Paralegal

A leading UK law firm with a network of offices from the South Coast to Scotland, working together as one national team. An innovative practice and the first top 100 law firm to achieve “Gold Standard” Investors in People, our values and culture are not just words on our website but are the heartbeat of the firm. The lack of barriers between departments, a real lack of hierarchy, zero tolerance for arrogance and pomposity makes Shoosmiths a fantastic place to work.

Our Real Estate group is one of the largest real estate teams in the UK, advising an impressive range of clients including commercial and residential developers, investors, major corporate occupiers and banks/funders. Offering exceptional market knowledge the team holds an outstanding reputation with clients and the market generally. “Clients are full of admiration for this team, noting it combines outstanding technical expertise with a “very” responsive service” (Chambers).

We have a Paralegal vacancy within our growing Real Estate Practice Group supporting Partners and Legal Advisors in a variety of Commercial Real Estate work. Shoosmiths has recently opened an office in Leeds and this is an exciting opportunity to be part of a new and growing team.

The role is to assist the team in acting for developers, investors and financial institutions from purchasing sites, pre-letting to major occupiers and selling on to forward funds; as well as funding such acquisitions; assisting investor clients buying and developing property investments and managing the investment and eventually selling the improved asset or portfolio.

This is a busy team and there will be significant client contact. It therefore requires someone who is excellent at client service with a can do approach, proactive thinking and personable to support the needs of Legal Advisors.

• Managing client files, running own transactional files
• Managing a high volume of matters for key clients, sometimes with short deadlines
• Recording time and working towards billing targets
• Assisting other legal advisors in the department with transactions and where necessary dealing with post-completion transactional work, including completion of SDLT returns and submission within deadline, serving notices of assignment and making Land Registry applications
• Communicating effectively and confidently with clients and external solicitors (both in writing and by telephone) to provide advice, negotiate transactions and deal with queries in relation to both post-completion work and own matters.
• Assisting on large portfolio transactions, preparing title packs, disclosure bundles and setting up and uploading information into data rooms
• Completing property reports and schedules.
• Assisting on matters connected with other legal departments including for example corporate transactions.
• Assisting with various other tasks as required

• Previous real estate experience desirable or previous experience within a legal environment in a similar role working towards legal assistant/paralegal role or Law Degree, LPC or completed/working     towards ILEX qualification.
• Excellent client care skills
• Self confidence and ability to demonstrate initiative
• Ability to grasp things quickly and easily.
• Enthusiastic, energetic with a positive, can do attitude
• Good working knowledge of various applications – word, excel, outlook, digital dictation
• Taking care and attention into all correspondence and documentation
• Flexible with the ability to adapt to change, new practices and remain calm under pressure             and find solutions
• Excellent presentation skills reflected in their work
• A methodical and organised approach with keen attention paid to every detail
• Good organisational skills to ensure that the tasks are effectively scheduled within working time    available, and that urgent work is completed and returned within the specified timescales.
• Friendly and helpful approach to dealing with queries
• Excellent communication skills
• Able to integrate within a team as well as working on one’s own initiative
• Ability to deliver a quality service to both internal and external clients.

Shoosmiths is a committed Equal Opportunities employer promoting equality of opportunity. This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, whatever their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.

No agents please