Senior Paralegal (Residential Conveyancing)

Our client is a well-established leading firm of solicitors based in Sheffield. They are a forward-thinking organisation and one of the leading law firms in South Yorkshire well known for delivering excellent levels of client care.

Hours of Work: 35 hours, Monday to Friday

Role Purpose: To assist and support fee earners within the team in accordance with internal procedures and best practice.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

• To assist on a varied caseload of residential property transactions including dealing with client enquiries, providing updates and taking instructions.
• To proficiently prepare correspondence, forms and documents in accordance with instructions and supervision.
• To assist fee earner in the management and progression of transactions as directed.
• Preparation of sale contracts and relevant supporting documentation on registered and unregistered titles.
• To facilitate exchange of contracts in accordance with instructions and as required and then proficiently prepare and/or arrange financial statements, SDLT submissions, certificates of title for advance funds.
• To process all tasks in accordance with instructions, established internal procedures, Conveyancing Quality Standards (CQS) and good practice.
• To ensure all new build warranties are submitted and intercepted as soon as possible and within defined timescales.
• To deal with preparation of any Help to Buy Incentives including providing relevant documentation.
• To act as a point of contact for clients by telephone and face to face including recording accurate messages and information.
• To professionally and proactively liaise with clients, estate agents, financial advisors, mortgage lenders and other law firms as appropriate.
• To demonstrate exemplary client care and ensure continual client contact in accordance with internal practices.
• To build and maintain strong relationships with clients and third parties demonstrable through positive feedback.
• To proactively contribute to the overall development, implementation and smooth running of internal administrative procedures including making suggestions as appropriate.
• To identify and undertake continual personal and professional development including attending training as required.
• To follow and adhere to all Department Working Instructions (DWI’s) and company policies to ensure compliance at all times.
• To undertake additional tasks which fall within the scope of the role as directed and reasonably required.
• Completing the following tasks working independently with a high level of confidence and accuracy:
• Drafting mortgage reports.
• Flagging to fee earner potential inaccuracies in mortgage offer.
• Drafting search reports and flagging to fee earner potential issues within searches.
• Drafting and issuing contract packs (including requesting leasehold information and redemption statements).
• Drafting SDLT returns.
• Drafting key documents (including TR1, Deed of Covenant, Stock Transfer Form, etc.).
• Sending documents to clients for signing.
• Reviewing sale enquiries on simple transactions (e.g. straightforward freehold transactions).
• Ordering searches and Ordering SIM searches.
• Liaising with giftor to obtain ID, statements and declaration.
• Liaising with clients and other key parties (including estate agents, solicitors and mortgage brokers).
• Completing initial compliance checks for fee earner approval.
• Ability to organise and manage workload.
• Proactively work from the team inbox (i.e. able to pick out work within the junior paralegal’s capabilities and flag tasks outside of junior paralegal’s capability to fee earner or senior paralegal).
• Completing completion set-ups.
• Conducting exchanges and completions under supervision.
• Preparing handover for post-completion.
• Dealing with completion tasks including the service of notice on a leasehold property.
• Reporting to lender on inaccuracies in mortgage offer (full client names, tenure, etc.).
• Raising relevant enquiries on search results.
• Ability to independently run complex sale matters (leasehold flats, unregistered titles, complex titles, drafting statements of truth, drafting riders etc.), including dealing with enquiries.
• Ability to independently run (or with limited guidance) simple freehold purchases (including title check and report on title).
• Conduct initial source of funds review on purchase.
• Checking lender handbooks to ensure compliance.

Who are we looking for:

• It is essential that you have a good working knowledge of the conveyancing process and of assisting fee earners within a conveyancing team.
• At least 12 months’ experience in a similar role.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications including Word and Outlook.

Abilities, skills and knowledge:

• Good personal organisation including the ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work methodically and accurately with an excellent attention to detail and a professional and proactive outlook.
• Strong team working skills and ability to work on own initiative with a flexible, adaptable and solution-based approach.
• Excellent communication and client care skills with a dedication to delivering excellent standards of client care.

Desirable:

• Knowledge and experience of case management systems.

Benefits include:

• 25 holidays + Bank holidays.
• An additional 3 days after 5 years’ service pro-rata for part time.
• Scottish Widows’ Pension, standard contribution initially and after 3 years employer contribution 6%.
• Westfield Healthcare.
• Discount on legal fees up to £750.