Assistant Counsel (NCS) - Department of Housing and Community Development

City of Baltimore•Benton, AR

10h•$81,097 - $129,584•Hybrid

About The Position

The Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) was created in 1968 to consolidate local community development efforts with housing and building code enforcement. With over 400 employees, DHCD strengthens City neighborhoods by attracting investors, developers, and homebuyers. Through the administration of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home funds, City bond funds, and other creative financing mechanisms, DHCD finances and guides strategic development projects to meet housing and neighborhood needs. To hold property owners accountable and keep neighborhoods safe, DHCD monitors construction and building activity and enforces the City's building, fire, zoning and related codes, as well as provides energy conservation services. Title Attorney DHCD works with community groups and other stakeholders to address the problem of vacant buildings and lots in neighborhoods throughout the City. Utilizing legal tools such as tax sale foreclosure, judicial In Rem foreclosure, condemnation, and receivership, DHCD clears the titles to these abandoned properties and, through direct sales or receivership auctions, returns them to productive use through rehabilitation and redevelopment projects. A crucial step necessary for the successful exercise of each of these legal tools is the creation of a title abstract and/or the examination of titles, so that interests in the property are addressed, and all title encumbrances are cleared. Prior to development of the Title Attorney position, all abstracts were procured in the private market, often requiring DHCD to wait months behind private-sector actors paying market rates for such products. The Title Attorney within the Development/Land Management Division performs title abstracts and title examinations to identify and locate all title interest-holders and identify and correct all title encumbrances and issues. Title Attorneys will shorten the time necessary to prepare Circuit Court and District Court cases for tax lien foreclosures, condemnations, and receiverships. As required, Title Attorneys will also provide legal services, such as drafting and reviewing legal documents, and giving title-related advice, in support of DHCD’s purchase and disposition of properties in pursuit of its blight elimination goals. This class may involve leading paralegals but does not involve full supervisor duties or responsibilities. IN REM Attorney An Assistant Counsel (In Rem) in our Development/Land Management division performs legal work related to Judicial in rem tax foreclosure procedures, which are an effective means of eliminating health and safety hazards by putting certain tax delinquent properties back on the tax rolls and into productive use. As required, the position may also include other Circuit Court cases, including but not necessarily limited to condemnation and tax sale foreclosure, as well as drafting and review of legal documents. The work of this class may involve leading paralegals but does not involve full supervisory duties or responsibilities. Incumbents in either Assistant Counsel role will receive moderate supervision from the Managing Attorney, Associate General Counsel. Employees in this class work a hybrid work week. When on-site, work is performed in an office setting where normal working conditions are encountered. The work requires minimal physical exertion.

Requirements

Education: A Juris Doctor from an accredited college or university and must have passed the Bar Exam.
Experience: Two years of experience in trial work, legal writing and/or municipal law.
Knowledge of real estate laws, practices and procedures.
Knowledge of laws and regulations governing tax sale foreclosure, and condemnation proceedings as they relate to the conveyance of title
Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, with at least an intermediate level of skill/experience in Word and Outlook specifically.
Ability to search and underwrite titles for Baltimore City
Ability to report title for Baltimore real property and comment on or negotiate title insurance binders with title companies
Ability to research judgements and tax liens in Baltimore City
Ability to research probate and estate records
Ability to evaluate real estate appraisal data.
Ability to review and evaluate title abstracts and reports.
Ability to conduct internet searches.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with representatives of governmental agencies, property owners and the general public.
Ability to exercise judgment and discretion in applying and interpreting departmental policies, laws, rules, regulations and procedures.
Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers, staff of other agencies and the general public.

Responsibilities

Creating title abstracts, examining titles, and advising other DHCD attorneys and real estate staff on legal aspects related to real property titles.
Drafting and reviewing documents, such as contracts, deeds, leases, rights of entry, releases, etc., related to the purchase and sale of real property.
Examining instruments and opinions prepared by other attorneys and advise of the legal requirements in connection with titles.
Searching and examine land records and write opinions on titles
Where necessary, preparing cases for filing and litigation.
Assisting in the coordination of development activities with Community Organizations, inter and intra agency and divisions and other partners
Performs legal research and renders legal opinions on questions that are raised and submitted by the agency (DHCD), drafting agency agreements, contracts, and other legal documents.
May administer procurement and service contracts; participate in vendor selection and monitor contracts to ensure compliance with specifications and conditions; assign and review work of paralegals.
Represents DHCD, on behalf of the Mayor and City Council, on matters relating to property acquisition in District Court, Circuit Court, and at the appellate level.
Files and maintains cases in Tax Sale Foreclosure, Condemnation, In Rem Foreclosure, and other legal theories; manages a large docket of said cases and sees them through to judgment; represents DHCD, for MCC, in hearings and trials as required.
Writes, reviews, alters, and approves for legal sufficiency various legal documents required by DHCD relating to the acquisition and disposition of Real Property. Such documents include, but are not limited to deeds, mortgages, releases, contracts, land disposition agreements, settlement agreements, liens, etc.
Performs title examinations on title abstracts received by the DHCD, identifying defects, deciding on and executing cures, and advising the Development Division on actions required to ensure that it obtains or conveys marketable, insurable title to properties, in pursuit of DHCD’s objectives.
Drafts legislation before the Maryland General Assembly and City Council of Baltimore, reviewing bills in said bodies that may affect DHCD’s interests and opinions on whether to support, oppose, or amend said bills; and testifies before legislative bodies related to legislation.
Drafts, reviews, and recommends approval or disapproval of rules, regulations, and policies to carry out approved legislation and DHCD goals. Also, represents DHCD before various bodies including Board of Estimates, legislative bodies, community groups, etc.
Supervises, assigns, and reviews the work of paralegals and other legal administrative support staff.

Benefits

The city offers medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, optional life, AD&D, and FSA plans.
This office also supplies wellness programs, support groups, and workshops.

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