Paralegal

Department: Legal Delivery Centre

Duration: 12 Month FTC (possibility of permanent role for the right candidate)

Reports to: Team Leader

Reference number: 10848

The Department

Our Legal Delivery Centre (LDC) is a flexible and scalable paralegal resource for use across all of our UK, Ireland and Middle East offices and across the full spectrum of legal services. Meeting the ever-increasing demands for disaggregated legal services, the LDC offers an exciting opportunity for development and the chance to undertake chargeable work that is varied, challenging and engaging.

Dentons is embracing the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) route to qualification. Not only can your work experience count towards Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) but for suitable internal applicants we are also offering a unique opportunity for development, including financial sponsorship, through our QualiFLY programme. QualiFLY is an enhanced 2-year programme which is designed to provide the business with a pipeline of quality talent whilst ensuring that the experience and training gained by the paralegal is comparable to the more typical training contract route. Please note the QualiFLY programme is a separate process to this job application.

In the LDC we are keen to continuously innovate and you will use legal technology and AI tools to support delivery, improve consistency and reduce manual processes. We are therefore looking for someone curious about new ways of working, comfortable learning new technology, and interested in how AI can be used responsibly to enhance legal service delivery.

This role is well suited to someone looking to build strong legal experience within an innovative delivery environment, working alongside experienced lawyers with structured training and development.

Role

This is a great opportunity to join a growing team that is integral to the firm's strategy, whilst benefiting from being able to work virtually and flexibly. We welcome applications from across the UK for those seeking an alternative experience.

We are looking for an experienced, highly organised and proactive commercial real estate paralegal who is comfortable taking ownership of suitable matters and workstreams, working directly with clients and driving matters forward under appropriate supervision, to join our LDC's Real Estate Transactional team.

The Real Estate Transactional team is a dedicated resource supporting teams across the Real Estate Division and our Dentons Helix team (Dentons' innovative Managed Legal Service division). The successful candidate would be working closely with our team of Helix Property lawyers to support work on two to three of our key Property clients. The role offers the opportunity to develop close working relationships with our client teams and to operate as a true extension of those teams. The role combines commercial real estate work with the structured, technology-enabled delivery model used by Dentons Helix. The successful candidate will support a small number of key clients, develop a detailed understanding of their businesses and ways of working, and operate as an extension of their internal teams.

Whilst this is a virtual role with no expectation or requirement that you attend any of our office locations, for those who would like to experience the office environment and meet our hybrid teams, there is the opportunity to attend our offices.

Responsibilities

You will work as part of a team to deliver a first-class service to our clients. Our approach is to create a supportive environment by working collaboratively as part of a team whilst also encouraging team members to operate with a degree of independence.

The work will include:

• Managing a caseload of commercial real estate matters and workstreams, under appropriate supervision, taking responsibility for progressing matters efficiently from instruction through to exchange, completion and post-completion.
• Drafting, reviewing and progressing real estate documentation appropriate to the level, including leases, licences to alter and to assign, and other estate management documentation.
• Supporting more complex matters, including preparing reports on title, reviewing replies to enquiries (including CPSEs), analysing search results and undertaking due diligence.
• Proactively managing next steps, deadlines and outstanding actions, including coordinating and chasing input from clients, counterparties and other stakeholders.
• Identifying legal, commercial or practical issues and escalating these promptly to the supervising lawyer where appropriate.
• Managing signing and completion processes, including completion of counterparts, and undertaking post-completion work such as SDLT returns, Land Registry applications and dealing with requisitions.
• Maintaining strong matter discipline, including accurate matter tracking, file management, status reporting and financial hygiene (time recording and billing).
• Building effective day-to-day working relationships with clients and operating as an extension of their internal teams.
• Working closely with the Helix Property lawyers, the project management team and the wider Real Estate Transactional team to deliver a responsive and consistent service.
• Contributing to the development and maintenance of precedents, playbooks, trackers and other client know-how.
• Using technology, including workflow tools and AI, to improve the efficiency, consistency and quality of legal delivery.
• Supporting wider real estate projects and transactions as required, including due diligence and post-completion work.

It is essential that candidates are team players and committed to developing personally and professionally.  A determination to deliver high-quality focused services to our internal and external clients is essential, as is maintaining and developing those client relationships.

Through newly established ways of working, including an increased emphasis on technological solutions, you will be supported in taking full ownership for some key tasks, giving you direct responsibility. Our approach is to create a supportive remote environment by working collaboratively as part of a team whilst also encouraging team members to operate with a degree of independence.

You will work closely with the Helix Property Legal Team as well as with the Real Estate Transactional team, legal service areas, project management team and with clients. The team has a strong teamwork ethic and a first class internal and external client management approach.

Successful candidates will be people with energy and enthusiasm, working hard to provide the highest levels of service whilst at the same time valuing having fun being part of a supportive and collegiate team.

Required experience, skills and attributes

• Minimum of 3-5 years' relevant commercial real estate experience, with strong landlord and tenant experience; experience of retail, multi-site or portfolio work would be advantageous.
• Minimum of three A levels at grade B, or equivalent.
• A qualification in law (degree or Graduate Diploma in Law) is advantageous.
• LPC, or equivalent (helpful but not essential).
• Experience of managing suitable real estate matters through their lifecycle, including exchange, completion and post-completion, with appropriate supervision.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (especially Word, Excel and Outlook).
• Strong drafting and title investigation skills.
• A proactive approach to matter management, with the ability to identify next steps and keep matters moving without needing to be prompted at each stage.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage a high volume of matters and competing deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail and a disciplined approach to matter tracking, file management and reporting.
• Good judgement as to when a matter can be progressed independently and when legal or commercial issues should be escalated.
• Confidence communicating directly with clients, counterparties and other stakeholders.
• A practical, solutions-focused approach and willingness to get involved in both the legal and administrative aspects of delivering a matter.
• Confidence using technology and an interest in using legal technology, workflow tools and AI to improve delivery.
• A collaborative, personable and dependable working style, particularly within a remote team.

Firm Profile

Across more than 80 countries, Dentons helps you grow, protect, operate and finance your organisation by providing uniquely global and deeply local legal solutions. Polycentric, purpose-driven and committed to inclusion, diversity, equity and sustainability, we focus on what matters most to you. www.dentons.com

Inclusion and Diversity

We are committed to building an inclusive culture here at Dentons where our people can thrive, regardless of their background or circumstance. As well as being the right thing to do, it makes good business sense too. A richness of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives helps us best serve our clients and the communities in which we operate. You can find out more about inclusion and diversity at Dentons here: Inclusion and Diversity

Dentons is committed to providing equal opportunities for all. We welcome applications from everyone including of any age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, neurotype, disability, or with parental or caring responsibilities. We are also “Happy to Talk Flexible Working” and welcome conversations about flexible working arrangements.

Dentons is a Disability Confident employer. Candidates with a disability may choose to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme. We will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. Where application volumes are high, we may offer interviews to those who best meet the minimum criteria, consistent with our approach for all candidates.

During the application process, all applicants have the opportunity to tell us about any adjustments or support they require so they are able to perform at their best. Any information you share with us during the application process is treated in confidence.

If you have any questions about this or the role criteria, please email recruitment.matters@dentons.com. 

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

If you are interested in applying for this position, we welcome direct applications via our careers page, but if you have any questions beforehand, please email  recruitment.matters@dentons.com. Enquiries only please – applications will not be accepted via email.

Please note that we will not accept unsolicited CVs sent to the business, nor will we accept any associated terms of business.