Real Estate Legal Assistant (Legal Assistant Senior)

City of Charlotte•Charlotte, NC

About The Position

The Legal Assistant acts as a central legal liaison for the Real Estate Division within the General Services Department. The position provides administrative support relating to all legal matters associated with the Real Estate Division and ad hoc support for the Business and Systems Team.

Requirements

Knowledge of real estate law and legal terminology.
Ability to research, gather, analyze, and organize information in a variety of formats.
Ability to conduct specialized research of real property ownership including title searches.
Must be detail oriented, especially with numbers.
Demonstrates self-awareness and is customer-focused and adaptable.
Communicate clearly and precisely, whether oral or written.
Ability to use discretion when working with confidential information.
Must be a self-starter and have a level of autonomy.
Must be able to follow through on difficult tasks.
Ability to meet deadlines and manage time efficiently.
Work well independently, and as part of a team.
Proficiency in MS Office applications and real estate databases.
Interest and ability to learn new applications
High school diploma/GED with three (3) years of related experience or associate’s degree and one year of experience or equivalent combination of education, work experience, and skills to perform the essential duties of the position.

Nice To Haves

Obtain N. C. real estate broker’s license
Experience as a paralegal and/or office manager within a real estate environment.
Prior NC title search experience.
Bachelor's degree
Paralegal Certificate.
Prior experience working in a law firm setting.

Responsibilities

Initiate and review Task Orders and Requisitions for Real Estate Project Managers (REPMs) and Portfolio Managers (PMs), ensuring compliance prior to requisition creation in Workday.
Assign to outside attorneys and process them through Workday to obtain Purchase Order numbers.
Assign new incoming title abstract requests from contract agents to the attorney who signed the Task Order.
Evaluate all returned title work, log information into database and process attorney invoices for payment.
Draft condemnation resolutions incorporating relevant legal details for City Council approval; upload approved resolutions to the database for Real Estate and the City Attorney’s Office.
Assemble and distribute closing packages to external legal counsel, verifying agent-submitted documentation for regulatory compliance.
Notify REPM/PM of closing date scheduled and of closing, when the attorney confirms documents are on record.
Review and finalize closing packages post-transaction to ensure accuracy and adherence to closing protocol, process invoice(s) in Workday, and close out parcel after final invoice is paid.
Respond and assist with all inquiries from closing attorney to complete closing.
Request municipal tax checks as required for city property closings.
Keep Real Estate staff informed of problems that delay a closing or title search.
Generate and maintain weekly tracking reports for title searches and closing activities to support REPM and PM operations.
Collaborate with the Procurement Department to prepare legal RFPs/RFQs for new contract initiatives for real estate title and closing work by attorney suppliers every 3 years.
Provide administrative coverage for team members during absences due to vacation or leaves.
Create training materials and co-facilitate agent education sessions focused on legal compliance and documentation standards.
Design and implement process improvements to streamline departmental procedures.
Perform other duties as assigned.