Paralegal

Dentons; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Dentons in Milton Keynes is seeking a commercial paralegal to join our Real Estate Litigation team, focusing on supporting the firm’s Real Estate Litigation strategies. The role involves ownership of suitable matters and workstreams, direct client interaction, and delivery under supervision.

The role sits in our award‑winning Legal Delivery Centre, with SQE pathway options and the QualiFLY programme offering development and sponsorship for internal applicants.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three A levels at grade B, or equivalent.
• A qualification in law (Degree, Graduate Diploma in Law).
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office (especially Word, Excel and Outlook).
• Ability to handle a high volume of matters and work to tight deadlines.
• Ability to organise, prioritise and multi‑task.
• Ability to work accurately with excellent attention to detail.
• Demonstrate drive and initiative.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, with the confidence to deal effectively with Partners and professionals across the firm.
• A strong and versatile team player.

Responsibilities

• Managing a caseload of matters and workstreams, under appropriate supervision, taking responsibility for progressing matters efficiently.
• Drafting, reviewing and progressing relevant documentation.
• Supporting more complex matters, working alongside more senior colleagues.
• Proactively managing next steps, deadlines and outstanding actions, including coordinating and chasing input from clients, counterparties and other stakeholders.
• Identifying legal, commercial or practical issues and escalating these promptly to the supervising lawyer where appropriate.
• Maintaining strong matter discipline, including accurate matter tracking, file management, status reporting and financial hygiene (time recording and billing).
• Where appropriate building effective day‑to‑day working relationships with clients and operating as an extension of their internal teams.
• Contributing to the development and maintenance of precedents, playbooks, trackers and other client know‑how.
• Using technology, including workflow tools and AI, to improve the efficiency, consistency and quality of legal delivery.

Skills

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Education

Three A levels (grade B)

Law qualification (Degree or GDL)

Job description

Duration: Permanent

Type of Role: Office based

Reports to: Team Leader

Reference number: 10896

The Role

This is a great opportunity to join a dynamic, evolving and growing Real Estate Litigation team that is integral to the firm's Real Estate strategy.

We are looking for a highly organised and proactive commercial paralegal who is comfortable taking ownership of suitable real estate litigation matters and workstreams, working directly with clients/stakeholders and driving matters forward under appropriate supervision. The candidate will join our team with a focus on supporting our firm's Real Estate Litigation team.

The Team

The team's quality has been recognised with award wins and significant client growth in recent years. It specialises in interesting, complex and fast‑paced real estate litigation. The team's growing client base includes investors, developers, retailers, government departments, insurers, financiers, insolvency practitioners and high net worth clients. Opportunities exist to embed within key sectors such as retail, infrastructure, energy, data‑centers, logistics, government, living, industry and hotels and leisure. Specialisms can be developed across.

The team has grown considerably and has expertise across various specialisms covering asset management, development and investment. The team's focus is on resolving disputes for clients wherever possible, but it has enjoyed significant court wins in recent years at all levels up to and including the Supreme Court. Members of the team have also assisted institutional clients with high profile regulatory investigations, as well as advising on high‑value/high‑profile developments. The team's expertise and eminence has been recognised by Legal 500 (‘A first‑rate team with strength and depth.') and Chambers & Partners.

The Department

The candidate will work as part of a wider award‑winning Legal Delivery Centre (LDC). Our LDC is a flexible and scalable paralegal team who support all our UK, Ireland and Middle East offices across the full spectrum of legal services. Meeting the ever‑increasing demands for disaggregated legal services, the LDC offers an exciting opportunity for development and the chance to undertake chargeable work that is varied, innovative and engaging.

Dentons is embracing the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) route to qualification. Not only can your work experience count towards Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) but for suitable internal applicants we are also offering a unique opportunity for development, including financial sponsorship, through our QualiFLY programme. QualiFLY is an enhanced 2-year programme which is designed to provide the business with a pipeline of quality talent whilst ensuring that the experience and training gained by the paralegal is comparable to the more typical training contract route. Please note the QualiFLY programme is a separate process to this job application.

Responsibilities

You will work as part of a team to deliver a first‑class service to our internal and external clients. Our approach is to create a supportive environment by working collaboratively as part of a team whilst also encouraging team members to operate with a degree of independence and with a view to career development.

The work will include:

• Managing a caseload of matters and workstreams, under appropriate supervision, taking responsibility for progressing matters efficiently.
• Drafting, reviewing and progressing relevant documentation.
• Supporting more complex matters, working alongside more senior colleagues.
• Proactively managing next steps, deadlines and outstanding actions, including coordinating and chasing input from clients, counterparties and other stakeholders.
• Identifying legal, commercial or practical issues and escalating these promptly to the supervising lawyer where appropriate.
• Maintaining strong matter discipline, including accurate matter tracking, file management, status reporting and financial hygiene (time recording and billing).
• Where appropriate building effective day‑to‑day working relationships with clients and operating as an extension of their internal teams.
• Contributing to the development and maintenance of precedents, playbooks, trackers and other client know‑how.
• Using technology, including workflow tools and AI, to improve the efficiency, consistency and quality of legal delivery.

It is essential that candidates are focused and committed to developing personally and professionally. A commitment to deliver high‑quality focused services to our internal and external clients is essential, as is maintaining and developing those client relationships.

Through newly established ways of working, including an increased emphasis on technological solutions, you will be supported in taking full ownership for some key tasks, giving you direct responsibility.

Suitable candidates will be people with energy and enthusiasm, working hard to provide the highest levels of service whilst at the same time valuing being part of a friendly and collegiate team.

Required experience, skills and attributes

• Minimum of three A levels at grade B, or equivalent.
• A qualification in law (Degree, Graduate Diploma in Law).
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office (especially Word, Excel and Outlook).
• Ability to handle a high volume of matters and work to tight deadlines.
• Ability to organise, prioritise and multi‑task.
• Ability to work accurately with excellent attention to detail.
• Demonstrate drive and initiative.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, with the confidence to deal effectively with Partners and professionals across the firm.
• A strong and versatile team player.

Firm Profile

Across more than 80 countries, Dentons helps you grow, protect, operate and finance your organisation by providing uniquely global and deeply local legal solutions. Polycentric, purpose‑driven and committed to inclusion, diversity, equity and sustainability, we focus on what matters most to you. www.dentons.com

Inclusion and Diversity

We are committed to building an inclusive culture here at Dentons where our people can thrive, regardless of their background or circumstance. As well as being the right thing to do, it makes good business sense too. A richness of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives helps us best serve our clients and the communities in which we operate. You can find out more about inclusion and diversity at Dentons here: Inclusion and Diversity

Dentons is committed to providing equal opportunities for all. We welcome applications from everyone including of any age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, neurotype, disability, or with parental or caring responsibilities. We are also “Happy to Talk Flexible Working” and welcome conversations about flexible working arrangements.

Dentons is a Disability Confident employer. Candidates with a disability may choose to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme. We will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. Where application volumes are high, we may offer interviews to those who best meet the minimum criteria, consistent with our approach for all candidates.

During the application process, all applicants have the opportunity to tell us about any adjustments or support they require so they are able to perform at their best. Any information you share with us during the application process is treated in confidence.

If you have any questions about this or the role criteria, please email [e-mail].

While it is not a requirement that you inform your current manager of any internal applications, we would recommend that you do so.