Law Clerk, Real Property and Planning

Job Description

McCarthy Tétrault is a leading Canadian law firm offering a full suite of legal and business solutions to clients in Canada and around the world. With offices in Toronto, Montréal, Québec City, Calgary and Vancouver, we provide challenging and rewarding career opportunities across the country. Recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for eleven consecutive years and one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for fourteen consecutive years, our culture is guided by The McCarthy Way - our shared approach to working with clients and with each other.

The McCarthy Way is built on four core elements: Excellence, through attracting and developing top talent committed to delivering on our Client Commitment; Collaboration, through seamless, integrated teamwork; Inclusion, through eliminating barriers to belonging and success; and Innovation, through delivering maximum value by embracing leading-edge technologies and approaches. Together, these principles shape how we work, lead, and grow - every day. 

McCarthy Tétrault employees benefit from a hybrid work environment.

We are recruiting for a Law Clerk to join our team in our Toronto office. The successful candidate must have a minimum of 7-10 years experience in commercial real estate, both transactional and development, and with responsbilities as described below. This position is to fill an existing vacancy.

Salary Range (Toronto or Vancouver Only): $95,000 – $115,000 annually 

The offered salary may vary based on the candidate’s job-specific knowledge, skills, and experience.

As a Law Clerk, you will:

Transaction Support

• Assist with all aspects of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, financings, leasing and development matters.
• Prepare, review and organize transaction documentation and closing deliverables.
• Prepare and manage closing agendas and checklists, and coordinate transaction timelines with lawyers and transaction parties.
• Assist with multiple complex or portfolio transactions concurrently, with minimal supervision.

Title and Due Diligence

• Conduct or arrange for title, off-title and any other required due diligence.
• Review and summarize title searches, surveys, reference plans, permitted encumbrances and related due diligence materials.
• Prepare title and due diligence reports and summaries for lawyer review.
• Identify issues that require review and escalate them promptly, with proposed solutions where appropriate.

Document Preparation

• Draft/review and revise real estate documents, including closing documents, mortgage and financing security, notices of lease and other lease-related registrations, and other real property documentation.
• Prepare statements of adjustments and closing funds memoranda and coordinate the flow of funds.
• Draft lists of permitted encumbrances, municipal title opinions/certificates, in respect of transaction and municipal matters.
• Prepare first drafts of more complex documentation and review documents prepared by junior clerks.

Registrations and Filings

• Prepare and register documents electronically through Teraview, including transfers, charges, discharges, notices and applications.
• Coordinate title insurance requirements and deliverables with title insurers, lenders and opposing counsel, including making recommendations for all necessary endorsements and providing supporting materials in respect of issuing/underwriting requirements.
• Support land development and planning matters, including subdivision, condominium and site plan related registrations and municipal approvals, as required.

Client and Stakeholder Coordination

• Communicate with clients, lenders, municipal offices, land registry offices and opposing counsel as necessary based on transaction or other needs.
• Assist with responding to client and opposing counsel requests and inquiries.
• Build effective working relationships with clients, external service providers and other parties.

Post-Closing and Administration

• Manage post-closing deliverables and reporting, including closing books and reports to title insurers, lenders and other parties.
• Track and follow-up on undertakings and outstanding post-closing matters.
• Maintain organized electronic transaction records in the firm's document management system.

Mentorship and Team Contribution

• Share knowledge with colleagues and contribute to precedents, checklists and process improvements within the RPP team.
• Mentor and review the work of junior clerks and students, and support training and onboarding.
• Support the firm's use of legal technology and innovation initiatives in real estate practice.

As our ideal candidate, you will distinguish yourself by the following profile:

• Law Clerk diploma from a recognized program, or equivalent legal education.
• A minimum of 7-10 years of commercial real estate law clerk experience; large firm experience is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Ontario real estate procedures, title searching and title analysis.
• Proficiency with Teraview, the Ontario electronic land registration system and OnLand.
• Experience with title insurance and complex commercial transactions.
• Experience with mining and energy diligence and transactions is an asset.
• Proficiency with legal technology, closing management platforms and document management systems.
• Excellent organizational, attention to detail, written communication and time-management skills.
• Bilingualism (English and French) is an asset, but not a requirement.

As a member of the McCarthy team, you will have access to:

• Outstanding benefits from day one, including insurance premiums paid by the Firm and wellness and technology reimbursements.
• Competitive compensation, paid overtime and generous time off, including a day off to volunteer.
• A commitment to professional development and growth opportunities for our people at all levels, supported by a culture that fully embraces and encourages two-way feedback.
• Strong community involvement and a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• A collaborative, cohesive culture that connects lawyers and business teams through collective purpose.

How to Apply:

We encourage external candidates to apply online and internal applicants must apply directly through our internal careers portal on Espresso. We look forward to receiving your application.

McCarthy Tétrault utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) technology as part of our application screening process to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our recruitment efforts by analyzing applications to identify candidates whose qualifications and experiences align with the requirements of the position.

We thank all applicants for their interest in McCarthy Tétrault; however, only chosen applicants will be contacted. We regret that we are unable to respond to individual inquiries about application status. McCarthy Tétrault is an equal opportunity employer that fosters an inclusive, equitable, and accessible environment. Please notify us if you require accommodation at any time during the recruitment process.