Jessica Stephenson

Please see below the job spec:
Job Purpose: To support the Sales Director and Sales staff in the provision of legal services by providing Conveyance legal advice and assistance to clients. Assist with the Sales progression of cases on behalf of the Sales Staff.
Key Responsibilities
To manage an agreed caseload of clients, providing appropriate advice and assistance in accordance with professional standards and internal quality requirements.
To process cases on a timely and cost effective basis and in accordance with professional standards and internal quality requirements.
To ensure that billing takes place promptly and that outstanding balances are collected as soon as feasible.
To develop and maintain good client contact relations and enhance the firm’s client base by effective liaison with existing clients.
To use the correct procedures and systems in order to manage cases effectively and in accordance with the firm’s standards and legal requirements.
To manage own work allocation, productivity and quality of work with minimum supervision.
Personal Qualities:
Self-motivated and able to organise own work load with minimum supervision.
Cope effectively in demanding circumstances.
Good time management, adopting a flexible approach to work hours.
Demonstrates persistence and commitment to completing tasks and objectives.
Deliver work output to the required standard.
Pay attention to detail and quality of work.
Demonstrate a commitment to improving working practices and supports company plans and policies.
Working with People:
Ability to build and maintain working relationships with others and to be seen as ‘approachable’.
Operates effectively as part of a team.
Willing to offer help to all colleagues to ensure company success.
Communication Skills:
You should be able to express yourself both verbally and in writing.
Handle clients efficiently and effectively by telephone and face to face communication.
Personal skills:
Smart business dress is required at all times.
Staff are expected to act professionally and adhere to high company standards.
Punctual and contribute to the development of the company.
An excellent work ethic, strong interpersonal skills and a supportive team player
Experience Required:
The ideal candidate will have the following:
Relevant degree or equivalent / post graduate qualification(s).
Qualified Solicitor, Licensed Conveyancer, Property Lawyer or sufficient experience in the field to justify non qualification (working within a banking or highly pressurized environment related to property transactions).
Recent practical experience of working in the legal profession
Proven track record in (Conveyance) client case management and fee earning
Recent experience of handling client enquiries both face to face and by telephone.
Working knowledge of case management systems.
Computer and software literate with good keyboard skills.
Demonstrate a commitment to personal development.
Please note that this is a varied role which requires you to be office based but also a large part of your day will be spent at: Developers, the Dubai Land Department or meeting with clients. Therefore, you must be confident finding your way around Dubai to various locations and driving is a must; you must also own your own vehicle and have a UAE Driving License.

Oversee the work of the marketing team based in-house at a leading Dubai based real estate firm, and produce monthly property magazine 3367:

Contribute to and edit 3367; produce monthly area reports which feature in the magazine, along with writing monthly features and interviews. Manage and oversee work of the in-house graphic desingers and marketing executives. Liase with print and distribution of the magazine, which is delivered door to door to 8, 000 homes in Dubai.

Release the online version of the magazine using Brief Your Market, upload and clean new subscriptions to the magazine, current receipients of the online version over 100, 000.

Write and publish press releases with company news also using Brief Your Market.

Manage creation of adhoc marketing products, projects, events and PR for the company.

Global Award Winning Estate Agency including ‘Best Leasing Team Arabia’ while part of the team there.
Sales role, diary management, negotiating, marketing properties, taking a brief from the client, gathering suitable options, drawing up contracts and customer service. Extensive local knowledge and that of the laws and regulations within the UAE. Organising travel arrangements for clients, liasing with HR and Accounts located in various parts of the world. Clients included individuals along with bluechip companies such as; Colgate Palmolive, Shell, Lukoil, Resolution Media, Arqaam Capital, Wetherford Drilling, Firmenich, Xerox, NOV, Baker Hughes and many more large corporations.

Booked venues, catering and invitations, follow ups and reminders for a weekly networking meeting. Conducted productive, positive and constructive meetings where by each business was promoted by and referred to by the other business owners there. Attended to by a variety of successful local businesswomen.

Exercising the drive and organisation that running a property company requires, as well as the responsibilities of making executive decisions.

● Day to day administration and accounting, as well as running the background operations necessary to run the business including diary management and organising meetings.
Managing a team of negotiators and directors.
● Overseeing the effective marketing of properties. Negotiating tenancies and drawing up contracts, including damage deposit negotiations.
● Organising maintenance and refurbishments for properties under management portfolio.
● Residential property acquisitions; purchasing over £1m residential portfolios on behalf of individual investors, project managing refurbishments, marketing, letting and then managing the property, achieving little to no vacant periods and maximising investment.
● Developing new revenue streams such as introducing insurance and mortgages to clients, and setting up referral schemes with contractors and financial advisors. Setting up logistics and systems for the implementation of these schemes. Stephenson Gray continues to operate successfully in the UK.

Manifested an idea to build a website whereby students coming into my hometown of Newcastle, which has two Universities, could explore the area, look inside apartments and houses through virtual tours, pay deposits and apply for tenancies entirely online. The website then offered maintenance reporting by tenants which updated landlords, and integrated exploratory tools of the areas within the city. Outsourced the design and build of the site, the company and it’s intellectual property was sold to an independent agency in the local area.

Started as assistant to the director of the company, running his diary, assisting in his meetings, accompanying him to appointments and taking minutes. Booking travel, arranging quotes and being on call assistant.
Moved toward managing the office; responsible for overseeing the lettings department for an independant company, turned what was a sideline to the business into a viable income stream which became the lifeblood of the company during economic difficulty. Lettings department revenue generated increased over three times in one year.

Primarily administrative role. Ensuring companies within the UK file and pay the correct National Insurance for their employees. Demonstrating reliability, confidentiality, time management, and following a set process.