Key Responsibilities
Caseload Management
1. Manage a personal caseload of private (informal) lease extension matters under solicitor supervision.
2. Progress matters from file opening through to completion and registration.
3. Maintain accurate case records, task progression, notes and correspondence.
4. Ensure all key dates, milestones and chases are diarised and actioned.
5. Maintain orderly and compliant files in accordance with internal procedures and regulatory requirements.
6. Prioritise and manage workflow to ensure efficient file progression and client service.
Private Lease Extension Conduct
7. Progress private lease extension matters from instruction through to completion.
8. Obtain title documents, lease documentation and relevant property papers.
9. Review and extract key lease and title information.
10. Prepare file summaries and identify key issues for solicitor review.
11. Draft and issue initial correspondence to landlords / agents.
12. Request, chase and log informal lease extension terms.
13. Track and record negotiations and responses.
14. Prepare matter summaries and heads of terms for solicitor review.
15. Identify and escalate adverse or commercially unattractive lease terms.
16. Support progression to agreed terms and documentation.
Drafting & Documentation
17. Draft routine correspondence, reports and procedural documents from approved precedents.
18. Prepare letters to landlords, agents and third parties.
19. Prepare file notes, summaries and matter updates.
20. Draft lease extension documentation from approved precedent for review.
21. Prepare completion packs, engrossments and execution packs.
22. Prepare post-completion documentation and Land Registry applications.
Completion & Post-Completion
23. Prepare completion statements and completion packs.
24. Coordinate execution and completion logistics.
25. Support completion under solicitor supervision.
26. Prepare AP1 applications and post-completion registration documents.
27. Lodge and monitor Land Registry applications.
28. Deal with routine post-completion matters and routine requisitions under supervision.
29. Escalate legal or substantive requisitions to supervising solicitor.
Risk, Escalation & Supervision
30. Identify legal, procedural, title, timing and commercial risks.
31. Escalate all legal advice points, legal drafting points and legal risk promptly.
32. Escalate adverse informal terms, title defects, lender issues and unusual landlord structures.
33. Work strictly within delegated authority and supervision protocols.
34. Ensure all legal advice and legal sign-off are referred to the supervising solicitor.
35. Maintain awareness of role boundaries and escalation obligations.
Team Support & Mentoring
36. Support junior paralegals / trainees with procedural workflow and file administration.
37. Assist with file process training and workflow guidance.
38. Share best practice in file management, drafting and post-completion.
39. Support team process consistency and quality standards.
Person Specification
Essential
40. Minimum 3+ years’ experience in residential property, leasehold property or lease extension work
41. Strong experience managing property files and procedural transactions
42. Experience handling private / informal lease extension matters
43. Strong understanding of leasehold titles and lease documentation
44. Experience drafting from precedent and managing completion processes
45. Strong Land Registry / post-completion experience
46. Excellent file management and diary discipline
47. Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
48. Strong written and verbal communication skills
49. Commercially aware and client-focused
50. Able to work independently within supervision boundaries
51. Strong escalation judgment
Desirable
52. Experience in leasehold enfranchisement / statutory lease extensions
53. Experience with Proclaim case management
54. Experience supervising junior paralegals
55. LPC / SQE / CILEX study or equivalent
56. Experience liaising with valuers / landlords / managing agents in leasehold transactions
Please contact Samuel Higgins at Simpson Judge for further information (07770109301 / )