Legal Secretary – Real Estate

Develop your legal career in our award-winning Real Estate team which is listed in Tier 2 of the Legal 500. This role is part of a support team that provides secretarial and administrative support to fee earners, ensuring that they can focus on the legal work and provide an efficient friendly and professional service to our clients.

About Herrington Carmichael:
Herrington Carmichael LLP isn’t your average law firm. We’re an award-winning, Legal 500 ranked team known for our commitment to growth, fostering strong relationships, and our ambitious approach to providing full-service legal guidance for businesses, families, and individuals. We value collaboration and strive for excellence in everything we do.

The Opportunity:

• Provide high-level secretarial and administrative support to fee earners within the Real Estate team, assisting with a range of commercial property transactions including acquisitions, disposals, leases, and property finance.
• Monitor and manage incoming correspondence (email, post, phone calls), ensuring timely responses or escalation to fee earners as appropriate.
• Prepare and amend a variety of legal documents such as agreements for lease, contracts, licences, deeds, and Land Registry forms, ensuring accuracy and formatting standards are met.
• Open, maintain, and close client files in compliance with firm policies and regulatory requirements, including anti-money laundering checks and due diligence procedures.
• Liaise with clients, local authorities, surveyors, agents, and other solicitors to coordinate property matters and ensure timely progression of transactions.
• Maintain and update matter progress reports and spreadsheets to support fee earner visibility on transaction status.
• Support with post-completion formalities including SDLT submissions, Land Registry applications, and registration tracking.
• Manage diaries, schedule meetings, and monitor key dates and deadlines, ensuring effective time management for the team.
• Organise travel arrangements, event bookings, and CPD-related registrations for fee earners as needed.
• Produce bills and financial documentation, liaising with accounts to manage funds on account and disbursement queries.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of Real Estate legal processes and departmental procedures to support the delivery of a responsive and efficient client service.
• Assist the Real Estate Operations Manager with administrative & secretarial projects as required.

Skills and Experience:

• Proven experience as a Legal Secretary or Legal Assistant within a Real Estate or Commercial Property department.
• Strong understanding of property transaction processes, including leasehold and freehold matters, and post-completion procedures such as SDLT and Land Registry filings.
• Excellent administrative and document management skills, with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Confident in liaising with professional clients and third parties, demonstrating strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proactive, well-organised, and capable of managing competing priorities in a fast-paced legal environment.
• Familiarity with legal compliance and risk management procedures including AML regulations and KYC checks.
• Comfortable using digital dictation, legal case management systems, and Microsoft Office applications.
• A team player with a flexible approach and willingness to support others within a collaborative department.

The Perks:

• Competitive salary based on experience.
• Free car parking for your convenience.
• Comprehensive benefits package including a pension, enhanced maternity and paternity pay, 25 days holiday plus an additional day for Christmas closure and Perkbox benefits.
• The opportunity to learn and grow within a supportive and dynamic team.

Ready to Make a Difference?

We’re looking for someone who is passionate about providing exceptional service, excited to be part of a winning team, and embraces our core values of Growth, Relationships, Ambition, Collaboration, and Excellence. If that sounds like you, send your CV and a cover letter outlining your qualifications to Lara Drijver, Resourcing Operations Manager, at careers@herrington-carmichael.com

Herrington Carmichael is dedicated to fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity and promotes equal opportunities for all, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are committed to fair and transparent recruitment processes. Reasonable adjustments for applicants with disabilities are available upon request. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce drives innovation and success.