Paralegal - Premier Solicitors (Bedford) Ltd - Bedfordshire
(2022-04)
As a Paralegal within the Private Client team, I provide high-level legal and administrative support across a broad range of matters, including Wills, Probate, Estate planning, and Court of Protection work. I consistently delivered a professional, client-focused service while managing a complex caseload and supporting fee earners. This role has strengthened my expertise in private client work and reinforced my commitment to delivering high-quality, ethical legal services.
I consistently demonstrate professionalism, empathy, and efficiency in supporting clients and contributing to the wider team.
- Client Support & Communication: Engaged directly with clients to gather information, provide updates, and manage sensitive discussions with professionalism and confidentiality.
- Case & File Management: Managed and organised high-volume case files, ensuring documentation was accurate, compliant, and maintained to legal standards.
- Legal Document Drafting: Drafted Wills, Powers of Attorney, Probate applications, Court of Protection applications, and related correspondence.
- Probate & Estate Administration: Assisted with full estate administration, including identifying assets and liabilities, liaising with institutions, and preparing applications for Grants of Probate.
- Research & Compliance: Conducted legal research on inheritance tax, trusts, and estate planning, ensuring compliance with legislation and SRA requirements.
- Administrative & Operational Support: Supported solicitors with scheduling, preparing bundles, handling enquiries, and maintaining client records.
- Multi-Agency Liaison: Liaised with Courts, HMRC, Office of the Public Guardian, Land Registry, financial institutions, care providers, estate agents, attorneys, and other third parties.
Residential Conveyancer - Premier Property Lawyers, now JS Law
(2019-03 - 2022-04)
I managed and ran a substantial caseload and perform a full range of tasks with limited supervision from inception from initial instruction through to post completion in a fast-paced environment maintaining service-level agreements on all files (70+). My caseload included sales and purchases, freehold and leasehold, new builds, right to buy, shared ownership and my role is very hands on preparing all forms of contracts, Freehold and Leasehold title reports, raising enquiries. I am committed in providing a high level of customer service to clients and wider organisations.
I am able to build relationships with referrals, agents and lenders as this is key to the department's ongoing success. I am able to act independently when establishing priorities and managing deadlines and also part of a wider team. I assist the team to ensure company targets are met.
This role has strengthened my expertise in private client work and reinforced my commitment to delivering high-quality, ethical legal services. I consistently demonstrate professionalism, empathy, and efficiency in supporting clients and contributing to the wider team.
- Complete tasks efficiently, accurately and within specified timescales, managing a substantial caseload of freehold and leasehold transactions including unregistered properties with limited supervision. Checking contract documentation, mortgage offers and search results. Processing and dealing with post. Replying to legal enquiries. Resolving queries raised on files by colleagues, both Onshore and Offshore, and third parties. Dealing with exchange of contracts and completion of transactions. Pro
- Manage telephone calls and liaise with client and third parties.
- Understand and report on complex legal issues and documentation.
- Actively communicating with clients, recommenders, conveyancers, agents and third parties. This will include communication in person, in writing, or by telephone.
- Ability to produce accurate comprehensive documentation for clients, professional persons and third parties.
- Working relationships
- Assist with mentoring junior team members.
- Assist team members with their workload when required.
- Work closely with the Training Department to identify ongoing training requirements
Residential Conveyancing - HCB Park Woodfine
(2018-07 - 2019-03)
I am responsible for daily running of my own case load, to support the Conveyancers with a range of procedures from commencement throughout to completion of transaction. My role involves working under pressure to support Solicitors and Legal Executives with the running of the department. I have the ability to prioritise and working to tight deadlines and I have strong organisational skills with attention to detail.
I have excellent internal personal and communication skills as my role involves extensive communication with clients (primarily on the telephone), estate agents, lawyers, mortgage brokers, lenders, housing association, managing agents, third party organisations.
- Taking instructions for sale and purchase files, new build purchases & shared ownership properties.
- Updating and assisting clients, estate agents, mortgage lenders and solicitors on a daily basis throughout every stage of the transaction from initial instructions and through to completion.
- Advising and keeping clients up to date with the progress of their transaction both via email and telephone contact.
- Land Registry Entries and Searches on sale file.
- Searches on a purchase file including Local, Environmental, Water and Drainage and Terra Searches on a purchase file including pre-completion searches on a purchase reviewing same.
- Diarising pre completion searches so they are in date for completion or renewal of searches.
- Noting Title on both registered and unregistered properties.
- Preparing contracts for Freehold and Leasehold properties.
- Preparing Report on Help to Buy/Freehold and Leasehold.
- Ordering funds from Lender.
- Preparing settlement terms in readiness for completion of transaction.
