Legal Secretary - Property

Sewell Wallis Ltd; Malton; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company pension scheme

Sick pay

Cycle to work scheme

Employee referral scheme

Discounted services

Subsidised Parking

Birthday off

Job summary

Sewell Wallis Ltd in Malton is seeking a Legal Secretary to join the Residential Property team. You will provide comprehensive secretarial and administrative support, ensuring matters move smoothly from instruction to completion.

The role requires prior legal secretarial experience (preferably in property/conveyancing), accuracy, and a proactive, client‑facing approach. A fast-paced environment and attention to detail are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience as a Legal Secretary, preferably in residential property or conveyancing.
• Strong audio and copy typing with excellent attention to detail.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel.
• Excellent spelling, grammar and written communication skills.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Professional telephone manner and client care.
• Ability to work independently while supporting the team.
• Proactive attitude and discretion with confidential information.
• Willingness to learn new systems and technology.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, format and amend correspondence, contracts, reports and other legal documents.
• Produce documents using templates, precedents, dictation and fee earner instructions.
• Manage diaries and arrange client appointments and meetings.
• Act as first point of contact for clients, estate agents and lenders.
• Handle calls, emails and post; route items needing legal input to fee earners.
• Open, close and maintain client files per firm procedures.
• Keep case management systems and client records up to date.
• Prepare correspondence and documents for signature and dispatch.
• Carry out copying, scanning and filing; perform general admin duties.
• Assist with client onboarding, identification checks and compliance processes.
• Support fee earners with exchange and completion administration and deadlines.
• Liaise with clients and third parties under fee earner direction.
• Provide cover for other secretarial team members as needed.
• Help the department run smoothly and efficiently.

Skills

Audio typing

Copy typing

MS Word

Outlook

Excel

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Time management

Telephone manner

Client care

Confidentiality

Independent working

Tools

Legal case management system

Job description

Sewell Wallis are currently working with a well-established law firm, based in Malton, North Yorkshire, that is looking for a Legal Secretary to join its successful Residential Property team.

This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, takes pride in getting the detail right and likes being the person that fee earners and clients can rely on.

You'll provide comprehensive secretarial and administrative support to the Residential property team, helping to keep matters moving from instruction through to completion.

If you're already working as a Legal Secretary within residential property, or have relevant property experience and are ready for your next challenge, this could be a really good fit.

What will you be doing?

• Preparing, formatting and amending correspondence, contracts, reports and other legal documentation.
• Producing documents accurately using templates, precedents, digital dictation and fee earner instructions.
• Managing diaries and arranging client appointments, meetings and telephone calls.
• Acting as a professional first point of contact for clients, estate agents, lenders and other external contacts.
• Handling incoming calls, emails and post, dealing with routine queries and making sure anything requiring legal input is passed to the appropriate fee earner.
• Opening, closing and maintaining client files in line with firm procedures.
• Keeping case management systems and client records accurate and up to date.
• Preparing correspondence and documents for signature and dispatch.
• Carrying out copying, scanning, filing and other general administrative duties.
• Assisting with client onboarding, identification checks, conflict checks and other compliance processes.
• Supporting fee earners with exchange and completion administration and keeping track of important dates and deadlines.
• Liaising with clients, estate agents, lenders, brokers and other third parties under the direction of the fee earner.
• Providing cover for other members of the secretarial team when required.
• Helping the department run as smoothly and efficiently as possible.You'll be expected to take ownership of your workload, keep fee earners updated on priorities and flag any potential issues or conflicting deadlines early.

And, of course, accuracy is key. Property transactions involve plenty of documents, dates and detail, so you'll need to have a good eye for detail and take pride in getting things right first time.

What skills are we looking for?

We're looking for someone who understands what it takes to be a great Legal Secretary and who enjoys working as part of a busy property team.

Ideally, you'll have previous legal secretarial experience, preferably within property or conveyancing. You'll be confident supporting fee earners and comfortable working to deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

You’ll also bring:

• Strong audio and copy typing skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel.
• Excellent spelling, grammar and written communication skills.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• The ability to manage multiple tasks and competing deadlines without losing track of the detail.
• A professional and confident telephone manner.
• Excellent client care skills and the ability to communicate with people at all levels.
• The ability to work independently while also being a supportive member of the wider team.
• A proactive attitude - you're someone who spots what needs doing rather than waiting to be asked.
• The ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
• Good IT skills and the confidence to pick up new systems and technology.
• The resilience to stay calm and organised when things get busy.Knowledge of a legal case management system would be advantageous, but if you're confident with technology and willing to learn, don't let that put you off.

Most importantly, we're looking for someone who is reliable, organised, approachable and genuinely cares about delivering a great service to clients.

What's on offer?

• Salary of between £26000-£28000
• 20 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (rising to 30 days) plus Christmas shutdown and birthday off
• Company pension scheme
• Company sick pay
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee referral scheme
• Discounted services
• Subsidised ParkingIf you're an experienced Legal Secretary who enjoys residential property work, likes being busy and wants to join a team where you can really make a difference, please contact Jemima Vibert for more information