Paralegal (Post Completion)

Job Purpose

We are looking for someone with strong analytical skills, excellent attention to detail and who is able to manage their own caseload with accuracy and a highly efficient level of time management. This is a demanding role that will require flexibility and the ability to successfully prioritise competing demands.

The successful candidate will gain excellent exposure to a broad range of property work in a busy and friendly team. We believe strongly in investing and training our staff and the successful candidate can expect the opportunity to expand on and further develop their existing knowledge.

The Team

The Real Estate team is at the heart of Devonshires’ business. Within the Team, there are 18 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.

• Manage own caseload of high volume property sales, handling both shared ownership and outright sales;
• Deal with all aspects of post completion including dealing with requisitions;
• Assist and/or manage in relation to stair casing matters and residential acquisitions and disposals;
• Ensure timelines and deadlines are met and adhered to;
• Set up and maintain online document rooms;
• Provide clients with monthly or weekly progress reports and regular invoices;
• Manage a large number of deadlines relating to a variety of transactions at any one time;
• Carry out legal research as and when required;
• Communicate positively with clients and other parties both on the telephone and by email and manage a range of clients resourcefully;
• Organise and maintain tidy and accurate electronic files (hard copy files when required);
• Provide support and assistance to 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

Essential skills and requirements

• You will have an appropriate degree in Law or equivalent (or appropriate conversion) or an appropriate subject;
• You will have good experience in a similar role and possess solid drafting skills;
• You will have experience in dealing with post completion;
• You take a methodical approach with good attention to detail;
• You are competent in all MS applications including Word, Excel and Outlook;
• You are client focussed, have an approachable manner and excellent communication skills;
• You are able to work with limited supervision;

Desirable skills / future requirements of the role

• Any experience of dealing with developers and/or housing associations (both traditional RPs or ‘for profit’ providers) would be an advantage.
• Assignments, staircasing, right to buy / right to acquire, lease extensions and any other related legal property work.
• Dealing with acquisitions and disposal of residential properties;
• Completing SDLT (Stamp Duty Land Tax) returns;