Paralegal

Closing date: 07/10/2019
Term: Permanent
Working hours: Full-time
Team: Residential Conveyancing
Location: Milton Keynes
Let us introduce ourselves…

Shakespeare Martineau is a Top 55 law firm that combines creativity, commerciality and clarity. We work with blue-chip companies, leading organisations, high street brands and individuals across the country.

As enterprising and original thinkers, we’re driven to create exceptional experiences for our clients and our people. We handle personal and business-critical issues and game-changing deals across many dynamic sectors. It’s stimulating and rewarding.

We’re hardworking and deeply ambitious about creating opportunities for our employees; to move forward and achieve our ambition together. We provide an environment in which you’re supported to reach your potential.

Our people have a blend of excellent technical and business skills with the talent to do things differently.

Here you’ll find top quality work, cutting edge training, high profile clients, and supportive colleagues. We think it could be time you joined us.

Meet the team

Our multi-disciplinary Real Estate group is highly regarded by our clients and within the sector. It comprises not only lawyers but also town and country planners. We’ve brought experts into our services in planning, development, investment, landlord and tenant matters, social housing, construction and litigation with a particular emphasis on energy, housing, education, finance and investment funds.

Our Residential Property team comprises some of the industry’s most experienced lawyers. We provide effective and efficient advice on residential and commercial transactions and have extensive experience in rural estates. With business-wide expertise in energy, planning and employment, we are on hand for every aspect of our client’s property requirements. We advise clients on the sale and purchase of residential properties with particular emphasis on residential freehold and leasehold sales and purchases including new builds. Our team covers the full range of conveyancing service including stamp duty land tax, the Land Registry, NHBC cover for new build properties, Transfers of Equity, remortgages, shared equity, Help to Buy and sales and purchases.

The opportunity

The team:

Our multi-disciplinary Real Estate group is highly regarded by our clients and within the sector. It comprises not only lawyers but also town and country planners. We’ve brought experts into our services in planning, development, investment, landlord and tenant matters, social housing, construction and litigation with a particular emphasis on energy, housing, education, finance and investment funds.

Our Residential Property team comprises some of the industry’s most experienced lawyers. We provide effective and efficient advice on residential and commercial transactions and have extensive experience in rural estates. With business-wide expertise in energy, planning and employment, we are on hand for every aspect of our client’s property requirements. We advise clients on the sale and purchase of residential properties with particular emphasis on residential freehold and leasehold sales and purchases including new builds. Our team covers the full range of conveyancing service including stamp duty land tax, the Land Registry, NHBC cover for new build properties, Transfers of Equity, remortgages, shared equity, Help to Buy and sales and purchases.

The role:

Are you a Paralegal or Legal Secretary with experience gained within a Residential team? Do you thrive working in a fast paced and client focused environment? Are you interested in joining a growing business with a strong track record of progression and development for its people? If this sounds like you, we want to hear from you…

We are looking for someone to join our Residential team part of the firms Real Estate Group, based in our Milton Keynes office. This role is to provide paralegal support to the members of the Residential team.

Your key duties will be:

  • providing paralegal and administrative support to the team
  • dealing with clients and other solicitors enquiries under supervision
  • preparing matters for completion including financial arrangements with clients and third parties under supervision
  • dealing with sales and purchases both freehold and leasehold, and mortgages
  • opening and closing of files and conducting conflict searches
  • dealing with general correspondence
  • handling telephone calls, and handling queries and enquiries where appropriate
  • producing forms and documentation
  • completing dictations
  • drafting documents
  • completing registrations at Land Registry
  • completing and filing SDLT returns

Skills and experience you will have:

  • a minimum of 12 months’ paralegal experience gained from within a Residential team; candidates with experience of 2 years’ or more in a Legal Secretary role gained from within a Residential team will also be considered
  • strong IT skills and fast, accurate typing ability
  • a minimum grade C pass at GCSE (or equivalent) in English Language and Mathematics

Key competencies you will need:

  • the ability to deal with client meetings and key client contacts
  • the ability to keep clients routinely updated and deal effectively in responding to changing client demands
  • the ability to work to tight deadlines and high volumes at a fast pace whilst maintaining accuracy and good attention to detail
  • the ability to prioritise a workload sometimes under pressure
  • drive, enthusiasm, commitment and a team player approach

Candidates must be interested to pursue a career in Residential Conveyancing and will ideally hold a legal qualification.

Additional information

Due to the nature of the work undertaken, confirmation of employment will be subject to a variety of checks which will be carried out once an offer of employment is accepted. Details of the checks can be found here.

Equal opportunities

Shakespeare Martineau is a committed equal opportunities employer. We seek to attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures. We value and respect individuality and encourage a culture within our business where people can be themselves and be valued for their strengths and experiences. Everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, regardless of their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.