Legal Secretary - Residential Property

Legal Secretary - Residential Property Team

We are seeking an experienced Legal Secretary to join our client's busy residential property team. The successful candidate will provide high-quality secretarial and administrative support to fee earners, assist with the efficient progression of conveyancing matters and deliver excellent client service.

This role offers exposure to a wide range of residential property work, opportunities for professional development and may offer hybrid working arrangements depending on team needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive secretarial support to solicitors and conveyancers, including typing and formatting correspondence, legal documents, contracts, and forms to firm standards and precedents.
• Open and maintain electronic case files, ensuring accurate file naming, clear case notes, key milestone recording, and adherence to document management procedures.
• Manage incoming and outgoing post, email, and telephone enquiries, responding where appropriate and directing complex or time-sensitive matters to fee earners promptly.
• Schedule appointments, manage diaries, and coordinate meetings with clients, estate agents, surveyors, lenders, and other third parties to support timely progression of matters.
• Prepare and check standard documentation such as client engagement letters, ID forms, SDLT return drafts, completion statements, transfer deeds, and contract packs under the supervision of fee earners.
• Assist with client identity checks and anti-money laundering (AML) compliance by gathering required documentation, maintaining audit trails, and ensuring files are audit-ready in line with firm policy.
• Process routine financial transactions in client accounts as instructed, prepare disbursement requests, and support billing and file closure activities following firm procedures.
• Liaise proactively with clients and external contacts (estate agents, mortgage brokers, lenders, HM Land Registry) to obtain necessary documentation, chase outstanding information, and keep clients informed of progress.
• Prioritise workload effectively across multiple matters, ensuring deadlines are met and fee earners are kept informed of outstanding actions and timescales.
• Contribute to team efficiency by suggesting improvements to templates, checklists, and workflows, and support the introduction of conveyancing systems and technology.
• Provide support and mentoring to junior administrative staff where required, sharing knowledge of procedures, and assisting with training and induction activities.