Commercial Real Estate Paralegal

Company Description: Shipman’s value lies in our commitment -- to our clients, to the profession and to the community. We have one goal: to help our clients achieve their goals. How we accomplish it is simple: we devote our considerable experience and depth of knowledge to understand each client’s unique needs, business and industry, and then we develop solutions to meet those needs. With more than 160 attorneys in offices throughout Connecticut, New York, Texas, and Massachusetts, we serve the needs of local, regional, national and international clients. Our clients include public and private companies, institutions, government entities, non-profit organizations and individuals.

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Commercial Real Estate Paralegal to join our growing Real Estate Practice Group. This individual will provide substantive paralegal support to attorneys across multiple office locations on a wide range of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, financings, leasing, and development projects. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and is capable of managing multiple transactions simultaneously with minimal supervision.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

· Assist attorneys with all phases of commercial real estate transactions, including purchases, sales, financings, and lease negotiations.

· Prepare, review, and organize transaction documents, including purchase and sale agreements, loan documents, leases, amendments, estoppels, and closing statements.

· Coordinate and manage due diligence processes, including reviewing title commitments, surveys, environmental reports, zoning compliance letters, and property condition assessments.

· Prepare and review closing checklists, signature pages, and post-closing deliverables.

· Coordinate closings with clients, lenders, title companies, opposing counsel, and other parties.

· Order and analyze title searches, exception documents, and lien searches.

· Draft and file corporate formation documents, including LLCs, partnerships, and other entities used in real estate transactions.

· Maintain organized transaction files, both electronic and physical, in accordance with firm document management policies.

· Assist with lease abstracting and preparation of lease summaries.

· Track critical dates, deadlines, and contingencies across active matters.

· Support attorneys across multiple office locations and communicate effectively with remote team members.

· Perform other duties as assigned by supervising attorneys.

Qualifications

Education and Certification:

· Associate's degree required; Bachelor's degree preferred.

· Paralegal certificate from an ABA-approved program preferred.

· Notary public commission (or willingness to obtain) preferred.

Experience:

· Minimum of 3–5 years of experience as a paralegal in commercial real estate transactions within a law firm setting.

· Demonstrated experience coordinating complex, multi-party closings.

Skills and Competencies:

· Strong knowledge of commercial real estate transaction processes and terminology.

· Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.

· Superior attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).

· Experience with document management systems and legal technology platforms.

· Strong written and verbal communication skills.

· Ability to work independently and collaboratively across offices.

· Professional demeanor and ability to interact effectively with clients, attorneys, and third-party vendors.

Salary and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $41.21 to $60.44/hour, non-exempt, and based on a 35 hour workweek. We provide our employees with a competitive compensation package which includes, but is not limited to, a choice of flexible benefits plans, including medical, dental, vision, long and short-term disability, life insurance, paid time off, as well as a 401K savings plan with profit sharing. Additionally, we offer continuous in-house training, flexible working conditions, employee discounts, and a variety of firm-sponsored activities and events.

Non-Discrimination:

The Firm will not make employment decisions (including decisions related to hiring, assignment, compensation, promotion, demotion, disciplinary action and termination) on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, veteran status or any other characteristics protected by applicable law, except in the case of a bona fide occupational qualification.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily, with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Disclaimer Statement

The preceding job description has been designed to illustrate the general nature and requirements for the performance of this job.It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive statement of essential functions, responsibilities, or requirements.