Senior Paralegal - Lease Extensions (Private Matters)
Location: Remote for the right candidate

Role Purpose

This is a senior paralegal role for an experienced case handler with strong procedural and practical experience in leasehold property matters, informal lease extensions and post-completion registration.

The post-holder will manage a caseload of private lease extension files under the supervision of a solicitor, with responsibility for file progression, client communication, procedural conduct, drafting from precedent, third-party liaison and matter management.

The post-holder will not provide unsupervised legal advice or conduct reserved legal activities outside delegated authority. All legal advice, legal strategy, legal sign-off and supervision of legal risk remain with the supervising solicitor.


Role Objective

To manage a supervised caseload of private lease extension matters efficiently, accurately and proactively, ensuring:
*matters progress efficiently from instruction to completion,
*clients receive high-quality service and clear communication,
*deadlines and third-party dependencies are managed effectively,
*risks are identified and escalated appropriately,
*files remain compliant, commercially managed and procedurally sound,
*matters complete efficiently and register correctly.

Key Responsibilities

Caseload Management
*Manage a personal caseload of private (informal) lease extension matters under solicitor supervision.
*Progress matters from file opening through to completion and registration.
*Maintain accurate case records, task progression, notes and correspondence.
*Ensure all key dates, milestones and chases are diarised and actioned.
*Maintain orderly and compliant files in accordance with internal procedures and regulatory requirements.
*Prioritise and manage workflow to ensure efficient file progression and client service.
Private Lease Extension Conduct
*Progress private lease extension matters from instruction through to completion.
*Obtain title documents, lease documentation and relevant property papers.
*Review and extract key lease and title information.
*Prepare file summaries and identify key issues for solicitor review.
*Draft and issue initial correspondence to landlords / agents.
*Request, chase and log informal lease extension terms.
*Track and record negotiations and responses.
*Prepare matter summaries and heads of terms for solicitor review.
*Identify and escalate adverse or commercially unattractive lease terms.
*Support progression to agreed terms and documentation.
Drafting & Documentation
*Draft routine correspondence, reports and procedural documents from approved precedents.
*Prepare letters to landlords, agents and third parties.
*Prepare file notes, summaries and matter updates.
*Draft lease extension documentation from approved precedent for review.
*Prepare completion packs, engrossments and execution packs.
*Prepare post-completion documentation and Land Registry applications.
Completion & Post-Completion
*Prepare completion statements and completion packs.
*Coordinate execution and completion logistics.
*Support completion under solicitor supervision.
*Prepare AP1 applications and post-completion registration documents.
*Lodge and monitor Land Registry applications.
*Deal with routine post-completion matters and routine requisitions under supervision.
*Escalate legal or substantive requisitions to supervising solicitor.
Risk, Escalation & Supervision
*Identify legal, procedural, title, timing and commercial risks.
*Escalate all legal advice points, legal drafting points and legal risk promptly.
*Escalate adverse informal terms, title defects, lender issues and unusual landlord structures.
*Work strictly within delegated authority and supervision protocols.
*Ensure all legal advice and legal sign-off are referred to the supervising solicitor.
*Maintain awareness of role boundaries and escalation obligations.
Team Support & Mentoring
*Support junior paralegals / trainees with procedural workflow and file administration.
*Assist with file process training and workflow guidance.
*Share best practice in file management, drafting and post-completion.
*Support team process consistency and quality standards.

Person Specification

Essential
*Minimum 3+ years’ experience in residential property, leasehold property or lease extension work
*Strong experience managing property files and procedural transactions
*Experience handling private / informal lease extension matters
*Strong understanding of leasehold titles and lease documentation
*Experience drafting from precedent and managing completion processes
*Strong Land Registry / post-completion experience
*Excellent file management and diary discipline
*Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
*Strong written and verbal communication skills
*Commercially aware and client-focused
*Able to work independently within supervision boundaries
*Strong escalation judgment
Desirable
*Experience in leasehold enfranchisement / statutory lease extensions
*Experience with Proclaim case management
*Experience supervising junior paralegals
*LPC / SQE / CILEX study or equivalent
*Experience liaising with valuers / landlords / managing agents in leasehold transactions

Please contact Samuel Higgins at Simpson Judge for further information ( / )