Job Description

Job Purpose
Salary: 35,000 + benefits
Location: Working from home, with regular travel to hub locations
Are you looking for a new Legal opportunity that offers professional development, flexible working, creative autonomy, in an organisation that prioritises wellbeing and development?
Our legal team is growing as we bring more of our legal activities in-house. We have a great development opportunity for a talented Property Paralegal to join our national Legal & Governance team; assisting the Trust's Senior Property Lawyer with the handling and management of transactional property matters across the Trust's property portfolio.
The Trust
The Canal & River Trust is a charity entrusted with the care of over 2000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs in England and Wales. These historic, natural and cultural assets form part of the nation's strategic and local blue-green infrastructure network, linking urban and rural communities as well as habitats. Our waterways contribute to the health and well-being of local communities and economies, creating attractive and connected places to live, work, volunteer and spend leisure time. They also play an important role in mitigating the impact of climate change and provide valuable habitats and much-needed bio-diverse corridors for wildlife.
About our Legal Team
The Trust's legal team plays a vital role in protecting the Trust's interests, across the whole range of our activities, to ensure regulatory compliance with charity, environmental, planning, heritage, health and safety (as well as the Trust's unique historic waterways Acts of Parliament dating back over 200 years), providing advice and supporting on contractual and property documentation, bringing and defending litigation (including judicial review) plus a full range of commercial, employment and boat licensing matters.
As Property Paralegal you will support the legal team in the effective and efficient conduct of transactional and advisory commercial property related legal matters within the Trust
Location
This is a national role supporting property transactional matters for the Trust across our operational regions in England and Wales and will is therefore suited be based working from home, with a requirement to attend our hub spaces when required for collaborative meetings with colleagues and stakeholders.
Main hubs include: Leeds, Ellesmere Port, Burnley, Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Gloucester, London.
See our canal network here: ( ).
Knowledge, Skills/Qualifications & Experience
Reporting to the Principal Property Lawyer, the property paralegal will be working collaboratively in an experienced and supportive Legal team of qalified lawyers, claims manager, paralegals and legal PA. You will be working collaboratively in an experienced Legal team of qualified lawyers, claims manager, paralegals and legal PA.
Key accountabilities:

• Manage a caseload of routine licences, consents, and property management documentation under supervision.
• Support the property lawyers on more complex acquisitions, disposals, and development transactions, including due diligence and document preparation.
• Undertake title investigations, Land Registry applications, and property searches.
• Draft standard documentation such as licences to assign, deeds of variation, deeds of covenant, restriction releases and tenancies at will.
• Monitor progress of legal matters and liaise with internal stakeholders and external solicitors as required.
• Maintain accurate legal files and records using document management systems.
• Work in accordance with the property team support framework in delivery of legal advice to the wider Trust teams.

About you

• Experienced commercial property/real estate paralegal.
• Strong working knowledge of property documentation, title, unregistered land, Land Registry processes, and property searches.
• Highly organised, detail-oriented, and capable of working independently with minimal supervision.
• Have a proven track record of building and maintaining relationships both internally and externally.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Collaborative and able to think creatively when solving problems.
• Excellent IT skills (e.g. case management software, Excel, Word, Land Registry portal).
• To be aware of your own responsibilities regarding safeguarding and to support our commitment to providing safe environments and working practices that promote and protect the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk at all times

To Apply: click on the "Apply for this job" button and follow the process - upload current CV & complete the personal statement section of the application form (iFORM)
If you have any questions about the role, please contact
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient suitable applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
What We Offer
In addition to your salary of 35,000, you will benefit from a competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, great holiday entitlement and numerous other employee benefits, including several salary sacrifice benefits, all of which can be found here (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits).
Other benefits include:

• Competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, where we will double your contribution to a maximum of 10%.
• 25 days paid holiday (plus paid Bank Holidays), increasing to 30 days after 5 years.
• Home working status with 'hub' facilities available should you need the flexibility to work outside of home.
• Personal learning & growth opportunities through internal and external development programmes
• Free access to specialist counselling on a range of issues, e.g. health, financial, well-being and domestic matters.
• Access to a range of employee benefits including store discounts, boating holiday discounts and holiday purchase scheme.
• 2 days paid volunteering leave per annum, allowing you to volunteer for a local community project etc.
• Free fishing facilities across our canal network.

At the Trust we care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We strongly believe that a diverse workforce brings with it a diversity of ideas, thinking and ways of working which enhances what we do as a Trust. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.
All candidates will be treated on the basis of their merits, skills and abilities and solely by being assessed against the requirements for the job.
When you join the Canal & River Trust you become a member of an engaged team working to preserve our heritage for future generations. Come and share your passion and knowledge with a team that makes a difference to millions of people every day.
Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us