Professional Support Lawyer (PSL) - Residential Property
Wedlake Bell's highly regarded Residential Property practice (L500 Tier 2, Chambers Band 3) is recruiting a Professional Support Lawyer to join our market-leading team. This is a part-time (3 days / 21 hours per week), permanent position. The Residential Property team forms part of our Private Client Group and has a very strong reputation in the market. The team carries out a mixture of high-value residential sales and purchases (particularly with prime London properties), lease extensions (voluntary and statutory), sales of high-value new build developments, as well as work for agricultural/landed estates. Our clients range from HNW and UHNW private individuals, offshore companies and lending institutions, through to investors and landed estates. As a Professional Support Lawyer in the team, you can expect to lead the team's know-how and knowledge management, drive innovation, provide support to the team's fee-earners on legal queries, and contribute to the teams' BD efforts to grow the practice. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced PSL to join the team, or a fee-earner with strong practice experience looking to transition to a PSL role. At Wedlake Bell, we pride ourselves on offering a friendly and supportive environment, with great opportunities to develop your skills and progress within our market-leading firm. Key Responsibilities: Know-How Provide a support base for the fee earners and encourage the sharing of knowledge within the group and firm, including the mentoring of trainee solicitors and junior fee-earners where required, and to deal with specific queries if and when they arise; Keep the team up to date with the latest developments, including legislative and case law developments and the progress of draft legislation – such as developments with the BSA 2022; To keep up to date on financial, economic and market forces which might apply and have relevance to the work and business of the Residential Property team; Liaise with other PSLs and wider knowledge community within the firm to ensure the team shares and gains best practices, and in particular, operates effectively on a departmental level; Where required, provide ad hoc advice to and/or present to clients. Standard Forms and Precedents Improve and maintain (and, where relevant, develop) the specialist precedents, standard form documents and example documents relevant to the Residential Property Team; Work alongside the other knowledge lawyers in the Private Client and Real Estate teams where precedents and guidance etc. might be of wider relevance and application; Develop and maintain related guidance notes (including leasehold reform, enfranchisement, BSA 2022, and more). Keep precedents, example and standard form documents and guidance notes up to date, including ensuring that the relevant section of the intranet and knowledge database is maintained and kept up to date – the team primarily uses MS Notebook. Resources, Tools, and Systems Consider and, if advised, assist to implement any additional tools, technology solutions or platforms which might assist the fee earners; Ensure fee earners’ knowledge of the KM content and systems is up to date, and manage and promote the use of those systems accordingly; Ensure that the Residential Property team and LRG has access to the legal information resources it needs; Update and expand the Property department’s information and specialist Residential Property know-how material available on the intranet and the firm’s know-how database. Team Support CQS and Lender Panel Management Be the teams' CQS Senior Responsible Officer (SRO); Preparing and submitting our annual maintenance forms to the Law Society; Preparing and submitting our full re-accreditation form to the Law Society every three years; Arranging for residential property practitioners to undertake CQS and SRO training; Assuming primary responsibility for submitting lender panel applications and ensuring that we remain on the panel of key lenders; Managing the LMS and Lender Exchange accounts; Ensuring that daily emails from Lender Exchange and LMS are fielded appropriately. Compliance To assist with and, where required, undertake compliance related work and liaising with the firm’s Compliance team (inc. the COLP and COFA) as necessary. Training Design, organise (and where necessary deliver) internal training programmes (including trainee training and specialist residential property training), including organising external speakers where appropriate; Provide input and leadership to the induction training of trainees and other new joiners to the team. Business Development To be fully conversant with the department’s (and firm’s) BD strategy and business plan and actively work with the relevant BD Managers in meeting the objectives of the plans; Support fee-earners to write articles for publication and liaise with contacts with the editorial teams of relevant publications where possible; Support fee-earners in writing articles and periodic bulletins for circulation to intermediaries and clients; As appropriate, actively examine and promote the use of technology to improve the team’s client service and business development; Work with team members to plan and deliver seminars to intermediaries/clients and/or similar events (where appropriate); Work closely with the PSLs across Real Estate and Private Client as regards to know-how and marketing, to ensure residential property is represented and opportunities to link approaches are capitalised on; Working with fee earners and partners to prepare high quality Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners submissions; Identifying opportunities to raise the profile of partners and fee earners via awards and honours and preparing corresponding submissions. Key Skills and Attributes: Be a qualified solicitor with a strong background in residential property law and have a clear and developed understanding of its commercial application; Ideally, strong experience as a PSL in an established residential property team; Ideally, a strong understanding in particular of the BSA 2022 developments (and how it applies to residential property) and leasehold enfranchisement law; Excellent research and analytical skills, with a knack for digesting and simplifying complex legal information; Ideally, proven writing skills with some prior experience of drafting articles, bulletins, know-how, or thought-leadership pieces in line with team's business development approach; A clear and developed understanding of Property law and its commercial application; A collaborative team player, adept at building relationships across the firm and contributing to a positive working environment; A high level of professionalism and integrity. Why join us? A competitive starting salary; 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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Wedlake Bell's highly regarded Residential Property practice (L500 Tier 2, Chambers Band 3) is recruiting a Professional Support Lawyer to join our market-leading team. This is a part-time (3 days / 21 hours per week), permanent position. The Residential Property team forms part of our Private Client Group and has a very strong reputation in the market. The team carries out a mixture of high-value residential sales and purchases (particularly with prime London properties), lease extensions (voluntary and statutory), sales of high-value new build developments, as well as work for agricultural/landed estates. Our clients range from HNW and UHNW private individuals, offshore companies and lending institutions, through to investors and landed estates. As a Professional Support Lawyer in the team, you can expect to lead the team's know-how and knowledge management, drive innovation, provide support to the team's fee-earners on legal queries, and contribute to the teams' BD efforts to grow the practice. