The Senior Paralegal assists one attorney in the Eastern U.S. Division Legal Department in providing highly specialized legal services to internal clients, by providing paralegal, database and administrative services. Duties include creation, implementation and maintenance of systems for efficient operation of the legal team that supports TNC’s Virginia and West Virginia Business Units. The ideal candidate will have a strong work ethic and possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills. The position is located in TNC’s Charlottesville office.
With minimal supervision from a TNC attorney, the Senior Paralegal provides an advanced level of expertise to support and coordinate legal services on complex and/or high value matters for assigned business units or projects, ensuring that transactions and activities are legally sound and consistent with TNC’s mission, authority, policies, and procedures. Essential functions include assisting an attorney with real estate transactions, contracts, litigation management and other projects. Duties may include managing files, drafting routine legal documents, correspondence and forms, entering data into the Conservancy’s legal database and preparing financial information for posting to the Conservancy’s general ledger. Duties may also include management and maintenance of portions of the Conservancy’s legal database, including providing guidance to internal clients related to database standards.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Supports and coordinates complex and/or high value real estate transactions and contracts, regulatory compliance filings, employment law, litigation management or other specialized legal areas.
- Ensures legal commitments, TNC policies and procedures, and legal requirements are met and managed for compliance.
- Collects and manages official corporate legal files, in electronic and paper form.
- Drafts and revises complex legal documents for review by attorney.
- Independently drafts well-written memoranda, correspondence, and transaction documents (such as escrow instructions and deeds) and revises as necessary.
- Initiates and completes financial and accounting forms, in paper form and electronically using financial applications related to legal matters, and ensures that such forms comply with TNC policies and procedures.
- Manages appropriate portions of TNC’s conservation lands database.
- Assists business unit staff with preparation of project approval resolutions and supporting materials.
- Independently interacts and coordinates with assigned business unit staff and outside parties.
- Supervises and/or provides guidance and training to less experienced paralegals, legal support staff, and volunteers.
- May assist TNC attorneys in trainings for legal and business unit staff.
- May have significant financial responsibility, including limited budget management authority; authorizes check requests, and wire instructions.
- 4 years of combined legal and administrative experience OR equivalent qualifications acquired through coursework and/or related job experience that demonstrates assumption of significant responsibilities for supporting and coordinating complex or specialized legal work.
- Advanced experience conducting research on the Internet and in other legal resources.
- Advanced experience with MS Office, Word, Excel, SharePoint, Adobe Acrobat and any other relevant technology.
- Experience writing, editing, proofreading and organizing.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Relevant legal experience in real estate acquisitions and sales, and contract administration.
- Experience working with databases.
- Experience with accounting/financial issues and analysis.
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural experience appreciated.
The salary range for this position is $47,000 - 49,000, depending on qualifications.