At Browne Jacobson, we’ve always worked across business and society, and this expertise sets us apart. Social and environmental impact are at the top of our business agenda. We champion fairness, make the complex simple and forge connections between clients to find creative solutions. This is how we improve outcomes for every person, community and business we serve.
With offices in Birmingham, Dublin, Exeter, London, Manchester and Nottingham, we’re a UK & I based law firm with an international reach. Our sectors include: health; real estate and construction; education; energy and infrastructure; financial services; government; insurance; manufacturing and industrials; and retail, consumer and logistics.
We nurture talent at all levels and from every background and celebrate what makes people individuals. Law needs all voices to reflect the society it serves and we’re working towards social mobility, diversity and inclusion in our firm - and our profession. We strive to create meaningful personal and professional development opportunities and offer flexible working in support of a good work-life balance. We focus on wellbeing and individuality, so that all our people can thrive.
We’re a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who best meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. Tick on the application form if you’d like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.
What is the working practice for this role?
The firm operates a set of core principles that guides our working practice. It’s called ‘One Firm, Wherever You Are’.
You might have enjoyed working from home and would like to split your time between there and the office/ other work locations. Others may be eager to return to the office on a more regular basis. We believe that a regular level of in-person contact is an important way to build connections with your colleagues, enhancing knowledge and idea sharing and enabling all of us to benefit from the vibrant office culture Browne Jacobson has to offer.
Our expectation is that, on average, you’ll work from home for no more than three days per week, with the remainder of your time either spent with your colleagues in the office or working from other locations as work demands dictate, e.g. courts, client offices, conferences etc.
This is an average expectation over time and we know that there will be variations from week to week. Equally, there will be individual circumstances in which a different pattern of work is needed, for example as an agreed reasonable adjustment for colleagues with a disability or long-term medical condition. We believe this approach:
- fits with our values and personality
- will enhance our performance through greater flexibility
- advances our ambitions as an inclusive employer – helping you better balance work and family/life commitments
- offers opportunities to reduce our carbon footprint (travel, office services etc.), a key ambition underpinning our corporate sustainability plan.
Why is this role important and how does it fit into the team, department & wider firm?
We have an exciting opportunity for a legal assistant to carry out corporate/commercial work within our market leading education team. You would provide a legal support service to the firm’s education team working with schools and academies in particular in connection with the legal aspects of conversion to academy status and academy transfers.
What does the role actually involve?
- Opening and closing of files and general file management responsibilities
- Prepare and send routine correspondence to clients, Local Authorities, the Department for Education and other firms of solicitors
- Assisting in the preparation of reports on land registry title and title documentation and land search results
- Assisting in the preparation of reports on leases and other property transactional documents
- Assisting in preparation of draft leases and freehold transfer deeds
- Preparing all necessary Land Registry documents and forms
- Registering property documents at the Land Registry
- Maintain diary detailing appointments, receipt of documents, transaction milestones etc.
- Undertaking legal research
- Undertake any other duties as required, commensurate with the level of the post
- Assisting in the preparation and finalising of memorandum and articles of association, asset transfer agreements, leases, licences, property transfers and funding agreements with the Secretary of State together with reports to the school on these documents
- Liaising with clients, the DFE and other agencies
- Preparing and filing all necessary Companies House forms in connection with the incorporation of academy trusts
- Preparing company statutory books and completion bibles
- Maintain diary detailing appointments, receipt of documents, transaction milestones etc.
- Undertaking legal research
Person specification
What technical skills are required for someone to be successful and enjoy the role?
- Good familiarity with Microsoft Office (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Good IT skills with the ability to produce own correspondence and documentation
- Experience in a legal assistant/paralegal role would be an advantage
Who would be a good fit for this role?
As part of the Education team, you would be expected to have the following skills and experience:
- Effective communicator, able to establish and maintain harmonious and professional relationships with clients and colleagues
- Good organisational skills and be able to manage own time effectively
- A proactive, professional and flexible approach to work
- Ability to work on own initiative whilst maintaining a positive team spirit at all times
- Able to adopt a common sense approach with attention to detail
- Keen to develop over a period of time with a willingness and ability to learn
- As the successful candidate receives training and their abilities develop, they would be expected to take on increasing levels of responsibility for matters whilst working under reducing levels of supervision
If external support is required on a vacancy, a member of the Browne Jacobson recruitment team will release the role to one of our agency partners. We ask that recruitment agencies do not send CVs unless instructed on the role.
