Paralegal - Construction (12 Month FTC)

Wedlake Bell are recruiting a Paralegal to join our highly-regarded Construction team. This is a full-time, 12-month fixed-term contract with the expectation of five days in-office per week.

The Construction Team at Wedlake Bell has gone from strength to strength in recent years, consistently maintaining high rankings amongst City law firms (Legal 500 Tier 3, Band 4 Chambers and Partners). The team advises at every stage of the construction life cycle, from planning and design through to successful completion, and everything in between. We work with a variety of leading clients across multiple industries (offices, logistics, retail, ports, healthcare, biotech, data centres etc).

Paralegals in the Construction team provide general support to Partners and fee-earners, working on a variety of non-contentious and contentious construction matters. This role provides key support to our contentious construction Partner and will be heavily involved in supporting construction disputes throughout the litigation life cycle, though you will also work on non-contentious construction matters where extra support is needed.

This is an excellent opportunity for a law graduate to join a thriving and varied Construction practice, you will gain outstanding experience daily and have excellent mentorship and development opportunities from our close-knit team.

Find out more about our Construction practice 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 and walking trips!), you will quickly feel like part of the WB team!

Key Responsibilities:

• Providing general paralegal support on a variety of construction matters, including:
• Supporting on construction disputes throughout the litigation life cycle – from the pre-action process to successful outcome;
• Helping draft and prepare documentation including: pre-action letters and correspondence, court filing, settlement agreements, etc;
• Supporting on non-contentious construction matters where appropriate – supporting with due diligence and reporting, drafting collateral warranties and other ancillary documents, collating and organising multiple warranties on projects, creating and collating document packs and preparing contractual documentation, conducting post-completion administration;
• Undertaking legal research;
• Dealing with routine client and/or third party queries and reporting to relevant fee earner with updates where necessary;
• Assisting with the running of the team's construction helpline, including listening and responding to caller legal queries;
• Assisting with the team's knowledge management;
• Assisting with the team's business development initiatives; and
• Organising and maintaining accurate files both electronically and hard copy.

• Other administrative tasks including diarising and monitoring key dates, facilitating client on-boarding through drafting engagement letters and corresponding with clients regarding required AML documentation, assisting with preparing, reviewing and sending out bills, etc; and
• Other ad-hoc responsibilities as required.

Key Skills and Qualifications:

• A relevant legal qualification – holding a degree (or post-graduate qualification) in law or a related field;
• Ideally some prior work experience, or a demonstrable understanding of construction / real estate law and the disputes process (showcasing dedicated study in these subjects, or work experiences/internships in relevant organisation) – though not essential to be considered;
• Excellent communication skills – must be able to interact and communicate effectively across all levels of seniority and on both an internal and external basis;
• Able to work well under pressure and in keeping with deadlines;
• Must have excellent attention to detail and organisational skills; and
• Strong IT capabilities, including a good understanding of modern office software (in particular the Office 365 suite).

Why join us?

• A competitive starting salary;
• A 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.