Paralegal

Job Purpose

We are recruiting a Paralegal to work within our Real Estates & Projects team in the Leeds office. The successful candidate will assist the Solicitors with their work as well as building their own caseload. They will have demonstrable Property experience, with either a commercial or residential background.

The role will involve providing advice and assistance to Registered Providers of Social Housing, management companies, landowners, investors, charities and developers on a broad range of matters including development transactions, stock transfers, inter group company transfers and a variety of ancillary property matters.

The Team

The Real Estate team is at the heart of Devonshires’ business. Within the team, there are 17 dedicated partners working on a wide variety of property transactions with a broad range of clients. This includes registered providers of social housing and care homes, through to private developers, acting on sites and developments from a handful of units to thousands, to portfolio and street property acquisitions and disposals and management and transfer of open spaces.

We are seeking to recruit a Paralegal to assist our Real Estate and Projects Department. The focus of this position is to our support our active team in delivering a high level of service to our clients.

Duties and Responsibilities

This is not an exhaustive list, and from time to time it may be necessary to vary these to meet the department and business needs.

• Assist solicitors and other fee earners in the day to day running of files;
• Drafting transaction document summaries / reports (including but not limited to Land Agreements, Development Agreements, transfers and sectional agreements)
• Reviewing and reporting on due diligence searches as part of reports on title
• Producing / inputting reports on title as part of development site acquisitions • Assisting with land transfers covering both pre and post completion formalities including preparing statements, submitting priority searches and liaising with clients directly.
• Undertaking Land Registry applications and dealing with requisitions
• Drafting and preparing ancillary documentation such as Deeds of Covenant, Land Registry certificates and Transfers
• Meet targets that may be set from time to time by Line Mangers
• Follow department procedures, the Solicitors Accounts Rules and the Firm’s policies and procedures as detailed in the Office Manual.

The Real Estate Department has a very open and collegiate team structure, and you will be encouraged to be involved in business development initiatives and also to assist in training and development.

Person Specification

Essential skills

• Minimum 2:2 degree or equivalent in Law (or appropriate conversion);
• 3+ years’ experience of dealing with the conveyancing process
• Ability to conduct effective legal research;
• Possess solid drafting skills;
• Excellent administration skills, organisation, including own diary management;
• Competent in all MS applications, to include Word, Excel and Outlook;
• Confident communication skills at all levels with the ability to communicate in "plain English";
• Have a methodical approach, with good attention to detail;
• Possess a strong customer service ethic with the ability to empathise with clients;
• Good time management skills and able to deal with more than one task at a time;
• Able to work with limited supervision;
• Able to work under pressure and to tight deadlines;
• Able to prioritise a heavy workload;
• Be a supportive team player and willing to assist others;
• Self-motivated, enthusiastic, tenacious and approachable;
• Be willing to learn;
• Be assertive and confident with dealing with people at all levels;
• Be calm and professional at all times;
• Be punctual and flexible. 

Desirable skills

• Knowledge of DMS (Document Management System);
• Knowledge of Partners for Windows (time recording system).