These insights came from a paralegal who worked in a four solicitor real estate team at a regional law firm ( one partner, one senior associate, and two associates).

Document drafting 

• I draft a broad range of documents, including Land Registry forms, deeds (such as transfers, covenants, and easements), asset management documents (licences to assign and underlet etc), leases, and title reports—typically based on precedent templates.
• I seek feedback from my supervisor and refine drafts through multiple iterations until they are ready to be sent to the client or the other side.

Document review and proofreading

• I review leases and transfers to ensure they align with the heads of terms agreements, contain the correct party details, and are properly executed as deeds.
• I proofread important emails before they are sent to ensure accuracy and professionalism.

 Property due diligence 

• I examine registers of title, property searches and replies to enquiries to identify potential issues, reporting them to my supervisor or incorporating them into the client’s title report.
• I simplify legal jargon in title reports to ensure they are clear, client-friendly, and easily understandable for non-legal readers.

 Corresponding with the other side’s solicitors 

• I am responsible for emailing, drafting letters to, and occasionally calling the other side’s solicitors to raise and respond to title enquiries, request progress updates, and coordinate document execution.

Legal research 

• On complex matters - primarily related to title, environmental, and construction issues - I use legal databases, mainly WestLaw/Practical Law, to research current law and report my findings to my supervisor.
• I ensure I accurately identify the relevant legal sources, assess whether any exceptions apply to our client, and navigate complex legal terminology before presenting my analysis to a partner or fee earner.