The firm are recruiting for a Associate to join the Commercial Real Estate team on a permanent basis. The role will be working with our education clients providing commercial property support to our busy property department. You would be working in our expanding property department with a mixture of high profile clients from the education sector. You would primarily be dealing with the property aspects of schools' conversion to Academy status, Academy mergers and reorganisations, and general property work in the education sector. What does the role actually involve? The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Providing advice on time and to a high standard of technical competence in a broad range of commercial property matters
• Developing responsibility for running with your own caseload
• Assisting the more senior members of the team with more complex transactions
• Providing marketing support e.g. writing copy and reports, updating literature, seeking out networking opportunities etc.
• Achieving budgeted hours and fees for the year as a minimum
• Willing to spend time with clients on short-term secondments if required
• Supporting the team in delivering the core principles of investors in clients to deliver exceptional client service
• Undertaking legal research both as requested and on own initiative
• Undertaking any other duties as required, commensurate with the level of the post
  
  What technical skills are required for someone to be successful and enjoy the role?
• Excellent legal drafting skills: able to provide clear, concise and commercially relevant solutions, explaining/advising succinctly on difficult and complex areas whilst winning client confidence and being aware of potential conflicts
• Keeping up to date with legal issues, law reports and journals together with legal developments and government policy within relevant sectors
• Good IT and keyboard skills, at ease with digital dictation, electronic time recording and case management systems
Who would be a good fit for this role? As part of the Real Estate - Education team, you'd be expected to have the following skills and experience:
• Someone with a real interest and passion for education.
• A team player with high levels of personal commitment and initiative, recording time promptly to meet financial goals with a good track record in achieving targets
• Flexible, ambitious, focused, results oriented with a track record of having taken responsibility for developing business
• Good organisational skills and experience of project management and delivering process efficiencies. Attention to detail tempered by a commercial approach, managing own time effectively and able to work on own initiative, whilst contributing to a positive team spirit
• Willing to spend time if required in our other offices, or on short-term secondments with clients
• An effective communicator and negotiator able to establish and maintain harmonious and professional relationships with clients and colleagues
• Keen to maintain personal development and take advantage of training opportunities with a willingness and ability to learn