Construction Paralegal

Locations: London, Oxford, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Leeds, Reading, Cheltenham or Winchester

Ridge is currently seeking a Paralegal to join its Legal & Insurance Team, predominantly to provide contract support in relation to Ridge’s commercial agreements including professional service appointments.

The opportunity

This is a great opportunity for someone with construction industry experience who wants to establish a progressive career in the in-house legal department of a growing business. That person will be able to demonstrate a pragmatic, commercial approach to applying their legal training.

Role And Responsibilities

You will join a team of experienced lawyers who will offer support from day one. Over time, your role and responsibilities will include the following:

• Reviewing bespoke client appointment contracts
• Negotiating and drafting appointment contracts and their associated framework, collateral and downstream agreements
• Reviewing and negotiating NDAs
• Liaising closely with project teams during contract formation, ensuring compliance with internal protocols
• Collating and updating precedent clauses and documents
• Interpretation of Ridge’s insurance policies
• Contributing to internal know-how and best practice materials
• Contributing to internal legal features and bulletins
• Supporting business development in the legal sector for Ridge’s Expert Witness function

Experience And Skills Required

• Previous Non-Contentious Construction experience in a Paralegal role, minimum 6 months
• Consideration will be given to other legal backgrounds and/or the requisite skills and experience
• Some drafting experience of contract clauses
• Excellent attention to detail, and strong communication skills (written and verbal)
• Strong academic background
• Must be flexible, organised, and self-motivated team player who is able to work within the team to achieve common goals
• A commercial understanding of the construction industry

You will have experience of reviewing bespoke appointment contracts for professional services and be aware of the role of associated documents such as framework agreements, collateral warranties, letters of reliance, novation agreements, letters of intent, sub-contract / sub-consultant contracts, NDAs, and possess the awareness to consider all such documents in the context of relevant insurance provisions and the business’s commercial exposure.

You will be aware of published forms such as JCT, NEC, RICS, RIBA etc and have some familiarity with the Construction Act. You will have a basic understanding of regulatory compliance issues including Data Protection and Subject Access Requests.

You will have the ability to deal with a wide range of people across the business and the confidence to operate relatively autonomously in a highly commercial environment. If necessary, you will use your judgement to manage a workload in order according to commercial importance to the business and to meet multiple and often prompt deadlines. You will be keen to grow your in-house career and enjoy the opportunities that Ridge has to offer.