- Submitting HMRC returns online and having a general knowledge of requirements.
- Registering property and completing necessary Forms for registration.
- Experience of using Laserform and Case Management systems.
- A familiarity with Help to Buy and Shared Equity Schemes and procedures.
- Dealing with credit and debit balances and ledger reviews.
- Effective monitoring and scrutiny of files ensuring timescales are met and that paperwork is processed, filed and kept up-to-date.
- Ability to produce accurate comprehensive documentation for clients, professional persons and third parties.
- Working relationships
- Assist with mentoring junior team members.
- Assist team members with their workload when required.
- Work closely with the Training Department to identify ongoing training requirements
Residential Conveyancing - Franklins Law - Leighton Buzzard
(2016-06 - 2018-07)
- Providing effective support to the Conveyancers.
- Keep the case management system and any third-party web sites up to date efficiently.
- Prepare the required documentation as required with the conveyancing process.
- Prepare the completions packs for the accounts department to include statements and invoices.
- Deal with pre and post exchange matters as directed by your case handler.
- Any other administrative duties required to assist the team and other teams should the need arise.
- Deal with client documentation, ID, mortgage offers and searches.
- Deal effectively with clients and third parties over the telephone, in written correspondence and occasionally face to have in order or provide advice and assistant.
Private Capital Family Paralegal - Shakespeare Martineau Solicitors - Buckinghamshire
(2015-06 - 2016-06)
Shakespeare Martineau is a Top tier leading law firm operating from offices in Birmingham, Leicester, Milton Keynes, London, Nottingham, Solihull and Stratford upon Avon.
At Shakespeare
Martineau, I am based in the Family Law Team at Milton Keynes. I am the direct Paralegal to the Head of the Family Department. I assist the Partner and team of legal personnel with the effective management of the department in a busy and demanding role largely undertaking work relating to matrimonial matters. I am capable of acting independently and as part of a team in a fast paced, high pressured environment. I maintain daily progress on cases efficiently, becoming an important part of the case management team. I undertake a variety of work which includes administration but also a significant amount of client facing contact and work in relation to individual files, including taking instructions from clients, providing updates to clients and counsel and working closely with the fee earner on a variety of different documents. I play an active role in the firm's business development and I network within the business community, organise and deliver events and seminars to clients and contacts. I contri
- Working both independently and with senior colleagues on a varied caseload including matrimonial matters, cohabitation disputes and private children law matters.
- Undertaking continued training and research into developments in the law and procedure
- Proactively assisting with the management of a demanding caseload and diary, with deadlines to be met
- Liaising with and communicating with a range of people to include litigants in person and clients, Barristers, Court staff, colleagues and members of the judiciary
- Preparation of documents in first draft (for example correspondence, schedules of assets, divorce documentation, preparing court bundles in accordance with practice directions) and then work with the fee earner in finalising those documents
- Develop a good knowledge of the client base and matters in progress
- Assist partners and fee earners with various business development tasks including keeping up to date contact lists
- Send, receive and closely track progress of legal documents to and from clients and third parties
- Diarising court deadlines
- Regularly assisting and taking instructions from clients, both on the telephone and face to face
- Ensuring compliance with all relevant risk management requirements
- Matter management organising matters in priority of importance
- Dealing with new client enquiries, setting up and closing client files
- Assisting with accountancy procedures, invoices, credit control, financial ledgers and reports
- Document production and amendments
- Extensive diary management
- Developing client relationships by acting as the first point of contact
- Dealing with client queries where appropriate
- Organising meetings with fee earners and managing the in-house case management system
- Administrative tasks (including digital dictation, case management, diarising tasks and Court deadlines, liaising with the Court, Legal Aid Agency, telephone enquiries, filing, diary management and travel on behalf of fee earners)
- Assisting with Legal Aid procedures
- Management of emails and correspondence
- Preparing document bundles
- Dealing with confidential client information
- Digital dictation
- File reviews
- Writing articles for the firm's website, newsletter and magazines. I also organise events and seminars for clients and contacts ISO 27001 team officer being the first point of contact for the team and others, understanding of policies and procedures, encouraging the team to adhere to procedures, reporting and incidents on the ISO 27001 incident log and liaising with the key contact if there were any issues CONNECT networking event team organiser organising networking events, business development
Private Client Paralegal / Legal Assistant - Premier Solicitors LLP - Bedfordshire
(2012-09 - 2015-06)
I supported the fee earners with a busy caseload in a high volume, with supervision as and when required, dealing with a wide range of files covering Wills, Probate, Tax and Trusts from initial instructions through to post-completion. I have assisted with complex Wills, Trust arrangements and lifetime tax planning and I have specific experience in drafting Discretionary Trusts, Life Interest Trusts and Home Protection Trusts. I dealt with client queries both over the telephone and in person, providing progress updates and managing the financial affairs of the file.
