Associate Counsel

South Carolina Realtors • Columbia, SC

1d

About The Position

The Associate Counsel provides foundational legal support to the State Association of Realtors, its executive leadership, and its members. This entry-level staff attorney position focuses heavily on managing the member Legal Hotline, conducting legal research on emerging real estate trends, and reviewing standard forms. This is an exceptional opportunity for a recent law graduate looking to build an in-house career in real estate law, compliance, and trade association governance.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Newly admitted to the State Bar, or awaiting bar exam results (contingent upon passing within a designated timeframe).
• 0–2 years of experience
• Proficiency in legal research tools (Westlaw).
• Ability to translate complex statutory law and ethics rules into practical, everyday advice for non-attorney members.
• Willingness to travel statewide for training presentations as required.

Nice To Haves

• Clinical experience or internships in real estate law, contract drafting, or corporate governance are a major plus.
• Confident and engaging presentation skills for delivering in-person educational training to large groups of realtors.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a "customer-service" mindset to interact patiently and professionally with members.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary point of contact for real estate agents and brokers across the state regarding standard legal inquiries, compliance, and transaction-related questions.
• Assist in maintaining, editing, and updating the association’s Standard Forms Library to ensure compliance with changing state laws and National Association of Realtors (NAR) regulations.
• Assist in administering the association’s professional standards processes, including reviewing ethics complaints, coordinating arbitration filings, and advising grievance panels.
• Develop curriculum and travel statewide to deliver dynamic, in-person training sessions on proper contract form usage, legal risk reduction, and the NAR Code of Ethics.
• Conduct thorough legal research on real estate litigation, environmental regulations, housing laws, and zoning ordinances. Draft articles and compliance updates for member outreach.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level