This is an exciting opportunity to join a very successful property finance team working with clients within the banking sector from challenger banks to well known High Street Banks. Members of the team work on a national basis for these clients on a wide variety of property transactions.

VWV is a full service law firm ranked as a leader in both the Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 directories. Our firm-wide core values of teamwork and collaboration, putting the client at the centre of the firm and taking a commercial approach ensure a dedicated and expert service to all of our clients. Our high standards have been recognised by the Law Society through Lexcel and their Conveyancing Quality schemes.

With over 400 members of staff across four offices in London, Watford, Bristol and Birmingham, we are a medium size national law firm with a commitment to the training and development of our employees at all levels. This can be demonstrated by our Bronze Investors in People accreditation. On top of this, we have the reputation of being a friendly firm with approachable staff in all areas of the business. 96% of our clients say they would recommend us which, we believe, is a strong indicator of our culture.

Our Commercial Property team is made up of 78 people across our Bristol, London, Watford and Birmingham Offices. We work collaboratively across offices in an open plan environment.

To work with colleagues to help clients succeed in realising their business or personal objectives, through the efficient delivery of appropriate legal advice and assistance in the Commercial Property Team and in keeping with the overall business plan for the Real Estate Department.

Admitted solicitor, or about to be admitted having completed training contract with current Practising Certificate and an expertise in the specialist area of Commercial Property. Must demonstrate an ability to work to the SRA's  Skills Standards and to provide accurate, focussed advice to clients. Familiarity with and confidence in the use of office IT applications; and good typing skills. 

We expect the successful candidate to have good team working and collaborative skills as we work open plan with the property litigation and residential teams in the Real Estate Department.  We expect to see the client at the centre of the firm and for our lawyers to have a commercial approach in their work. 

Skills Required

The ability to:

• advocate and present orally when required
• conduct effective case and transaction management
• develop strong client relationships
• communicate concisely both verbally and in writing with colleagues and clients
• draft legal documents, advice notes and give legal advice that is clear and concise
• interview and advise clients, helping them decide the best course of action
• identify the relevant legal issues applicable to a case or a transaction
• conduct negotiations where appropriate
• researching relevant areas of law
• knowledge of commercial property and the conveyancing process particularly as applied to acquisitions, disposals and leases of commercial land and buildings

Tasks

Legal/technical ability

• Demonstrates a basic level of competence in own area of law
• Advises clients on basic matters and refers matters to supervisorswhen appropriate
• Takes client calls successfully and produce / record effective telephone notes
• Demonstrates a basic understanding of the client's aims and objectives
• Applies Firm and departmental processes and procedures
• Demonstrates best use of precedents and know how to save time and costs
• Drafts concise documents in plain language

Business generation

• Contributes to appropriate business development activities of the team and the Firm
• Wherever the opportunity arises, promotes the services of teams from across the Firm to the client for whom they are acting
• Introduces new clients to the Firm (where possible)
• Achieves agreed business development targets (if any)
• Identifies and attends appropriate networking opportunities
• Updates SLX accordingly

Teamwork and Collaboration

• Plays an active role within the team and supports other team members during busy times
• Involves the secretaries and other support staff in an effective way
• Takes responsibility for delegated work, asks for guidance in respect of matters which are unclear and reports errors which need to be resolved
• Demonstrates a willingness to support the supervisors to whom they report
• Commits to attendance at team/departmental meetings/individual training meetings

Financial management  (under the supervision of a Partner)

• Achieves financial and hours targets as set by HoD
• Demonstrates an understanding/awareness of working capital and regular billing and refers matters as necessary in a timely fashion to the Supervisors.
• Brings matters to the attention of the Supervisors and/or clients at the appropriate time and updates fee estimates accordingly
• Actively participates in / contributes to the scoping of work
• Proactively and regularly seeks work from Supervisors
• Complies with the SRA Accounts Rules
• Deals promptly with any working capital exercises

Knowledge sharing

• Adopts knowledge sharing behaviours at team, department and Firm level
• Contributes to knowledge sharing initiatives to improve efficiency and profitability
• Supports the team's Knowledge Champion in building and cascading knowledge, sharing resources, protocols and practices
• Contributes to the development of the firm's know-how and precedents
• Demonstrates best use of precedents and know how to save time and costs

Quality standards

• Demonstrates consistent compliance with the Firm's quality policies and procedures as set out on the intranet

Learning and development

• Attends the Management Course Stage 1 within the first three years of qualification
• Complies with CPD requirements and identifies specific training needs
• Attends appropriate departmental training sessions
• Attends appropriate internal courses (e.g. management and IT skills)
• Provides informal and formal training as appropriate (e.g. induction, mentoring and internal team presentations) as skills develop