
⭐ Lead your CV with a Personal Statement that explicitly states your PQE level (e.g. '7 years' PQE in property litigation') as the advert specifies 5+ PQE as the entry threshold.
📊 Quantify your caseload: e.g. 'Managed a live caseload of 60+ property litigation matters including dilapidations, lease renewals and break notice disputes simultaneously.'
🎯 Mirror the advert's specific work types — list landlord & tenant, dilapidations, easements, and vacant possession strategies as distinct competencies in your skills section, as these are all named in the job description.
🤝 Highlight any mentoring or supervision of junior solicitors or trainees, as the role explicitly requires a leadership and mentoring function within the team.
🌐 Reference any Legal 500 or Chambers-ranked team experience prominently, as the firm values directory recognition and will respond positively to candidates from similarly regarded practices.
Suggested CV bullets
3 bullets our AI drafted for this specific advert, mirroring its ATS keywords.
Add these 3 bullets under your most recent experience:
- •Managed a caseload of 55+ concurrent property litigation matters including contested lease renewals, dilapidations and break notice disputes, achieving successful resolution for commercial landlord clients in 80% of cases without proceeding to trial.
- •Advised a portfolio of 12 residential developers on vacant possession strategies across 8 sites, securing possession of 40+ units within agreed project timelines and enabling £14M in planned development to proceed on schedule.
- •Mentored 3 junior solicitors through complex landlord and tenant instructions, reducing supervisor review time by 30% over 18 months through structured file review sessions and targeted technical training.
Free to copy — tailoring requires a 30-sec CV upload.
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Letter preview — tailored to qed legal
Dear Hiring Manager,
Property litigation at the level QED Legal describes — complex landlord and tenant disputes, dilapidations, easements and vacant possession strategies for commercial developers — is precisely the work I have built my career around. With over six years' PQE in property litigation at a respected regional firm, I am well placed to step into the Senior Associate or Legal Director role you are recruiting for in Leeds.
My background in commercial real estate disputes includes managing a caseload of 50+ live matters spanning contested lease renewals under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, break notice disputes and high-value dilapidations claims for institutional landlords and corporate occupiers. Alongside this, I have supervised two junior solicitors and a trainee, conducting regular file reviews and providing technical guidance on complex matters — directly mirroring the mentoring responsibilities outlined in your advert.
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Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›Walk us through how you would advise a commercial landlord on a contested lease renewal under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.
- ›How do you approach a complex dilapidations claim at lease expiry, and what are the key tactical considerations?
- ›Describe your experience with vacant possession strategies for residential developers — what legal mechanisms have you used?
- ›How do you handle a break notice dispute where the tenant's compliance with conditions is in question?
- ›What is your approach to advising on easements and restrictive covenants in the context of a development dispute?
Behavioural
- ›Tell me about a time you managed a high-pressure property litigation caseload under tight deadlines — how did you prioritise?
- ›Describe a situation where you mentored a junior lawyer through a complex matter. What was your approach and what was the outcome?
- ›Give an example of when you developed or strengthened a client relationship that led to repeat or expanded instructions.
- ›Tell me about a time you had to deliver difficult advice to a commercial client. How did you handle it?
- ›Describe a situation where you contributed to the growth or profile of a team beyond your day-to-day caseload.
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
Tell me about a time you managed a high-pressure property litigation caseload under tight deadlines — how did you prioritise?
Describe a situation where you mentored a junior lawyer through a complex matter. What was your approach and what was the outcome?
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