Senior Paralegal – Real Estate
Chicago, IL | Hybrid | Full-Time
Summary:
The Senior Paralegal – Real Estate is an experienced legal professional responsible for supporting attorneys on sophisticated commercial real estate transactions and related matters. This individual will play a key role throughout the transaction lifecycle, handling due diligence, title and survey review, closing coordination, commercial lease work, tax-related matters, and matter management. The role is ideal for a seasoned real estate paralegal who can independently manage substantive assignments, anticipate attorney needs, and effectively coordinate with clients, counsel, lenders, government agencies, and outside vendors.
Key Responsibilities:
- Assist attorneys with due diligence for commercial real estate transactions
- Order, review, and analyze title commitments, recorded documents, and surveys
- Develop, maintain, and update closing checklists and track transaction requirements through completion
- Prepare transaction documents and coordinate the execution and delivery of closing documentation
- Coordinate with attorneys, clients, opposing/outside counsel, lenders, governmental agencies, and vendors
- Review and abstract commercial leases and prepare drafts of leases and lease amendments
- Assist with tax-related applications and work directly with clients to obtain required documentation
- Prepare petitions related to tax consolidations and/or divisions
- Draft legal documents, correspondence, summaries, and other materials for attorney review
- Compile, analyze, and summarize information related to transactions and other real estate matters
- Manage data rooms, matter files, tracking systems, and transaction documentation
- Handle substantive projects with limited supervision while proactively anticipating attorney needs
- Support attorneys in the Chicago office as well as attorneys across other firm offices
- Mentor case assistants and junior paralegals
Desired Skills:
- Strong background in commercial real estate law and transactions
- Extensive experience reviewing and analyzing title commitments, surveys, and recorded documents
- Significant commercial leasing experience, including lease abstraction and drafting leases and amendments
- Experience supporting real estate closings, including checklists, documentation, execution, and delivery
- Ability to conduct fact gathering, analyze information, and identify issues requiring attorney attention
- Advanced knowledge of real estate practice-area rules, procedures, and legal requirements
- Ability to independently manage multiple sophisticated matters in a fast-paced law firm environment
- Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
- Ability to interact professionally with attorneys, clients, outside counsel, lenders, vendors, and other external parties
- Strong technical proficiency, particularly with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
- Experience establishing and maintaining matter tracking and organizational systems
- Strong independent judgment with the ability to anticipate attorney and client needs
- Leadership and mentoring skills for supporting junior paralegals and case assistants
Education & Experience:
Minimum Education: High School Diploma or GED
Preferred Education:
- Bachelor's degree and/or Paralegal Certificate
- Paralegal Certificate preferred
Experience:
- Minimum 6 years of paralegal experience specifically in Real Estate law
- Must have substantive experience handling real estate matters with limited supervision
- Extensive commercial lease experience is required, including the ability to review, abstract, and prepare drafts of leases and lease amendments
- Experience with real estate due diligence, title and survey review, closings, and transaction documentation strongly aligned with the role
Compensation & Schedule:
Pay range: $53.64 – $71.08/hour, depending on experience, qualifications, and geographic market
- Full-time position
- Hybrid schedule
- Position is based in the Chicago office
- Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k)
- Overtime paid in accordance with applicable laws for non-exempt positions
- No immigration sponsorship available
- Relocation assistance is generally not available unless relocation is required by the firm
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