Supervisor, Legal Services Unit (9 month FTC)

CMS is seeking a Supervisor to join our Legal Services Unit (“LSU”) on a 9-month fixed-term contract, based in either our Manchester or Sheffield office.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead and support a team of Assistant Paralegals and Paralegals who provide legal support to a major utilities client on high-volume English and Scottish electricity network land rights matters. The team works on a range of matters, including servitudes/easements and deed-based land rights, overhead line infrastructure, underground apparatus rights and third-party consent issues.

As a high-volume, process-driven workstream, dedicated supervisory oversight is essential to ensure matters are progressed efficiently, service level commitments are met, and delivery remains consistent. The Supervisor plays a pivotal role in supporting the day-to-day operation of the team, providing first-line supervision and quality control. Given the nature of the work, strong real estate experience and the ability to provide effective oversight, guidance and coaching are critical to maintaining quality, consistency and client service excellence.

About the Role

In this 9-month fixed-term supervisory role, you can expect to be involved in a variety of work including:

• Review and allocation of incoming instructions from the client, including tracking and mapping the team's capacity and capabilities to ensure work is allocated appropriately.
   
• Tracking progress to ensure deadlines are met, answering questions from the team and liaising with instructing lawyers to keep them updated on matter progress.
   
• Providing first-line supervision and quality assurance across the workstream, ensuring matters are progressed consistently and in line with client expectations and service levels.
   
• Working with data rooms and online trackers to ensure they are accurately maintained and matters are progressed in a timely manner.
   
• Ensuring all conflict requests and matter opening requests are dealt with promptly.
   
• Attending weekly client update calls.
   
• Assisting with recruitment activities, including interviewing candidates and supporting new starter processes.
   
• People management of a sub-team of paralegals, including onboarding new team members, approving holidays, monitoring sickness absence, providing feedback, identifying and implementing training needs, and conducting annual appraisals.
• 
  Financial management and reporting, including reviewing team time recording, managing balances and supporting WIP processes.

About You

We will invest in your ongoing training and development throughout the duration of the contract to support your professional goals and help you thrive in the role from day one.

Our opportunities are open to all suitably qualified applicants. To be considered for this role, you should demonstrate:

• At least 2 years' Real Estate experience, ideally gained within a commercial law firm or in-house legal environment.

• Strong technical knowledge of real estate transactions and the ability to provide guidance, coaching and oversight within a high-volume delivery environment.

• A genuine interest in developing and supporting others. Previous supervisory experience is advantageous but not essential.

• Excellent attention to detail, with a thorough and quality-focused approach.

• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to work with colleagues at all levels, including Partners, Associates and clients.

• Strong time management skills and the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.

• Strong IT and matter management skills.
   
•  An enthusiastic, proactive and collaborative approach.

What’s in it for you?

We want to reward you today and help you plan for tomorrow. We appreciate that everyone is different, therefore we have designed a benefits system that offers choice and flexibility based on individual needs and lifestyles. To name a few, these include:

• Competitive basic salary (reviewed annually)

• Flexible, hybrid working policy

• Generous bonus scheme

• Up to 25 days holiday (rising to 28 days with service)

• Holiday exchange scheme

• Private medical insurance

• Enhanced parental leave

• Reasonable adjustments and accommodation for disabled talent in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

If you would like to read more information regarding our range of benefits, please visit our Rewards & Benefits page on our website.

Please note that we have a preferred agency panel in place. Only applications submitted via the portal at the point of instruction will be accepted.