The role:
We are looking for a paralegal to join our busy Commercial Property team in Hertford. Your responsibilities will include:
General:
- Direct communication with clients with updates and to provide and obtain information
- Telephone conversations with clients, agents, solicitors, lenders and third parties
- Carry out client work and administrative tasks speedily, efficiently, and accurately (whilst consulting with partners and fee earners to properly prioritise tasked roles)
- Complying with procedures and quality standards contained in the firm's Office Manual
- Exercise high standards of client care in a professional and pleasant manner
- Ensure the confidentiality and security of documentation and information
- Comply with the Solicitors Accounts Rules and the Rules on the Professional Conduct of Solicitors (training and guidance to be provided, as required)
- Maintain clear and precise communications with other personnel in the firm
- Ensure good working relationships with external institutions and organisations
- To take responsibility for and attend to self-development
- In liaison with Head of Department and partners, to be active in promoting the services of the firm and its image and ethos (including the advancement of social media efforts)
Commercial Property:
- Dealing with file openings including terms of business, AML checks and ensuring all information is inputted into a case management system
- Obtaining documents from the Land Registry
- Obtaining documents from Companies House
- Submitting searches
- Obtaining documents from solicitors and collating these
- Liaising with clients, solicitors, lenders and agents
- Preparing completion and financial statements
- Preparing engrossment documents and arranging with clients to sign
- Post exchange and post completion matters as well as completing some matters
- Sending monies by CHAPS and BACS for completions and to clients - ensuring verbal confirmation of account details are obtained before sending funds
- Stamp Duty Land Tax forms – drafting and submission
- Land Registry applications
- Companies House applications
- File closure matters
- General administrative duties
- Carrying out monthly matter review forms
- Preparing bills
- Preparing deeds schedules and arranging deeds storage
In addition to the duties and responsibilities listed, there may be other duties required from time to time such as but not limited to assisting other departments and covering Reception. Such other duties must be reasonable in relation to the jobholders’ skills, abilities and status.
What we expect from you:
- You’re dedicated to providing excellent client service in line with our Service Pledge.
- You’re somebody who takes pride in their work and of whom we can be proud.
- You’re interested in promoting the firm’s good name both internally and externally.
- You’re a team player who will always go the extra mile.
- You have a positive attitude and always look to lift spirits, not lower them.
- You show good judgement and maturity.
- You’re risk-aware – you know what you don’t know.
- You’re a hard worker with a ‘can-do’ attitude.
- You will be technically proficient in email, word and excel and show attention to detail
- You will need to have a willingness to learn, improve, develop and be part of a team
- You will have good time management skills
What you can expect from us:
- A structured career path that provides all the information you need to develop and progress.
- A supportive and nurturing working environment with monthly one-to-ones, department meetings and a six-monthly appraisal scheme.
- Flexible and hybrid working.
- Firm-wide and fee-earner bonus schemes.
- Holiday entitlement of 25 days per year, rising by one day per year of service to a maximum of 30 days.
- Automatic enrolment to our contributory corporate pension scheme (salary sacrifice).
- Automatic enrolment to our Employee Assistance Programme, which helps staff members experiencing personal problems that might adversely impact their work performance, health and wellbeing.
- Enrolment to our Healthcare Cash Plan after the probationary period. Cover includes dependant children and may be extended to partners or spouses at the employee’s expense.
- Access to Mintago, a comprehensive employee financial wellbeing platform.
- Each office has its own designated Social and Wellbeing champion, who is there to help promote good mental and physical health with a range of initiatives including social walks, book clubs, charitable activities and out-of-hours get-togethers and events.
- Annual staff events including summer and Christmas events, quarterly office lunches and our annual online Staff Quiz!
Work Location: In person
