Real Estate, Land Use & Environmental Paralegal

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP is a multidisciplinary, integrated national professional services firm with 500+ professionals. The Firm’s approach combines legal services, advocacy, and business strategy.

About the role

Seeking a Real Estate, Land Use & Environmental Paralegal to support attorneys on commercial real estate transactions, with a primary focus on title and survey review, due diligence, and closing coordination. The role also supports land use and environmental matters.

Responsibilities

• Conduct detailed title review and analysis, including commitments, policies, pro formas, and endorsements.
• Identify and analyze title exceptions, easements, covenants, restrictions, liens, and encumbrances; flag issues for attorney review.
• Review title exception documents; prepare title review memoranda and title objection letters; track responses; and monitor cure items through closing.
• Request and negotiate pro forma title insurance policies, including lender and owner policies.
• Prepare estoppel certificates and SNDAs and coordinate execution with clients and third parties.
• Review and analyze ALTA/NSPS surveys, including boundary lines, easements, encroachments, access, and survey exceptions.
• Review and summarize third party reports and flag any issues for attorney review.
• Order and track third party reports including zoning, property condition and environmental.
• Coordinate with title companies, escrow agents, surveyors and other third parties to resolve title and survey issues.
• Prepare and manage title objections letters, track responses, and monitor cure items through close.
• Order and track title updates, bring-downs, and endorsements and confirm compliance with transaction requirements.
• Reconcile title and survey materials to identify and resolve discrepancies.
• Prepare, manage, and update closing checklists. Review Preliminary closing statements and closing binders.
• Organize and maintain due diligence materials, including title, survey, zoning, and environmental reports.
• Order and review zoning reports and coordinate revisions with zoning consultants.
• Support leasing matters by drafting leases and amendments incorporating LOI terms and assisting with related leasing documents, including consents and broker agreements.
• Prepare and review organizational documents, including consents and resolutions, and assemble and circulate entity records.
• Order and review certified organizational documents and good standing certificates; obtain EINs for newly formed entities; and file and register entities with secretaries of state, including qualifications to do business.
• Order and review judgment and lien searches and obtain missing information needed to complete closing deliverables.
• Prepare closing instructions and coordinate settlement statements with title companies and clients.
• Finalize documents for execution and recording, assemble exhibits, and coordinate delivery of closing packages.
• Prepare and file UCC financing statements and related amendments, assignments, and terminations and coordinate related filings.
• Support post-closing by following up on recorded documents and title policies and reviewing post-closing deliverables for accuracy.
• Maintain transaction timelines and ensure deadlines are met; calendaring all deadlines.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and/or a paralegal certificate from an ABA-approved program.
• At least 7+ years of paralegal experience, strong emphasis on commercial real estate transactions and title and surveys.
• Demonstrated experience reviewing and analyzing title commitments and ALTA/NSPS surveys.
• Familiarity with title insurance products, endorsements, and closing processes.
• Understanding land use and environmental due diligence is a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and document management systems.

Skills

• Advanced attention to detail, particularly in reviewing technical title and survey documents.
• Strong analytical and issue-spotting skills.
• Ability to manage multiple transactions and deadlines.
• Effective communication with attorneys, clients, and third-party vendors.
• Strong organization and follow-through.

Pay

The base annual pay range for this role is $100,000–$140,000. Compensation will vary based on skills, qualifications, experience, and location, and internal equity will be considered.

Benefits

A full range of medical, financial, and other benefits (depending on position) is offered.