Recruit Staff Hire is assisting a well-established New Orleans law firm with its search for an experienced Real Estate Paralegal / Legal Assistant. This role will support multiple attorneys with residential real estate transactions, along with some commercial real estate matters.
The ideal candidate will have strong real estate transaction experience, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to manage files from contract through closing and post-closing.
Responsibilities
- Coordinate real estate transactions from contract to closing, including post-closing follow-up
- Prepare, review, and organize closing documents, including deeds, mortgages, assignments, affidavits, settlement statements, and related accounting ledgers
- Track critical dates, deadlines, checklists, and transaction deliverables to ensure matters move forward timely
- Order and review title commitments, abstracts, surveys, public records searches, zoning reports, and other due diligence materials
- Identify title defects and work with attorneys, title companies, surveyors, lenders, and other parties to help resolve issues
- Prepare title and due diligence summaries for attorney review
- Communicate professionally with clients, lenders, real estate agents, brokers, title agents, and other parties involved in the transaction
- Assist with closing coordination, closing binders, document execution, notarization, recording, and file maintenance
- Handle post-closing tasks, including tracking recorded documents, curative items, and outstanding deliverables
- Maintain organized electronic and physical transaction files
- Assist with entity formation documents, good-standing certificates, and related corporate organizational documents as needed
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Qualification
- Prior experience as a real estate paralegal, legal assistant, title processor, or closing professional
- Strong understanding of real estate transactions, title review, due diligence, and closing procedures
- Residential real estate experience strongly preferred; commercial real estate experience is a plus
- Ability to manage multiple transactions, deadlines, and priorities at the same time
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 required
- Experience with real estate/title software such as SoftPro, NetDocuments, ProTrust, or similar platforms is a plus
- Familiarity with ALTA surveys, public records filings, escrow procedures, and post-closing processes preferred