Paralegal - Housebuilder Disputes

Our Paralegal will be part of the Professional & Commercial Risk team, working within our growing Housebuilder Disputes practice. The team provides expert legal advice to clients across an engaging mix of disciplines, including Professional Indemnity, Commercial Litigation and Housebuilder Disputes.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and detail-oriented Paralegal to play an integral role in supporting clients across a varied disputes caseload. This role offers exposure to a broad range of contentious matters while providing the opportunity to develop specialist expertise within the housebuilding sector.

This role offers the perfect blend of teamwork and independence, making it an ideal opportunity for someone with ambition and drive who is looking to grow, develop their skills and progress their career within a collaborative and supportive team.

About the team

Acting for leading national and regional housebuilders, our team advises on a broad range of disputes arising from residential development, including land and property disputes, contract disputes, nuisance claims and customer care matters. We act on complex and often high-value claims, working closely with clients to manage legal risk and achieve commercial outcomes.

You will be an integral part of our Housebuilder Disputes team in Leeds, whilst also having the opportunity to work closely with our market-leading Construction team in Newcastle. This unique structure offers the opportunity to work alongside specialists from across both teams, develop sector-specific expertise and gain exposure to matters affecting some of the UK's leading housebuilders.

This is a team with a strong culture. Colleagues work hard, but the team is known for being supportive, collaborative and focused on giving people meaningful responsibility. The team values lawyers who are willing, able, curious and keen to get stuck in.

The opportunity

Working closely with our lawyers, you will support clients across a varied disputes caseload. The successful candidate will gain exposure to a broad range of matters.

We are seeking someone who is excited by the prospect of developing expertise within the housebuilding sector whilst working on a diverse range of contentious matters. This role would suit someone who has had practical, hands-on litigation experience and is confident taking ownership of tasks and workstreams with appropriate supervision.

We welcome applications from candidates with a range of backgrounds and experiences. Above all, we are looking for someone who is motivated, organised and who enjoys working as part of a collaborative team and is committed to delivering excellent service to clients.

Experience of contentious, property-related or GDPR work would be advantageous, whether gained in private practice, in-house or another relevant environment. We are particularly interested in candidates who can work proactively, take ownership of tasks and support a busy team effectively.

• Supporting the team on a broad range of disputes and claims for our housebuilder clients.

• Taking ownership of less complex claims, gaining greater autonomy as you develop.

• Dealing with Data Subject Access Requests (submitted under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018) .

• Acting as a point of contact for clients and providing a high level of service at all times, responding to their requests and complaints under the Consumer Code for Homebuilders and the New Homes Quality Code.

• Other specific responsibilities including but not limited to: Legal research, document analysis and bundle preparation, supporting marketing/BD activity, and contributing to non-fee earning activity as appropriate.

• Assisting with drafting correspondence, witness statements, court documents, instructions to experts and other legal documentation.

• Liaising with clients, courts, experts, counsel and other parties to progress matters efficiently.

• Managing diaries, monitoring deadlines and ensuring key dates and actions are recorded and complied with.

• Undertaking legal research, document review, disclosure exercises and bundle preparation.

• Supporting the efficient day-to-day management of matters, including maintaining file records, preparing updates and helping to keep cases progressing.

• Supporting business development, marketing initiatives and other non-fee-earning activities as appropriate.

Essential
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal

• Excellent organisational skills and a strong attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines

• A proactive, enthusiastic and hard-working approach, with a willingness to take ownership of tasks and see them through to completion.

• An interest in contentious work and a desire to develop expertise within the housebuilding sector.

• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team whilst building effective relationships with clients and colleagues.

• Confidence in managing day-to-day case management tasks, including liaising with clients, courts and other stakeholders.

• A positive, flexible and solutions-focused approach to new challenges and ways of working.

• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, Teams and other Microsoft Office applications.

Desirable
• Some experience in a relevant position

• Experience working in a target-driven, commercial environment

• Commercial awareness and an interest in broader business issues

As a Disability Confident Scheme employer, we’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you need any reasonable adjustments at any stage (including the application, assessment or interview process), please contact recruitment@dacbeachcroft.com in confidence with the vacancy reference in the subject line, and we’ll be happy to help.