Legal Assistant – Real Property Specialist

Legal Assistant – Real Property SpecialistRemote, United States

Who We Are:
 
At The Trust for Public Land, we’re a team of outdoor advocates who believe in connecting everyone to the outdoors. As an ethos, we believe access to the outdoors is a fundamental human need and essential to our health and well-being. ​We’re committed to creating more places that bring us outside—parks, trails, playgrounds, and public lands—and making them available and welcoming to everyone, everywhere, regardless of ZIP code. We also understand that land has meaning; it tells the story of our history. That’s why, through our Black History and Culture initiative, we’re working to preserve sites that more fully represent the Black American experience; and we’re an ally and partner to Tribal and Indigenous communities, working in partnership to reconnect them with their ancestral lands.
 
One hundred million people, including 28 million children, don’t have nearby access to a park within ten minutes of their home. We’re determined to change this outdoor equity gap–and as a result, nine million people and counting now have access because of our work. We have miles to go and a plan to get there. We’re inclusive change-makers who believe in connecting everyone to the outdoors. We inspire by paving the way forward and strengthening our connection to nature. Join us! 

Position Summary:

The Legal Assistant – Real Property Specialist provides legal and other support to attorneys to further Trust for Public Land’s land protection and park creation priorities, working primarily in California.  Primary responsibilities are assisting in the documentation and completion of transactions and activities that are legally sound and consistent with Trust for Public Land’s mission, authority, policies and procedures. The focus of the work is real property transactions. Candidates with experience as real property specialists (including those at governmental agencies, whether at local, state or Federal level) are encouraged to apply.

Essential Functions:

• Drafts and proofs land acquisition and disposition agreements, real estate closing documentation, park design and construction contracts, and other legal documents for counsel review
• Orders and reviews title documents, surveys, environmental assessments, and other due diligence reports as assigned by counsel
• Reviews, analyzes and summarizes legal documents necessary for tracking and reporting on the legal status of projects
• Coordinates the closing of projects to ensure that transactions close within commercially reasonable timeframes, including preparing closing packages, working with title companies, following up on closing documentation, and closing legal files in accordance with internal policies
• Independently interacts and coordinates with project/program staff and outside parties
• Word processes, edits, assembles, copies and distributes complex legal documents
• Creates and maintains electronic legal files
• Monitors and updates legal calendar; maintains form file and legal library
• Tracks timely payment of real estate taxes and prepares and files real estate tax exemption applications where appropriate
• Works as part of a nationwide team of attorneys and legal assistants

Other Responsibilities:
As needed, and as time allows, the Legal Assistant will assist with additional legal services as assigned.
 
Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• 2 to 4 years of progressively responsible real estate transactional experience and legal administration is required
• Paralegal or legal assistant certification is a plus but not required
• Self-motivated with an ability to work without direct supervision, prioritize work in the absence of specific instructions, and exercise good judgment in identifying and solving problems
• Ability to interpret and take initiative within broadly defined policies and practices
• Strong organizational, planning, and interpersonal skills with an ability to maintain a sense of humor and composure when dealing with diverse personalities and work styles
• Capable of multi-tasking, working under pressure, and meeting deadlines in a decentralized environment
• Detail and results oriented
• Excellent oral and written communications skills
• Notary Public License or the desire/goal to obtain license
• Strong commitment to TPL’s mission and shared values (Belonging, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Hope) to effectively work across the organization.

Compensation:
Trust for Public Land is a hybrid work environment, where work arrangements are flexible. While this role will ideally be located near a Trust for Public Land office, the employee may elect to work remotely. As a full-time employee, you will be eligible for Trust for Public Land’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, vacation and sick pay plus holidays, a year end office closure, and a 403(b)-retirement plan, currently with up to a 7% company match. We offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience; the anticipated hiring range for this position is $60,000-68,000 annually.

Trust for Public Land’s active goal is to be an inclusive and equitable place to work and build community. As the organization actively works to eliminate racial and other disparities it welcomes candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skillsets. We are open to the possibility that a great candidate for this job may not precisely meet all the above criteria; if you believe you are the right person for this job and can persuasively make that case, we encourage you to apply.