Paralegal - Non-Contentious Construction

Gowling WLG is an international law firm with more than 1,400 legal professionals and a presence in Canada, the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and South America. We provide our clients with in-depth expertise in key global sectors and a suite of legal services at home and abroad. We see the world from the perspective of our clients, and collaborate across countries, offices, service areas and sectors to help them succeed – no matter how challenging the circumstances.

’Our people and distinct culture are what makes us different. We know this through client and employee feedback and this drives everything we do’’ Chris Oglethorpe, HR Director.

There are great opportunities for all our people to flourish. Through training and personal development they can grow in their role. Our people are the cornerstone of our success, across legal, business support and early talent. We care about their happiness and believe in the power of teamwork. We want them to feel empowered and recognise that by supporting, respecting and embracing everyone’s different contributions we achieve more.

Working flexibly, working fairly

Agile working offers people more freedom and flexibility in where, when, and how they work. As technology advances and our workforce becomes more diverse – and with clients often working to a 24/7 rhythm – having extra flexibility is key to helping us balance work and other commitments sensibly and productively.

Under our Agile+ policy, we offer a hybrid approach to office and remote working, with up to 50% remote working available over the course of an average month.

By supporting people to choose where and when they get their work done, we help them to make a full and fair contribution to their team – while maintaining that all important work-life balance.

Main purpose of the role:

To provide fee earners with support in relation to construction projects, to include drafting and negotiating contract documents. You will work in the construction team, operating out of the Birmingham Office.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

This will be a time recording role and include:

• Drafting, negotiating and compiling building contracts, consultants’ appointments, warranties and bespoke construction documents.
• Arranging for the signing and completion of documents.
• Keeping accurate tracking schedules of documents.
• Reporting on the adequacy of certain construction documents.
• Liaising with clients and their agents and third party solicitors, contractors, sub-contractors and consultants.
• Working closely with the Real Estate Group.
• Have good keyboarding skills.
• Be flexible and organised, expected to manage your own diary and have a strong ability to prioritise given the conflicting needs of others’ workloads.
• Any other relevant duties as reasonably requested by the fee earners or a person of an appropriate seniority.
• Accurate time recording and good financial hygiene.

Key Skills and Experience:

• Good knowledge of Microsoft Word and Outlook and other systems implemented by the firm.
• Good telephone manner. Recognises when to refer queries which need immediate attention.
• Good communication, organisational and team skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Flexible and dependable
• Able to remain calm under pressure and work to tight deadlines.
• Conscientious, approachable and enthusiastic.
• Able to establish good working relationships.
• Quickly able to build confidence, respect and trust with others.
• Good time management skills.

Equal Opportunities:

Gowling WLG is committed both to promoting equality and diversity in the firm and to Equal Opportunities in employment. The firm believes in equality of opportunity regardless of race or racial group (including colour, nationality, ethnicity, national origins), religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, sex, gender re-assignment and gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy, maternity and paternity. This also includes any incidents of perceptive or associative discrimination and harassment.

At Gowling WLG we seek to attract and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures, to create an exciting and rewarding place to work. Our aim is to fulfil everyone’s potential and together to achieve personal and business goals.