As the economy continues to grow so to does the property market too. A natural upside of this is an increasing demand for Commercial Property Solicitors; at every level of the practice.

Now, you might have arrived at this post because you are considering a move into property or because you are wondering how your skills and abilities stack up?

Here at Clayton Legal, we have been placing legal talent with our clients for twenty years, and after delivering over 5000 placements, we have a good handle on the skills and traits that our clients are looking for when it comes to commercial property solicitors.

So, let’s answer some of your questions.

Before we start, it’s worthwhile clarifying some of the finer detail of the role as a reminder.

Logically a commercial property solicitor role, as the name implies, involves working with all the legal aspects involved in both the purchase or sale of commercial property.

Depending on the practice size and geography the work could be divided into both the private and public sector. This might include providing legal services for organisations, property developers, entrepreneurs, the government and individuals. It is quite an interesting group of people to work with.

As a rule, the value of both land and property is shielded from the up and down movement of some other areas.

The thing about the property sector of the law is that it can be a thriving area to work in.

When it comes to day to day tasks, like many other law disciplines, a junior solicitor will work on creating accurate documentation and contracts and manage smaller properties. The more senior solicitors being responsible for the bigger deals and developments.

So, when it comes to your skills and abilities where should, your focus be.

Qualifications and Detail Orientated

I am not going to go on about this point. After all, you are a legal professional reading this! As a quick summary, your qualifications will be as follow.

• Your undergrad law degree with LPC (Legal Practice Course), or a graduate diploma in law with an LPC.
• CLC exams.
• Depending on the firm you may be expected to have several years PQE under your belt too.

When it comes to any legal role, attention to detail is critical to performing well. Remember though that this question is still likely to be asked at some point.

As you consider your skills, ensure you keep notes and examples of how you can demonstrate how accurate you are and your level of detail. As a suggestion maybe through a specific process or system you have developed in your current role?

Communication Skills

Let’s be clear that being a good communicator as a legal professional will be critical to your success. The law is confusing to many lay people and that includes the clients you will be dealing with.

It doesn’t matter that they are a successful business woman or man – the intricacies and impact of the law can still be misunderstood.

No matter what industry you work in, as a service provider part of your role is to make the complex simple for your clients, so they understand; it’s what we are paid for along with delivering the result they want.

Unfortunately, it is easy to forget this.

Clear, concise, communication making the complex easy to understand are the hallmarks of any great communicator; especially needed in the legal profession.

Communication abilities spread across all levels from face to face conversations, presentations and documentation.

Fact: Anyone can improve their communication abilities.

As the first port of call, head over to Amazon and buy a few books. John Adair is a great author, or look at the Dummies series.

Then look on Google and sign up for a communications skills course. Swallow your pride and take action. The logical next step will give you a chance to utilise your new skills too.

Client Management

Clients in every sector have expectations, and rightly so. To keep a client happy involves work and understanding.

Tension arises with clients when expectations are not met in the eyes of the client. The fundamental lesson here I relate back to the point above; be a great communicator.

Through good communication, set expectations with your clients both verbally and in writing.

One of the hot topics this year in business is the role of customer service. The challenge is that in the B2B service sector in which we all operate, this often gets missed.

Choice for our clients is now everywhere and therefore any clients can decide not to work with us, in the full knowledge that there is another commercial solicitor round the corner.

The good news is it’s easy to get a good reputation for managing your commercial property clients well.

• Communicate expectations and boundaries
• Talk on the phone or face to face
• Set timeframes and keep people informed
• Resolve issues

These are all actions which are easy to action provided we put our ego out of the way.

About Clayton Legal

Clayton Legal has been partnering with law firms across the country since 1999 and during that time has built up an enviable reputation for trust and reliability. We have made over 5,000 placements from partners to legal executives, solicitors to paralegals and legal IT personnel to practice managers.

If you are building your legal team or looking for your next career move, we can help.

Call us on 01772 259 121 or email us here.

If you would like to know more about recruiting trends in the legal sector this year download our latest guide here.