Paralegal

Easement Solutions are the longest established land rights service specialising in supporting utility companies with land rights acquisitions for gas, electricity, water and fibre connections.This role will involve managing a direct caseload and providing support to other members of the team and Directors to deliver excellent service to utility companies, developers and other businesses that use our service.

Objectives of this role

• To deliver client needs in accordance with contractual obligations and agreements.
• To comply with business and legal codes of practice.
• To deliver excellent client service
• To support the Account Managers, Key Projects Manager, Directors and colleagues in delivering excellent client service.

Responsibilities

• To carry out fee-earning project work on behalf of clients.
• Be an ambassador of company values and a role model for company policies and procedures.
• Communicate locally/internally/externally as needed to meet the objectives of this role.

Requirements and skills

• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Understanding of the conveyancing legal process.
• Familiarity with Land Rights (especially utility land rights) desirable but not essential.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Good negotiation skills.
• Strong organisation and analytical skills.
• Time management skills.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team.

Key tasks

• Identify landowners through Land Registry database and desk bound research.
• Complete Highway Searches and analyse results.
• Have a good understanding of the legal principles applicable to easements and land -particularly the Gas and Electricity Acts.
• Assess Land Rights requirements, having regard to the Gas Act and Electricity Act and advising clients accordingly.
• Have a firm understanding of the IGTs, IDNOs and DNOs processes and Land Rights requirements.
• Negotiate Heads of Terms.
• Identify the location of the legal requirements and ensure that the legal plans subsequently prepared are correct and meet with Land Registry requirements.
• Prepare and issue the correct legal documentation based on instructions and design plans received.
• Instruct a Panel solicitor on IDNO/DNO projects and monitor their progress.
• Ensure clients are updated on a regular basis by phone/email and regular reports.
• Update and maintain the file records database.
• Maintain contact as required with all involved parties to include the client/landowner/client and landowner’s solicitor.
• Manage the project portfolio and ensure projects progress in line with ESL standards and report any problems that may delay the project or cause overspending to the Client Account Managers/Directors.
• Progress third party projects.
• Ensure all client SLAs are adhered to.
• Provide support to the CAMs, Key Projects Manager, Senior Land Rights Project Manager and Directors with regard to fees, billing and quotes to clients ensuring all own name projects are invoiced correctly and in full.
• Ensure all solicitors invoices on projects are correct and ensure timely processing with Accounts.
• Ensure admin matters (i.e. phone /post/other duties) are dealt with promptly
• Provide advice, assistance and support to Client Account Managers, Project Officers and Projects Assistants.
• Accurate reporting of time spent on projects.
• Review and provide advice on deed amendments to the ESL team.
• Support Operations Director and Client Account Managers with reviews of older jobs.
• Under the direction and guidance of the CAMs, Key Projects Manager, Operations Director and Legal/Finance Director assist with the training of junior members of the team.
• Implement training for Deeds, to assist with the development of the teams understanding of deeds for all applicable IDNOs.
• Deputise for CAMs in client facing meetings on fee matters where the CAM and/or Operations Director is unavailable.
• Liaise with IDNOs where applicable to implement and maintain deed amendment trackers
• Any other task commensurate with the post

Compensation

• Full-time - 35 hours per week, with an hour for lunch (unpaid)
• Office based.
• Opportunity for hybrid working following successful completion of probationary period
• Salary banding: £25,750-£33,930 pa dependent on experience.
• Annual leave entitlement is 26 days per year plus Bank Holidays.
• Opt-in private health coverage following a qualifying period of employment.