Locum Conveyancing Lawyer/Legal Officer

Locum Property Lawyer – West Midlands – Full Time – Initial 3+ months – Up to £65 per hour umbrella

Venn Group’s specialist legal team are currently recruiting for a Locum Property Lawyer to join a Local Authority in the West Midlands on an interim basis. This is an opportunity to work with an established Local Authority to lead and deliver a structured, robust review of the Council’s charity related property deeds including determining the charitable status of charitable gifts of land and property. The role will ensure that Council is ready to properly discharge its duties as trustee or custodian trustee, maintain full compliance with the Charities Act and deliver a clear understanding of the Councils charitable land and property holdings.

Role Details:

• Working Arrangement: Full-time, with Office Attendance required due to nature of work
• Rate: Up to £65 per hour umbrella
• Start: As soon as possible

Role Responsibilities:

• Undertake examination of historical deeds, conveyances, trust instruments and related documents.
• Determine the nature of legal title (charitable trust, implied trust, restricted purpose, or non-charitable).
• Identify and analyse donor intent, gift conditions, covenants, restrictions and trust structures.
• Make clear, evidence‑based determinations regarding each property’s status and classification.
• Lead the end‑to‑end review in line with the agreed methodology and where applicable in collaboration with the Improvement Recovery Programme team.
• Manage, prioritise and track property files.
• Coordinate with internal services to source missing or supplementary documentation or information.
• Maintain accurate digital records and ensure a complete trail for all the analysis.
• Proactively engage with the Improvement Recovery Programme team to review outcomes and align with strategic direction.
• Make recommendations and suggestions for submissions to HM Land Registry and or Charity Commission filings, including charity registration and trustee updates.
• Advise where necessary on compliance obligations for properties held on charitable trust.
• Produce clear data and or written reports summarising legal findings for each charitable donation
• Assist in updating and maintain the Councils property registers and Fixed Asset Register.
• Maintain Progress Tracker and provide regular progress updates.
• Contribute to risk assessments and governance recommendations for the Council’s charitable estate.

Candidate Requirements:

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Legal Executive (or equivalent) or Legal Officer/Senior Paralegal with significant experience in Property Law and Trusts and Charity Law
• Working independently to manage the review process and providing clear, structured updates on findings, data progress, and registration status to relevant stakeholders.
• Experience in analysing complex historical deeds or title documentation.
• Demonstrable ability to produce clear legal reasoning and written reports.
• Ability to manage complex caseloads and project milestones.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

For further information, or to apply for this position, please contact Philippa Stoate or Ebby Vallance on 07441 916438, or via email at midlandslegal@venngroup.com

Job Reference:  J94562

Venn Group is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all candidates.

Due to the high volume of applications, it is impossible to provide feedback for every candidate. If one of the team has not contacted you within 48 hours, please assume your application has been unsuccessful in this instance.

Locum Property Lawyer – West Midlands – Full Time – Initial 3+ months – Up to £65 per hour umbrella