Paralegal - Commercial Real Estate

About Us: Chambliss is a leading legal services provider dedicated to delivering exceptional solutions to our clients. We are a growing mid-sized firm providing comprehensive legal services on behalf of an impressive list of local, regional, national, and international clientele. As we continue to expand, we are seeking an experienced and driven paralegal to support our Commercial Real Estate section.


Location: This position is required to sit on-site in our downtown Chattanooga office. Applicants must be willing to relocate or commute to this location to be considered.


FLSA status: Non-exempt


Job Summary


Under the direction and expectations of the practice area Section Head, this position assists attorneys with all stages of commercial real estate transactions and projects. This paralegal will assist with the preparation of legal documents, perform various research and filing activities, review due diligence materials, track important deadlines, and perform other tasks as needed.


*Prior experience within the commercial real estate industry is highly preferred.


Job Duties

• Assist in preparing various real estate documents including purchase agreements, deeds, leases, amendments, assignments, property descriptions, mortgage documents, etc.
• Conduct research of property, business, and tax records through various county and state offices, such as the Register of Deeds, County Tax Assessor, Secretary of State, etc.
• Conduct research regarding ordinances and zoning regulations; prepare zoning verification requests as needed.
• Prepare and track timelines related to purchase agreements and leases for multiple transactions, ensuring that all deadlines are met.
• Review surveys, title commitments, exception documents, and other due diligence documentation, preparing summaries and assisting with resolution of issues.
• Prepare title/survey objection and objection response letters.
• Prepare checklists and documents required for closing real estate transactions.
• Review and confirm calculations in settlement statements for closings.
• Coordinate and participate in closings as necessary.
• Electronically record and file documents at the county and state level as needed.
• Proofread legal documents to ensure accuracy and consistency.
• Prepare email and written correspondence to communicate integral information, both internally and with external parties.
• Interact with clients, title companies, surveyors, and other legal service providers by telephone, through email, and in personal meetings.
• File and organize correspondence and legal documents in firm document management system.
• Meet billable hour requirement; track and timely report hours billed.
• Perform other duties and projects as assigned.

Qualifications

Education:

• Associate degree in paralegal studies or related field required; Baccalaureate degree preferred.

Experience:

• Three to five years of experience or training in an organization providing services related to real estate transactions required; prior experience in commercial real estate work preferred.
• Experience with document management systems (such as NetDocuments) and workflow and billing systems (such as Legal Management Solutions (LMS) preferred.

Skills/Certifications:

• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, DocuSign, Westlaw, and web-based research tools.
• Strong knowledge of legal terminology and procedures.
• Paralegal certification preferred; continued specialization and advanced certification in related areas encouraged.
• Notary certification preferred.

Job Specific Skills:

• Proven ability to work with limited supervision and to identify and refer unusual or important matters to supervising attorneys for direction.
• Strong practical problem-solving skills and ability to quickly apply knowledge and make effective decisions.
• Ability to produce quality final work product.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively and professionally with varying levels of sophistication with clients and other transaction participants.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of attorneys, clients, or the general public.
• An appreciation of the ethical issues involved in dealing with individuals and organizations.
• High level of professional integrity with ability to maintain confidentiality and build trust.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret related periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or government regulations.
• Ability to work independently in the performance of regular assignments, handle multiple tasks and priorities, meet deadlines, and manage large volume workload.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and execute oral and written instructions in a timely manner.
• Ability to understand and apply legal guidelines or regulations to a variety of business operational guidelines.
• Ability to work with team members and coordinate activities, adapting to diverse communication styles to effectively collaborate..
• Ability to produce acceptable amount of billable work efficiently and accurately.

Physical Demands


The work is primarily sedentary. Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to perform the work. The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:

• The employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
• The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, bend, kneel, stoop, and crouch; using hands and fingers for detailed work.
• The employee is occasionally required to lift office products and supplies up to 15 pounds, frequently carrying light items such as paper, books or small equipment.
• The employee is occasionally required to work overtime as requested.

Chambliss is committed to being on the best law firms to work for in our region. We are actively searching for highly qualified people to work as attorneys, legal assistants, and support staff personnel. Chambliss strives to attract a diverse workforce and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.


**We are not utilizing outside agencies for this role. DO NOT SOLICIT.**