Legal Secretary - Real Estate
Salary: £23,500 - £30,000
Location: Farnborough
Working hours: Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
My client is recruiting for a Legal Secretary in an award-winning Real Estate team. This role is part of a support team that provides secretarial and administrative support to fee earners, ensuring that they can focus on the legal work and provide an efficient friendly and professional service to our clients.
Responsibilities
Provide high-level secretarial and administrative support to fee earners within the Real Estate team, assisting with a range of commercial property transactions including acquisitions, disposals, leases, and property finance.
Monitor and manage incoming correspondence (email, post, phone calls), ensuring timely responses or escalation to fee earners as appropriate.
Prepare and amend a variety of legal documents such as agreements for lease, contracts, licences, deeds, and Land Registry forms, ensuring accuracy and formatting standards are met.
Open, maintain, and close client files in compliance with firm policies and regulatory requirements, including anti-money laundering checks and due diligence procedures.
Liaise with clients, local authorities, surveyors, agents, and other solicitors to coordinate property matters and ensure timely progression of transactions.
Maintain and update matter progress reports and spreadsheets to support fee earner visibility on transaction status.
Support with post-completion formalities including SDLT submissions, Land Registry applications, and registration tracking.
Manage diaries, schedule meetings, and monitor key dates and deadlines, ensuring effective time management for the team.
Organise travel arrangements, event bookings, and CPD-related registrations for fee earners as needed.
Produce bills and financial documentation, liaising with accounts to manage funds on account and disbursement queries.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of Real Estate legal processes and departmental procedures to support the delivery of a responsive and efficient client service.
Assist the Real Estate Operations Manager with administrative & secretarial projects as required.
Skills and Experience:
Experience
Proven experience as a Legal Secretary or Legal Assistant within a Real Estate or Commercial Property department.
Strong understanding of property transaction processes, including leasehold and freehold matters, and post completion procedures such as SDLT and Land Registry filings.
Excellent administrative and document management skills, with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
Confident in liaising with professional clients and third parties, demonstrating strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Familiarity with legal compliance and risk management procedures including AML regulations and KYC checks.
Comfortable using digital dictation, legal case management systems, and Microsoft Office applications.
A team player with a flexible approach and willingness to support others within a collaborative department.
Benefits
Competitive salary based on experience.
Free car parking for your convenience.
Pension scheme
Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
25 days holiday plus an additional day for Christmas closure
Perkbox benefits.
Education
A level educated (or equivalent)
English and Maths to a business professional level
Degree level related to law or a proven track-record in a similar legal secretary role
Skills
Strong administrative skills
Passionate in offering exceptional customer service
Great communicational skills within a close knit department.
Proactive, well-organised, and capable of managing competing priorities in a fast-paced legal environment.
Proficiency in managing multiple tasks and responsibilities, maintaining order and efficiency within the department.
Strong attention to detail
Confident and proactive.