Paralegal - Real Estate Tax & Registration - 6 Month FTC

The role

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Real Estate Tax & Registration team as a Paralegal in our award-winning Band 1 Real Estate department on a 6-month FTC. 

The team plays a vital role in ensuring compliance and risk mitigation during the critical tax and registration phase of property transactions. This role is key to the success of our service delivery and client satisfaction.

Our Real Estate department is one of the largest in the UK, with over 100 lawyers advising on complex transactions for investors, developers, and commercial occupiers. As part of RETR, you will work at the intersection of property law, tax, and registration, supporting the smooth conclusion of transactions with precision and professionalism.

You will be joining a specialised team at the forefront of risk reduction and tax compliance in real estate. Real Estate Tax & Registrations is a growing, respected team with a clear identity and strategic importance within the wider department. We support continuous development, including in-house training on SDLT/LTT and RETR cycle management, and we offer a supportive, collaborative culture where your contribution truly matters.

Role responsibility

• Manage your own caseload of Real Estate Tax and Registrations matters, including reviewing deeds and documents, preparing and submitting Land Registry applications, and seeing them through to completion.
• Calculate, draft, and submit SDLT and LTT returns for both residential and commercial land and property transactions, including processing payments to HMRC or WRA and liaising with clients and fee earners to confirm details.
• Maintain professional communication with internal stakeholders, clients, and external bodies, including HM Land Registry, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA), financial institutions, and local government authorities.
• Respond to and resolve requisitions from HM Land Registry, escalating complex matters where appropriate.
• Complete and submit property searches and bankruptcy searches where required.
• Maintain accurate records of submission dates, requisition responses, and completion milestones using firm systems (i.e., iManage, TM Group, Search Acumen).
• Perform research into registration formalities, SDLT/LTT, and compliance procedures to support best practices across the Real Estate Department and advise on best course of action.
• Collaborate with fee earners and clients to ensure timely Real Estate Tax and Registrations delivery and a seamless client experience.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and compliance with internal policies, including mandatory filing in iManage Risk folders.

About you

Ideally you will be able to demonstrate;

• Previous experience within a similar role with exposure to post completions – Real Estate Tax and Registration (RETR) - processes.
• A working understanding in SDLT/LTT processes and risk management. Ability to understand SDLT instructions, apply basic rules, and accurately reflect them on drafted returns and submissions
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills with the ability to engage confidently with both internal and external parties.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise in a deadline driven environment.
• A proactive and flexible approach to delivering excellent client service.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to produce accurate, well-presented documents.
• An enthusiastic team player who is adaptable and solutions focused.
• Confidence using digital tools, online platforms such as HM Land Registry, Companies House, HMRC, WRA, PLC, Lexis and document management systems (i.e., TM Group, iManage, Search Acumen).

At Howard Kennedy we believe that everyone deserves the space to thrive. We’re committed to creating an inclusive recruitment experience that reflects the diversity of both our people and our clients.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and identities, and we’re committed to ensuring that our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and accessible to all.

We understand that every candidate’s needs are different If there’s anything we can do to make your application journey more comfortable— whether for interviews, assessments, or onboarding—please let us know. We’ll work with you to remove any barriers and ensure our recruitment process is comfortable for you. 

Contact our recruitment team at recruitment@howardkennedy.com to discuss any support you might need.

Agency Introductions

Please note that we are not accepting applications via agencies for this role at this time. Before sharing any named candidate CVs, please contact your recruitment representative. If any named CVs are sent from agencies without approval from our recruitment team, they will not be deemed valid introductions, and no agency fee will be paid.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 25 days annual holiday
• Permanent Health Insurance
• Life Assurance
• Interest free Season Ticket Loan
• Private Healthcare
• Pension Scheme
• Staff Introductory Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme

About us

With almost 200 lawyers in one location, we ensure our clients have the right team to help them get from where they are to where they want to be. We advise major corporates and institutions as well as entrepreneurial, ambitious enterprises which are often privately or family owned, or private equity backed. As well as our significant business law capability, we are one of only a few London-based law firms with a large private wealth offering. Our clients find our straightforward approach a compelling alternative to larger, less personal firms.

Whether you are an ambitious and talented individual wanting to hit the ground running from day one, or an established professional looking for a new opportunity, Howard Kennedy is the firm where you can really make it happen.

We have earned a strong reputation for our exceptional and uniquely talented people who between them deliver outstanding results for clients. In a firm of our size, our strong team dynamic creates a thriving culture of creativity and entrepreneurialism. Howard Kennedy is a pragmatic and non-hierarchical environment where success is shared, and you are proactively encouraged to thrive at your own pace.

Our distinctive culture is built on fairness and respect. Guided by the firm’s values of talk straight, think smart and be yourself, everyone in the firm holds equal value, and everyone plays their role in supporting, encouraging and inspiring colleagues to do their best work.

At the same time, we recognise and reward individualism, celebrating the diversity of our people and supporting them to grow their practice and drive their own career advancement.

As well as client work, there is opportunity to broaden your horizons at the firm with fulfilling pro bono and charity projects. We have a regular social calendar full of wellbeing activities, charitable and social events too.