Paralegal – Infrastructure Team

Job Purpose

We are looking for an experienced paralegal who has strong analytical skills, excellent attention to detail combined with significant experience in managing their own caseload. The role will specialise in a number of key areas from infrastructure agreements and utility easements relating to new developments for a number of key clients, to wayleave agreements and substation transfers. There will also be opportunities to be involved in other work within the real estate team from time to time.

An important part of the role is to provide direct support and assistance to a Senior Associate in the team specialising in infrastructure, whilst also contributing more widely to the team and its growth.

The role will require flexibility and the ability to successfully prioritise competing demands.

The Team

Real Estate (and particularly real estate development) is at the heart of Devonshires’ business, as it is with the major part of our client base. Within the Team, there are 17 dedicated partners working on a wide variety of property transactions with a broad range of clients from 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.

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.

• Leading on the delivery of Infrastructure Agreements and Utility Easements including but not limited to:
  • Highways adoption/works agreements including s38 and 278 Agreements;
  • Water adoption/closure agreements including s104 and s116 Agreements;
  • Build Over Agreements;
  • Deeds of Grant/Easement;
  • Wayleave Agreements;
• Substation/Gas Governor Transfers (TR1 and TP1);
• Undertake Land registration formalities;
• Reporting on key documents;
• Proof documents;
• Manage own caseload and assist partner/supervisor and other fee earners in the day to day administration of files;
• Dealing with enquiries and chasing paperwork where necessary;
• Provide clients with monthly invoices and progress reports as and when required;
• Efficiently manage a large number of deadlines relating to a variety of cases at any one time;
• Organise and maintain tidy and accurate files both in hard copy and electronically;
• Provide support to the other fee earners within the team as and when required;
• Follow department procedures, the Solicitor’s Accounts Rules and the Firm’s policies and procedures as detailed in the Office Manual.

Person Specification

Attributes and Skills Required

• Strong academic background, ideally gaining a 2:1 at degree level;
• Minimum 2 years continuous experience in a similar role and possess solid drafting skills;
• Excellent administration and organisation skills, including diary management and the ability to deal with more than one task at a time;
• Must have a methodical approach, with a high attention to detail and produce work / documentation which is consistently of a high standard;
• Competent in all MS applications including Word, Excel and Outlook;
• Must be client focussed and have an approachable manner with excellent communication skills both written and verbal;
• Able to work with limited supervision with the ability to prioritise workload to increase efficiency;
• Commercially aware, proactive and able to convey clear and concise information to clients and external organisations, which will not compromise the practice or the firm;
• To have a flexible approach to work to ensure client deadlines are always met and clients are communicated with on a consistent and regular basis;
• Familiarity with Registered Providers would be an advantage but is by no means necessary.