- Provide word processing service, including completion and amendment of technically complex documents
- Manage partners' and fee earners' diaries, making and amending appointments as required
- Make travel arrangements as necessary and process expenses claims
- Take and make telephone calls on behalf of partners and fee earners building a good rapport with client contacts
- Filter calls, take messages and handle queries where possible
- Complete administrative tasks on behalf of partners and fee earners
- Operate an effective filing system
- Close appropriate files and send/retrieve files from storage as required.
- Sort and process mail using my own knowledge to re-allocate items
- Dealing with new client enquiries and recording data accurately and efficiently
- Assisting with credit control and billing
- Digital dictation
- Document production and amendment
- General clerical duties including photocopying, faxing and mailing; maintaining office supply inventories and also resolving administrative problems and enquiries
- Acting as the first point of contact and dealing with client queries
- Organising meetings for fee earners and travel arrangements
- Setting up and closing client files
- Preparing document bundles
- Organising business development meetings for fee earners and organising departmental events.
- Assisting the Notary Public in with certification of documents for international use.
Legal Secretary - Premier Solicitors LLP - Bedfordshire
(2011-06 - 2012-09)
I provided proactive support to a variety of departments including the conveyancing and commercial departments.
- Preparing court bundles/bundles of documentation and drafting key legal documents
- Managing files for legal matters
- Drafting legal documents
- Audio typing using digital dictation
- Supporting a busy department
- Diary management arranging client meetings
- Completion of legal documents
- Speaking with clients face to face, on the telephone and email
- Booking appointments
- Opening and closing files
- Assisting the Notary Public in certifying documents for international use.
- Diary management and scheduling appointments
- Audio typing to a high and accurate level
- Dealing with clients, taking message and updating case files
- Managing out going post and emails as requested
- Greeting clients
- Undertake typing duties
- Collating work received from external partners
- Liaising with accounts to ensure accurate finance administration
- Provide word processing service, including completion and amendment of technically complex documents
- Manage partners' and fee earners' diaries, making and amending appointments as required
- Make travel arrangements as necessary and process expenses claims
- Take and make telephone calls on behalf of partners and fee earners building a good rapport with client contacts
- Filter calls, take messages and handle queries where possible
- Complete administrative tasks on behalf of partners and fee earners
- Operate an effective filing system
- Close appropriate files and send/retrieve files from storage as required.
- Sort and process mail using my own knowledge to re-allocate items
- Dealing with new client enquiries and recording data accurately and efficiently
- Assisting with credit control and billing
- Digital dictation
- Document production and amendment
- General clerical duties including photocopying, faxing and mailing; maintaining office supply inventories and also resolving administrative problems and enquiries
- Acting as the first point of contact and dealing with client queries
- Organising meetings for fee earners and travel arrangements
- Setting up and closing client files
- Preparing document bundles
- Organising business development meetings for fee earners and organising departmental events.
- Assisting the Notary Public in with certification of documents for international use.
Customer Advisor - Argos
(2009-09 - 2011-05)
I was always the top sales person of the month selling insurance protection plans to customers on goods purchased. I gained retail experience providing a wide range of duties.
- Meeting daily and monthly targets
- Answering customer queries face to face and over the phone
- Serving customers efficiently in a fast paced professional manner
- Managing large amounts of money
- Liaising with other offices
- Working well as part of a large team and working on my own
Office Assistant - Twigden Asset Management Ltd
(2008-03 - 2009-01)
I provided a wide range of office support for the department in order to facilitate the efficient operation of the office. I had to leave this job due to exams.
- Answering and transferring inbound phone calls
- General clerical duties including photocopying, faxing and mailing
- Maintaining office supply inventories and also resolving administrative problems and enquiries
Telesales Advisor - Go Gen
(2008-01 - 2008-03)
I gained telesales experience telephoning existing supporters, advising them about the current charitable campaign that was running at that specific time. This job was only to cover the campaign period.
- Working as a team to meet daily and weekly targets
- Customer client care skills
- Good communication and listening skills
- Using my own initiative when dealing with customer queries
Sales Advisor - Next
(2007-11 - 2008-01)
Next, is a British multinational clothing, footwear and home products retailer. It has around 700 stores, and is the largest clothing retailer by sales in the United Kingdom. I worked on the shop floor in ladies wear. This job was for the Christmas period.
- Providing excellent customer service
- Interacting with members of the public and using my own initiative when dealing with customer queries
- Good communication and listening skills