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced PSL to join the team, or a fee-earner with strong practice experience looking to transition to a PSL role. At Wedlake Bell, we pride ourselves on offering a friendly and supportive environment, with great opportunities to develop your skills and progress within our market-leading firm. Key Responsibilities: Know-How Provide a support base for the fee earners and encourage the sharing of knowledge within the group and firm, including the mentoring of trainee solicitors and junior fee-earners where required, and to deal with specific queries if and when they arise; Keep the team up to date with the latest developments, including legislative and case law developments and the progress of draft legislation – such as developments with the BSA 2022; To keep up to date on financial, economic and market forces which might apply and have relevance to the work and business of the Residential Property team; Liaise with other PSLs and wider knowledge community within the firm to ensure the team shares and gains best practices, and in particular, operates effectively on a departmental level; Where required, provide ad hoc advice to and/or present to clients. Standard Forms and Precedents Improve and maintain (and, where relevant, develop) the specialist precedents, standard form documents and example documents relevant to the Residential Property Team; Work alongside the other knowledge lawyers in the Private Client and Real Estate teams where precedents and guidance etc. might be of wider relevance and application; Develop and maintain related guidance notes (including leasehold reform, enfranchisement, BSA 2022, and more). Keep precedents, example and standard form documents and guidance notes up to date, including ensuring that the relevant section of the intranet and knowledge database is maintained and kept up to date – the team primarily uses MS Notebook. Resources, Tools, and Systems Consider and, if advised, assist to implement any additional tools, technology solutions or platforms which might assist the fee earners; Ensure fee earners’ knowledge of the KM content and systems is up to date, and manage and promote the use of those systems accordingly; Ensure that the Residential Property team and LRG has access to the legal information resources it needs; Update and expand the Property department’s information and specialist Residential Property know-how material available on the intranet and the firm’s know-how database. Team Support CQS and Lender Panel Management Be the teams' CQS Senior Responsible Officer (SRO); Preparing and submitting our annual maintenance forms to the Law Society; Preparing and submitting our full re-accreditation form to the Law Society every three years; Arranging for residential property practitioners to undertake CQS and SRO training; Assuming primary responsibility for submitting lender panel applications and ensuring that we remain on the panel of key lenders; Managing the LMS and Lender Exchange accounts; Ensuring that daily emails from Lender Exchange and LMS are fielded appropriately. Compliance To assist with and, where required, undertake compliance related work and liaising with the firm’s Compliance team (inc. the COLP and COFA) as necessary. Training Design, organise (and where necessary deliver) internal training programmes (including trainee training and specialist residential property training), including organising external speakers where appropriate; Provide input and leadership to the induction training of trainees and other new joiners to the team. Business Development To be fully conversant with the department’s (and firm’s) BD strategy and business plan and actively work with the relevant BD Managers in meeting the objectives of the plans; Support fee-earners to write articles for publication and liaise with contacts with the editorial teams of relevant publications where possible; Support fee-earners in writing articles and periodic bulletins for circulation to intermediaries and clients; As appropriate, actively examine and promote the use of technology to improve the team’s client service and business development; Work with team members to plan and deliver seminars to intermediaries/clients and/or similar events (where appropriate); Work closely with the PSLs across Real Estate and Private Client as regards to know-how and marketing, to ensure residential property is represented and opportunities to link approaches are capitalised on; Working with fee earners and partners to prepare high quality Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners submissions; Identifying opportunities to raise the profile of partners and fee earners via awards and honours and preparing corresponding submissions. Key Skills and Attributes: Be a qualified solicitor with a strong background in residential property law and have a clear and developed understanding of its commercial application; Ideally, strong experience as a PSL in an established residential property team; Ideally, a strong understanding in particular of the BSA 2022 developments (and how it applies to residential property) and leasehold enfranchisement law; Excellent research and analytical skills, with a knack for digesting and simplifying complex legal information; Ideally, proven writing skills with some prior experience of drafting articles, bulletins, know-how, or thought-leadership pieces in line with team's business development approach; A clear and developed understanding of Property law and its commercial application; A collaborative team player, adept at building relationships across the firm and contributing to a positive working environment; A high level of professionalism and integrity. Why join us? A competitive starting salary; 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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
