Senior Legal Assistant - Real Estate and Development Unit

Company Description

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here.

With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else.

We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel.

If you're interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions.
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it?
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The City of Philadelphia Law Department acts as general counsel for the entire City government structure. We provide legal advice to all City officials, employees, departments, agencies, boards, and commissions concerning any matters related to the exercise of their official powers.

The Law Department's civil practice includes unique issues involving public interest in business, health, safety, commerce, civil rights, taxation, and community development.

We employ more than 220 attorneys and 100 professional staff to support seamless operations, reduce legal liability for the City, and challenge threats to quality of life impacting the taxpayers of Philadelphia.

We are an ever-evolving Department where all are empowered to reach their full potential, to collaborate with clients as true partners, and to see their work have real impact on the city of Philadelphia.

We celebrate the diversity of our staff, the City's workforce, and the residents whom we serve and promote an environment of comradery, accountability, and inclusiveness.

The Real Estate and Development Unit of the Law Department represents the City in major economic development initiatives and real estate transactions.

The attorneys in this unit, with support from the Legal Assistants, serve as corporate, real estate, and transactional counsel to all city Departments and are called upon to help structure, negotiate, and document significant transactional matters.

Job Description

Position Summary :

The Real Estate & Development Unit is currently seeking to fill a Senior Legal Assistant position. This position requires excellent organizational, communication, analytical and critical thinking skills, as well as exceptional drafting and proof-reading skills.

Must be able to work independently, as well as with a team and with clients. Intermediate-level skills working with Microsoft Office applications, Adobe Pro, and document management systems are necessary.

The ideal candidate for this position will have a paralegal degree / certificate from an ABA approved institution and 3+ years of paralegal experience.

Experience managing and tracking large document submissions or transactions required. Affordable housing, commercial real estate, finance, or litigation and discovery experience strongly preferred.

Title and survey experience preferred.

Essential Functions :

In addition to the Position Summary, responsibilities may include, but are not limited to :

• Collaborating on projects which often include working with attorneys and staff and clients.
• Drafting a wide range of legal documents, including leases, conveyancing documents, deeds, and municipal legislation.
• Facilitating leasehold interest acquisition, ensuring compliance with complex specifications.
• Working closely with title companies to obtain title reports, clear title, and title insurance policies.
• Reviewing and summarizing title reports.
• Reviewing and summarizing land surveys.
• Conducting frequent research on complex title matters.
• Responding to internal and external requests for documentation, title information, and routing requests to appropriate parties.
• Providing litigation support on real estate matters.
• Developing and maintaining checklists for large-scale real estate transactions and tracking documents for those transactions.
• Maintaining organization / filing system.
• Tracking and managing due diligence, coordinating and implementing transactions and work with team to close transactions.
• Compiling quarterly / weekly / daily reports as needed.
• Tracking assignments.
• Providing back-up support for hiring and recruiting efforts.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities :

• Ability to analyze large amounts of information, determine relevant facts, and propose viable solutions
• Ability to write and speak persuasively
• Ability to work with multiple project stakeholders
• Excellent organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and think proactively
• Ability to manage and prioritize numerous assignments
• Computer skills required / desired for the position include :
• MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint One Drive, Powerpoint)
• Adobe Pro
• Spreadsheets (Excel, Google Sheets).
• Email (mail merge, filters, folders, rules)
• Presentations / Slideshows (Powerpoint, Google Slides)
• Microsoft Teams, Zoom and other virtual platforms
• Experience exercising discretion and confidentiality with sensitive information
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion;
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work on teams and collaborate with colleagues and clients;
• Knowledge of City procedures is a plus.

Qualifications

A degree in paralegal studies from an ABA approved program is a plus. Candidates who are commissioned notaries public will also be given additional consideration.

Additional Information

TO APPLY : Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.

Salary Range : Up to $71,349 - Commensurate with education and experience

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee :

Transportation : City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA's Key Advantage program.

Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.

• Parental Benefits : The City offers its employees 6 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.

Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships.

Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia.

As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex : Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status.

If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to faqpchr@phila.gov.

For more information, go to : Human Relations Website : http : / / www.phila.gov / humanrelations / Pages / default.aspx

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