Legal Secretary / Paralegal Secretary - Residential Property

Wedlake Bell's highly regarded Residential Property team are recruiting an experienced Legal Secretary / Paralegal Secretary to join their close-knit team. This is a full-time, permanent position.

Our Residential Property practice (Chambers Band 3, L500 Tier 2) is a close-knit team with a strong reputation in the legal market. Amongst other things, they work on a range of high-profile residential sales and purchases (particularly prime London locations), Landlord and Tenant matters associated with high-value properties, and act for high-end residential development projects.

The Residential Property secretarial team are a tight-knit team of six (including this role), supporting a team of fifteen fee-earners. The role is highly varied, alongside secretarial responsibilities such as inbox/diary management and the preparation of legal paperwork, secretaries often take on paralegal fee-earner work such as conveyancing and supporting property transactions.

In return for your hard work we offer competitive salaries and benefits, a friendly culture which supports your work/life balance, and regular social events including our monthly firm-wide social, our annual ski and walking trips, and more!

Find our more about our Residential Property team here.

About Us

Located in the heart of the City of London, Wedlake Bell is a Top 100 law firm offering full services across Private Client, Real Estate, Business Services, and Disputes. The firm has 81 Partners and a total headcount of around 400. We have grown year-on-year, attributed to the continual success of our legal teams, and the dedication of our staff members.

Our culture is widely-recognised as one of the best in City law, built on trust, collaboration, and mutual respect. Joining us, you will be part of a firm which supports work/life balance, personal development, and building strong connections. With regular cross-firm socials and events (including our renowned yearly ski trip!), you will quickly feel like part of the Wedlake Bell team!

Key Responsibilities

• Creating and amending documents, correspondence and emails, to a high-degree of accuracy and to tight deadlines, from digital dictation (via BigHand), handwritten drafts or typed documents;
• Preparing reports to clients for freehold and leasehold properties;
• Preparing files for exchange and dealing with completions and all post completion work;
• Dealing with other solicitors, clients and estate agents;
• Opening new files and onboarding new clients via Thirdfort app and liaising with compliance/risk team;
• Identify and collate KYC documents for new clients;
• Copying, scanning, archiving and storing original documents and updating databases;
• Drafting letters of engagement and work schedules;
• Liaise with Document Production Team in respect of preparation of any documents, formatting issues and ensuring document amendments are returned to fee earner and deadlines are met;
• Reviewing fee earners' emails in their absence, answering queries/redirecting to relevant person;
• Scheduling meetings with clients, booking meeting rooms, conference and video calls (using Teams);
• Dealing with incoming and outgoing post;
• Managing partner/fee earner's diaries and travel arrangements both in UK and abroad (flights/taxis/hotel accommodation), and arranging team functions (lunches, events, etc);
• Co-ordinate the billing process on behalf of the partner/fee earner, liaise with finance team in respect of any changes and instructions to finance team to finalise invoices; sending invoices out to clients;
• Outsourcing correspondence via digital dictation and proof reading before returning to fee earners;
• Updating the firm's client and contacts database and recording business development information on Interaction; and
• Other ad-hoc tasks as required.

Key Skills and Qualifications

• Significant secretarial experience (ideally 5+ years) in a Property environment, and a thorough understanding of the concepts and terminology in relation to Residential Property work;
• Knowledge of carrying out land registry searches, and preparing conveyancing documents;
• Experience creating physical and electronic bundles;
• Ideally, a secretarial qualification or equivalent business administration qualification;
• Organised and able to work to tight deadlines, with excellent attention to detail;
• Proactive and positive - takes the initiative on matters and also comfortable with taking direction from other Secretaries;
• Able to work independently or as part of a team and willing to help others whenever possible;
• Strong communication skills and ability to build and maintain constructive relationships; and
• High standards of written English and grammar.

Why Join Us?

• A competitive starting salary;
• comprehensive pension plan;
• 25 days paid holiday per annum, plus additional leave for significant life events;
• Option to purchase up to five additional days of holiday each year;
• Life Assurance and competitive income protection scheme;
• Access to Private Medical and Dental Insurance from day one;
• Enhanced parental leave policies;
• Employee Assistance Programme with face-to-face counselling services;
• Variety of staff wellbeing initiatives including Pilates classes and subsidised gym memberships; and
• A range of bonus schemes recognising referrals and client introductions.

We are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, where every individual is respected and valued. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, irrespective of their background or personal circumstances.

If you are passionate about joining a busy team and are eager for a challenging yet fulfilling career, we encourage you to apply.