Commercial Property Legal Secretary

This Legal 500 and Chambers ranked Law Firm in Hertfordshire are looking to hire Commercial Property Legal Secretary, supporting a busy and well-regarded commercial property team.

Prior commercial property experience is essential, as you will be joining a busy team and will be expected to have a good understanding of the day-to-day running of commercial property transactions.

This is a leading multi-service law firm, ranked in both Legal 500 and Chambers, acting for a broad client base that includes multinational companies, global brands, SMEs, owner-managed businesses and private individuals. The firm has a strong international dimension, with dedicated expertise across China and Asia, France and French-speaking countries, and Russia and the CIS region.

With offices in Hertfordshire and London, 25 partners, over 100 staff and a turnover of around £12 million, the firm combines the quality of work and client base you would expect from a much larger practice with the feel of a close-knit, collaborative team.

What really sets the firm apart is its culture. The office has a flat structure, there is a crossover of work between departments, and the team regularly has lunch together. There is no hot desking, so you will have your own space, and support staff are recognised as a key part of what keeps the practice running smoothly.

You will be supporting a team of fee earners ranging from Partner level through to Associates and Consultants. The team acts for an impressive client base including national retailers, property investors, developers and lenders. The work is varied and high quality, covering retail and office acquisitions and disposals, investment property, development, property finance and a busy flow of landlord and tenant work.

This is a full-time office-based role, with the potential to work one day from home after a settling-in period.

This is a hands-on role where you will be trusted with real involvement in the transactional side of matters, under the supervision of the fee earners.

Key responsibilities include:

• Copy and audio typing (Big Hand), preparing, formatting and proofreading correspondence and legal documents
• Being a first point of contact for clients, dealing professionally with telephone and email enquiries
• Opening new files, completing client  AML checks and managing file closures
• Preparing HM Land Registry applications (including AP1 and TR1), submitting official searches, obtaining office copies and dealing with requisitions
• Assisting with post-completion formalities, including notices of transfer or charge and deeds of covenant
• Preparing lease and deed summaries, schedules of deeds, sales packs and document-sharing folders
• Preparing basic replies to CPSEs, basic reports on title and draft SDLT returns for fee earner review
• Financial administration, including invoices, payment requests, checking client ledgers and credit control
• Managing diaries and arranging meetings, including via Teams and Zoom

• Previous experience as a legal secretary within a commercial property department
• Accurate copy and audio typing, with strong formatting and proofreading skills
• Excellent written English, grammar and spelling
• Competence in Word, Outlook, Excel, Docu Sign and PDF software (experience of iManage is an advantage)
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise competing deadlines