Property lawyer

Are you looking for exciting fast paced environment – where you are in charge of your own workload? Have you always dreamed of being in control of your own earning capacity?

If the answer to the above questions is yes.  Then, To become the lead in NALC’s Auction contracts department is the job you always dreamed of.

As a qualified, professional property lawyer, you'll specialise in property law and almost entirely Property Auction contracts.  and will work on behalf of clients buying and selling houses, flats, business premises or land in England and Wales and Scotland. You'll deal with all the legal matters, administration of the auction contracts, from preparation for the Auctions, right though to Exchange of contracts and Completion.

The role involves processing and agreeing Auction contracts at all levels including, lease contracts, arranging transfers and handling other documents that sellers must sign when purchasing property via Auction. You'll also advise clients on the technical content of the documents and their financial implications. You may act on behalf of the vendor or the purchaser.

Responsibilities

As a licensed conveyancer, you'll need to:

• Research information and communicate with clients and others in person, on the phone, by letter or by email
• Use a computerised case management system, and the ability to complete contracts both remotely and in person.
• Take instructions from clients and assist the Auctioneers with preparation of special conditions
• Seek to protect clients' interests at all times, while taking precautions against potential fraud and money laundering
• Send terms of engagement and estimates of fees and disbursements
• Obtain or check Land Registry documents or title deeds via our Landmark and HMLR systems.
• Draft or check sales contracts and agree terms with the conveyancer acting for the other party to the transaction
• Collate and send or check supporting legal and financial documents
• Deal with all financial aspects of a transaction
• If the property is leasehold, obtain the landlord's agreement to the sale or the change of mortgage and deal with apportionments of rent and service charges.

Specific tasks for the preparation of Auction contracts often include:

• Carrying out and checking pre-contract searches by checking whether the property is affected by local authority proposals, leases, easements or covenants, mortgages, land tax, susceptibility to flooding or subsidence, or liability for unsound building structures and repairs
• Receive and check mortgage instructions from lenders and undertake specific tasks required
• Prepare TR1 or TP1 transfer documents and mortgage deeds
• Receive mortgage funds
• Pay stamp taxes and deal with the registration of client and lender with the Land Registry.

Salary

• We are ideally searching for a newly qualified conveyancer. Our salary range will be £50,000 to £70,000. Depending on experience
• If you already have senior management experience and are interested in our brand-new opportunity for an immediate start.  Then you can expect to earn between £35,000 and £55,000, with the potential to earn £60,000 or more as a partner of our NALC Auction Law brand.

Your total earnings will not be capped and may be enhanced by commission payments.

Working hours

Working hours are typically 37 hours per week, possibly with some extra hours, as we are open in the evening and at weekends.

Part-time work and job sharing are both possible in this role if the ideal candidate need arises

What to expect

• The job is office based and involves liaising with colleagues, clients and other professionals.
• Conveyancing may also be done by a solicitor, paralegal or chartered legal executive (England and Wales). Conveyancing in Scotland is usually dealt with by solicitors. For more information see Solicitor, Scotland or The Law Society of Scotland.
• You may occasionally need to travel within the working day to visit clients and other property professionals.

Qualifications

Although this area of work is open to all graduates, a degree, HND or foundation degree in one of the following subjects may increase your chances:

• accounting and finance
• business and management
• land, estate or property management
• law or legal studies
• planning
• surveying.

Skills

You'll need to show:

• the ability to advise and negotiate effectively
• the ability to understand and explain legal technicalities
• good report-writing skills
• an interest in property law
• the ability to work meticulously and accurately within a professional code of conduct
• problem-solving skills
• an interest in research
• numerical ability
• discretion and respect for client confidentiality
• the ability to work under pressure
• basic IT skills.

Work experience

Previous work experience gained at a solicitor's practice, property developers, building society or bank - particularly in the role of a legal secretary or chartered legal executive - can be advantageous, though isn't essential.

A provable minimum 1200 hours practical experience is required to be considered for this role.