The Private Client Division across our three UK locations incorporates our Private Property team. It has extensive market-leading expertise in advising individuals, trustees, families and charities in relation to their property and private affairs.
We are experienced in handling a full kaleidoscope of work for our private clients whilst adding our particular expertise in many specialist areas:-
- Rural Business & Landed Estates
- High-end residential and agricultural Property
- Charitable Trusts & Philanthropy
- Estate Planning & Succession
- Matrimonial and family
- Probate & Estate Administration
- Tax
- Trust Establishment, Management & Taxation
- International and UK Private Wealth Disputes
We offer not simply technical expertise within the areas listed, but take a rounded approach to the legal needs of our clients, using our fully integrated firm-wide services to ensure that the needs of our clients are proactively best served.
The role
This is a new role which represents an exciting opportunity for the right person to play their part in supporting a dynamic team. The successful candidate will have the ability to embrace the challenges of working in a fast-moving and constantly evolving environment and to contribute to the success of the team. The Paralegal will support and assist the team in advising on a range of UK and international clients. In particular, a range of non-contentious title related issues, support on large and complex sale and purchase and refinancing transactions, transfers between trusts and individuals and matters of title and title registration. Working with a range of partners within the team, this is an opportunity for those looking to develop their careers within a friendly collegiate team that is widely recognised for its expertise in this area.
The team
The team in Cheltenham consists of two Partners, one Consultant, one Senior Associate, four Associates, one Title Specialist, one Paralegal and one Trainee. The team specialises in looking after landed estate clients – consisting of private individuals (from the UK or overseas), trusts, charities or corporate entities – and in acting on high value transactions of whole estates, country houses, farms, equestrian property and other residential property.
The Private Property practice forms part of a wider Landed Estates group that includes leading partners in the prime central London, outer London and Home Counties residential property, agricultural and country house markets. It is recognised in the Chambers guide (Bands 1 and 2), Chambers High Net Worth Awards, Spear’s 500 and The Legal 500 (Band 1). The Private Property practice forms an integral part of our Band 1 Private Client and broader Private Wealth practice. This is an extremely powerful domestic and international private client business which acts as a continuing source of new instructions into the Private Property group.
The Cheltenham office comprises approximately 100 staff that includes 11 Partners, a number of Legal Directors, Title Specialists, Senior Associates, Associates, Trainees and a team of dedicated support staff. Our lawyers are mainly City of London trained and many are ranked as leaders in their fields.
Our teams are ranked Band 1 by Legal 500 in five practice areas, including Corporate & Commercial, Employment, Agriculture and Estates, Personal Tax, trusts and probate and Commercial Property. As a firm we have exacting standards that require expertise, rigor, accountability and a personal service to a wide range of clients. The Private Property group is a friendly and inclusive, team, offering lots of training and opportunities for you to progress your career.
Key tasks and responsibilities (this is a broad but not exhaustive list)
- Assisting in preparing Land Registry applications, both of registered and unregistered land
- Drafting transaction documents for fee earners for review, such as transfers and residential sale contracts
- Drafting accurately and logically, making appropriate use of precedents
- Assisting in the preparation of sales packs for properties
- Assisting on sale and purchase transactions
- Assisting in preparing Stamp Duty Land Tax returns
- Ad hoc research
- Managing assigned cases
Qualifications and experience
- Ideally relevant property experience dealing with agricultural property and unregistered land
- Has legal experience (including but not limited to law degree, CILEx, apprenticeship or equivalent)
- Technical knowledge in using online research tools and standard business software (such as Microsoft Office, Sharepoint)
- Experience using platforms such as Practical Law and Lexis for legal research would be advantageous but is not essential
- Demonstrate excellent IT skills including Excel, Word and Worksite
Person specification
- Be confident to work autonomously and as part of a team
- Demonstrate excellent time management skills
- Have the ability to develop effective working relations at all levels.
- Be confident in both verbal and written communication with a diverse range of clients
- Have a motivated flexible approach and willing to go the extra mile
- Strong commitment to providing clients with a high quality service
- High degree of accuracy / attention to detail
- Comply with all relevant legal and regulatory obligations including the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Standards and Regulations, and Principles.