Salary: £65,000 - £75,000; plus, discretionary bonus
Location: Manchester — hybrid, three office days and two remote
Residential Development Solicitor or Legal Executive, Manchester. Salary dependent on experience. Hybrid working, paralegal support, direct developer relationships and evidenced progression.
Enjoy development work but want more scope to advise clients, develop your technical skills and see where your career could go?
This role combines responsibility for developer relationships with paralegal support on day-to-day plot progression. You’ll have room to focus on technical issues and the wider development, alongside a varied residential caseload.
You’ll join a full-service commercial firm where internal promotions demonstrate career development and work-life balance has long been part of how the business operates.
What’s different about this role
- Support with progressing the plots. Paralegals handle day-to-day transaction progression, while you oversee the work, resolve technical queries and advise developer clients.
- Broaden your development expertise. Get involved in scheme preparation, estate documentation and refinancing, building your understanding beyond individual plot transactions.
- Work on a level playing field. So many firms throttle their development teams salaries, but at this firm they actually bring them up in line with all other practice areas, to foster a more balanced and cohesive team environment.
- Explore your next career step properly. A formal promotions process and examples of internal advancement give you something concrete to discuss when assessing your prospects.
- Build a sustainable career. The firm sets chargeable expectations with balance in mind. Leadership has actively encouraged people to finish on time, supported by hybrid working and a regular monthly early finish. The managing partner walks around on a Friday and makes sure no one is working late without good cause!
What’s in it for you
- Salary, £65,000 - £75,000
- Discretionary annual bonus, subject to individual, team and firm performance, with a strong history of payment.
- Two remote days each week, reducing commuting while retaining time with colleagues.
- 25 days’ holiday plus your birthday off, with the option to buy up to five additional days.
- A monthly early finish. Occasional wellbeing early finishes proved worthwhile enough to become a regular benefit.
- Enhanced family leave, subject to eligibility and policy terms.
- 4% pension contribution, employee assistance programme and employee discounts.
- A formal promotions process, with opportunities to develop technical, client management and supervision experience.
The Work
- Oversee developer plot disposals, supported by paralegals handling routine progression.
- Prepare development documentation and address drafting queries.
- Handle a mix of residential transactions, investment property work and refinancing.
- Maintain developer relationships and contribute to the team’s growth.
What We’re Looking For
- A qualified Solicitor or Legal Executive with approximately 3–5 years’ PQE.
- Previous residential development, plot sale or new-build experience.
- Confidence working independently and managing competing client deadlines.
- Strong drafting skills; estate documentation and commercial property experience would be useful.
- An interest in guiding junior colleagues; previous supervision experience is helpful.
The Culture
The residential and commercial development teams work closely together, giving you colleagues to collaborate with across disciplines. Client relationships are shared across the firm, and senior leadership is accessible to staff who want to raise ideas.
The firm also invests in working practices, including technology training, and has recently strengthened family leave provision. Social, community and wellbeing activities provide ways to build relationships beyond your immediate team.
- Ready to step into a Residential Development Solicitor or Legal Executive role where you can deepen your expertise with practical support and room to progress? Apply now to learn more or contact James @ Wilson Mannion recruitment.
- Applications are welcome from: Solicitors and Chartered Legal Executives with residential development, plot sales or new-build experience.