Paralegal (Corporate/Real Estate)

Job Summary:

**** This position assists attorneys in the Corporate Services practice group researching, and handling real estate matters, closings, title insurance and post-closing procedures.

Responsibilities:

• Receiving requests for title commitments from clients and requesting title reports or certificates of title from abstractor or abstract companies; receiving and reviewing title reports and drafting title objection letters and analysis of surveys.

• Communicating by telephone, in person and in writing with buyers, sellers, realtors, lenders, appraisers, surveyors, insurance companies, title abstract and title insurance companies, taxing authorities, property owners associations, attorneys, court personnel, and various other individuals and entities in connection with obtaining all necessary information for commercial real estate transactions.

• Scheduling loan closings and reviewing of closing packets received from mortgage companies or owners; preparation of closing documents, including closing statements, affidavits, tax information statements, payoff letters, representation letters, closing binders and disbursement sheets; participation in closings; arranging for deposits of loan proceeds and disbursing all funds; filing of deeds, timber deeds, easements, conservation easements, deeds of trust, UCCs and FSA – 153 with appropriate authorities; requesting title updates; receiving title updates and issuing title policies, and generally assisting closing attorney with all aspects of transactions, including gathering of preliminary information, ascertaining that closing is conducted in compliance with lender**’**s instructions, and compilation of closing documents upon completion.

• Receiving requests from clients for title updates and requesting same from abstract companies; receiving reports and drafting updated certificates of title or endorsements to title policies to lenders.

• Occasional research of land records (when recording information is provided by a third party).

• Tracking of real estate transactions throughout year for purposes of 1099S reporting; completion of 1099 Information Sheets and submission to reporting service.

• Drafting real-estate-related documents, such as, authorities to cancel, partial releases, deeds, easements, etc.

Supervision Received and/or Given:

• Occasionally work on projects for attorneys other than supervising attorney and work on projects for or with other real estate paralegals.

• Work closely with office manager on funds received and disbursed through trust accounts.

• Work closely with title insurance paralegal on monthly reporting to title insurance companies on policies issued and opening of new files.

Minimum Acceptable Qualifications:

• 5-10 years prior real estate experience in a law firm or title abstract company setting.

Additional Desirable Qualifications:

• College Degree ****
• Land Use Experience
• Corporate Experience
• Notary

Working Conditions:

This position requires sitting for long periods of time while operating a computer. At times, employees are required to work in excess of the normal work schedule, and on weekends particularly during large or complex real estate closings. Employees in this position must be mobile, have the ability to bend, and have ability to lift and carry files weighing approximately 10-15 lbs.