Entry Level Global Finance Paralegal

IL LLP•Chicago, IL

About The Position

This entry-level role offers the opportunity to develop corporate finance paralegal skills while supporting complex, high-value lending and structured finance matters. The position works collaboratively with attorneys, clients, other paralegals, opposing counsel, filing offices, and third-party vendors, with opportunities to take on significant responsibility and exercise independent judgment under appropriate supervision. The paralegal supports transaction workflows and closings, including preparing and reviewing closing documents, coordinating deliverables, researching and reviewing lien searches, assisting with UCC filings and related matters, and managing closing and post-closing processes. The role also involves preparing signature pages, coordinating delivery of possessory collateral, assembling closing sets, and setting up virtual or physical data rooms. The position may require overtime during active closings and other periods of increased activity.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree.
0–3 years of paralegal experience supporting commercial finance, secured lending, securitization, or other financial transactions in a law firm or comparable professional-services environment.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple transactions, deadlines, and competing priorities.
Excellent attention to detail, judgment, communication, and follow-through.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced transactional practice.
Strong interpersonal communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to work harmoniously and effectively with others.
Ability to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion.
Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities.

Nice To Haves

Paralegal certificate from an ABA-approved program.
Knowledge of how to perform internet research and searches.

Responsibilities

Develop an understanding of negotiated lending and structured finance transactions and support attorneys and clients on those transactions.
Learn transaction chronology and assist with closings by preparing and compiling deliverables, drafting closing documentation, maintaining closing checklists, and obtaining and reviewing formation documents under attorney or senior paralegal supervision.
Learn the documents required for finance closings, including public records, lien searches, certificates, resolutions, service-of-process appointments, public filings, and signature pages.
Learn lien search methods and purposes, engage with corporate service providers, and review search results.
Learn entity types and order and review corporate documents, including good standing certificates.
Prepare and circulate signature pages, using DocuSign or other electronic platforms when appropriate.
Assist with delivery procedures for original notes, equity certificates, and other possessory collateral under supervision.
Coordinate transaction workflows and manage closing and post-closing processes under supervision.
Review closing documents for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with transaction requirements, and coordinate resolution of open items with a senior paralegal or attorney.
Develop knowledge of UCC Articles 8 and 9, including UCC-1 and UCC-3 filings, and gain experience drafting collateral descriptions and preparing filing schedules.
Learn the firm's UCC review procedures and gain experience preparing and filing UCC financing statements, amendments, continuations, and terminations.
Research and analyze Article 9 issues and other UCC matters.
Assemble master closing sets and prepare and distribute electronic closing sets and closing books where applicable.
Learn to set up virtual or physical data rooms.
Communicate effectively with paralegals, attorneys, clients, opposing counsel, filing offices, and third-party vendors.
Assist with other transactional and team responsibilities as needed.