Housing Paralegal or NQ Solicitor

Role
Forbes Solicitors are looking for an experienced Paralegal or an NQ Solicitor to join the Housing & Regeneration (Property) team at the Walton Summit office near Preston. This is a full-time role working 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday within the home ownership sub-team who act for Registered Providers of Housing across the country.

This is a great opportunity for an experienced Paralegal or NQ Solicitor to progress their current career and join a collaborative and professional team. Whilst the role will be working to the fast-pace, client focussed and high standards of a law firm, the role will also provide a sustainable work-life balance . The successful candidate will have property experience and training will be provided in specific Housing Property work types in which Forbes Housing Group have a particular sector presence.

The Paralegal role will be responsible for delivering successful outcomes such as:

• Carrying out effective and efficient chargeable (legal based) work that contributes to the delivery and completion of the full range of home ownership transactions for social housing clients (including shared ownership and open market plot sales, right to buy and right to acquire transactions, lease extensions, surrenders and re-sales of residential properties, property and land disposals) and auctions.
• Ensure timely and efficient day-to-day progress of matters, prioritising work, monitoring deadlines and actions needed and keeping clients informed.
• Drafting and preparing legal documents that require further knowledge, consideration and input based on analysis and understanding of information gathered.
• Providing legal advice, that resolves queries and advances clients instructions and transactions.
• Assessing and understanding client queries to identify actions and advice required and manage and guide the progression of a client file.
• Attend external meetings and events including but not limited to client meetings and networking events.
• Maintain, monitor and update the appropriate systems and documents with client and case information, data and file notes.
• Carry out and deliver accurate and up-to-date legal research.
• Write original high-quality articles and reports for internal and external publication.
• Manage regular and up-to-date communications with clients and stakeholders, answering queries, managing expectations (including costs), providing updates and effectively chasing responses required and escalating appropriately.

The Solicitor role will be responsible for delivering successful outcomes such as:

• Handling a varied case load of Property matters consisting of, effective and efficient chargeable (legal based) work that contributes to the delivery and completion of the full range of home ownership transactions for social housing clients (including shared ownership and open market plot sales, right to buy and right to acquire transactions, lease extensions, surrenders and re-sales of residential properties, property and land disposals) and auctions; the opportunity to gain experience in a wide range of transactions including commercial leases and agreements, site set ups, bulk stock transfers (acquisitions and disposals), charging projects and other development matters.
• Provision of written and verbal advice in non-litigated property matters;
• Site Visits with experts;
• Communications with clients, and third parties to progress files;
• Supporting the Head of Department with the delivery of the departmental strategy and business objectives;
• Ensuring compliance with internal and external business requirements including ISO:9001 quality control, SRA Principles / Code of Conduct, deadlines;
• Monitoring and reporting on own financial and business performance to deliver work in a profitable manner;
• Contributing towards internal continuous improvement, innovation and knowledge sharing;
• Inter-departmental support and collaboration on joint files, projects and events;
• Contributing to the development of the departmental business plan;
• Building positive relationships with current/prospective clients and enhancing the firms profile, to drive business growth;
• Contributing to business development including training events, articles/newsletters, Chambers & Legal 500 submissions, etc

Organisation
Forbes Solicitors offer the full range of legal services to individuals, commercial clients, and a number of specialist sectors where we excel nationally. We have offices across the North, but our roots are firmly based in Lancashire. Our clients tell us that we stand out from other firms. We are real people who are passionate about getting the best results. Working together and listening to our clients, we provide genuine and practical advice.

We are looking for someone who displays our values; specifically someone who is authentic, exceptional and united.

Benefits
We are committed to being a supportive organisation that keeps focus on our people and therefore we offer a range of additional benefits including:

• Competitive Salary;
• 33 Days Annual Leave, including bank holidays;
• Annual Leave Purchase Scheme (Subject to T&Cs);
• A day off for your Birthday;
• Bonus Scheme;
• Ongoing Training and Development;
• Progression Opportunities;
• Company Pension;
• Service Awards;
• Health Care Benefits (Health Cash Back Plan and Mental Health Counselling Services);
• Other Employee Discounts;
• Recruitment and Legal Department Referrals (Subject to T&Cs);
• Annual Events.

Applying
If you are interested in this role specifically or just working at Forbes Solicitors, please do head to our website to learn more about us.

We will be progressing applicants to the next stage based on applications demonstrating the following knowledge, experience, and skills:

• hold CILEX qualification/Law Degree (or equivalent);
• hold the LPC/SQE (desirable but not essential; NB - If applying as a NQ Solicitor, this is essential, along with being SRA Qualified and holding a practicing certificate);
• previous experience as a paralegal within property is essential;
• previous experience and knowledge within a property department is essential;
• have proven competence in their IT skills (Outlook, Word, and other systems experience);
• have the ability to work as part of a team;
• align with the Firms values;
• ability to manage their own caseload to meet tight deadlines;
• have excellent attention to detail and organisational skills;
• have an interest in long term development/progression in the department;
• have good communication skills, both written and verbal;

Forbes is an Equal Opportunities and Disability Confident employer, accredited to Investors in People and ISO 9001 Quality Management certified. We support the principle of equal opportunities in relation to any opportunities which we might provide through the engagement of employees; the provision of services to clients; and the appointment and engagement of suppliers. We are committed, wherever practicable, to maintaining a workforce which broadly reflects the local community in which we operate.