Senior Paralegal - Leasehold Extensions (Remote) in London

This is a senior paralegal role for an experienced case handler with strong procedural and practical experience in leasehold property matters, informal lease extensions and post‑completion registration.

The post‑holder will manage a caseload of private lease extension files under the supervision of a solicitor, with responsibility for file progression, client communication, procedural conduct, drafting from precedent, third‑party liaison and matter management. The post‑holder will not provide unsupervised legal advice or conduct reserved legal activities outside delegated authority. All legal advice, legal strategy, legal sign‑off and supervision of legal risk remain with the supervising solicitor.

Role Objective

To manage a supervised caseload of private lease extension matters efficiently, accurately and proactively, ensuring:

• matters progress efficiently from instruction to completion,
• clients receive high‑quality service and clear communication,
• deadlines and third‑party dependencies are managed effectively,
• risks are identified and escalated appropriately,
• files remain compliant, commercially managed and procedurally sound,
• matters complete efficiently and register correctly.

Key Responsibilities

Caseload Management

• Manage a personal caseload of private (informal) lease extension matters under solicitor supervision.
• Progress matters from file opening through to completion and registration.
• Maintain accurate case records, task progression, notes and correspondence.
• Ensure all key dates, milestones and chases are diarised and actioned.
• Maintain orderly and compliant files in accordance with internal procedures and regulatory requirements.
• Prioritise and manage workflow to ensure efficient file progression and client service.

Private Lease Extension Conduct

• Progress private lease extension matters from instruction through to completion.
• Obtain title documents, lease documentation and relevant property papers.
• Review and extract key lease and title information.
• Prepare file summaries and identify key issues for solicitor review.
• Draft and issue initial correspondence to landlords / agents.
• Request, chase and log informal lease extension terms.
• Track and record negotiations and responses.
• Prepare matter summaries and heads of terms for solicitor review.
• Identify and elevate adverse or commercially unattractive lease terms.
• Support progression to agreed terms and documentation.

Drafting & Documentation

• Draft routine correspondence, reports and procedural documents from approved precedents.
• Prepare letters to landlords, agents and third parties.
• Prepare file notes, summaries and matter updates.
• Draft lease extension documentation from approved precedent for review.
• Prepare completion packs, engrossments and execution packs.
• Prepare post‑completion documentation and Land Registry applications.

Completion & Post‑Completion

• Prepare completion statements and completion packs.
• Coordinate execution and completion logistics.
• Support completion under solicitor supervision.
• Prepare AP1 applications and post‑completion registration documents.
• Lodge and monitor Land Registry applications.
• Deal with routine post‑completion matters and routine requisitions under supervision.
• Escalate legal or substantive requisitions to supervising solicitor.

Risk, Escalation & Supervision

• Identify legal, procedural, title, timing and commercial risks.
• Escalate all legal advice points, legal drafting points and legal risk promptly.
• Escalate adverse informal terms, title defects, lender issues and unusual landlord structures.
• Work strictly within delegated authority and supervision protocols.
• Ensure all legal advice and legal sign‑off are referred to the supervising solicitor.
• Maintain awareness of role boundaries and escalation obligations.

Team Support & Mentoring

• Support junior paralegals / trainees with procedural workflow and file administration.
• Assist with file process training and workflow guidance.
• Share best practice in file management, drafting and post‑completion.
• Support team process consistency and quality standards.

Person Specification

Essential

• Minimum 3+ years' experience in residential property, leasehold property or lease extension work.
• Strong experience managing property files and procedural transactions.
• Experience handling private / informal lease extension matters.
• Strong understanding of leasehold titles and lease documentation.
• Experience drafting from precedent and managing completion processes.
• Strong Land Registry / post‑completion experience.
• Excellent file management and diary discipline.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Commercially aware and client‑focused.
• Able to work independently within supervision boundaries.
• Strong escalation judgment.

Desirable

• Experience in leasehold enfranchisement / statutory lease extensions.
• Experience with Proclaim case management.
• Experience supervising junior paralegals.
• LPC / SQE / CILEX study or equivalent.
• Experience liaising with valuers / landlords / managing agents in leasehold transactions.