Description
WHO WE ARE
Hamilton Duncan is the Fraser Valley’s preeminent law firm, boasting a team of more than 35 talented lawyers and 60 excellent support staff. Located in Surrey – one of the fastest growing cities in Canada, and one that is much more affordable than Vancouver – we provide high-end legal services to a wide variety of clients in an assortment of interesting and challenging matters across diverse areas of practice. We pride ourselves in our commitment to our community and our collegial workplace and want people who value a culture and management style that fosters respect while rewarding individual responsibility, initiative and creativity and providing opportunities for further development.
WHO WE NEED
We are looking for a full- or part-time Corporate Paralegal or Commercial Conveyancer with 1 to 4 years of experience, to support our lawyers with corporate/commercial transactional work. Your goal will be to provide high-quality assistance so our clients can achieve the best possible outcomes. Your work will help fuel our team and our clients’ success while developing your skills in a high-demand practice area within the legal profession.
WHY YOU’LL WANT TO WORK WITH US
We ask a lot of our people, so we try to give a lot in return. In addition to a competitive salary, we think you’ll love these other benefits of working at Hamilton Duncan:
- Health and wellness: Take care of yourself and your family with our comprehensive benefits plan that includes extended medical, dental, vision, critical illness and life insurance coverages as well as an employee assistance program for those trying times. Sick leave days ensure that you don’t choose between your health and your income.
- Plan for your future: Once you’ve been with us at least a year, you will be eligible to participate in our group RRSP program and we will match a portion of your contributions.
- Develop your skills: If you show promise, we want you to develop it. Successful applicants to our continuing education program get some or all of their tuition reimbursed for further law-related skills training.
- Location: Get to work quickly thanks to our highly accessible office location (directly adjacent to the Gateway SkyTrain station) with on-site fitness facility.
- Additional comforts: Enjoy coming to work in jeans every Friday, leaving an hour early before long weekends and all summer weekends and socializing with your colleagues at our regular social functions.
WHO YOU ARE
To be seriously considered for this role, your application should demonstrate the following:
- Experience: At least 1 to 4 years working as a corporate paralegal, commercial conveyancer or corporate assistant in a law firm’s corporate services department with comparable responsibilities to what we are seeking for this position. Conveyancing experience and commercial lending experience are considered assets.
- Education: A paralegal certification (or expected certificate) from an accredited post-secondary institution or equivalent experience in lieu.
- Skills: You must have a solid working knowledge of corporate transactional work and be comfortable with routine corporate tasks such as preparing necessary documents to correct record book deficiencies, incorporations, dividend resolutions and annual maintenance filings; you must possess a keen eye for attention to detail and ensure high-quality output in any work product delivered to clients; you possess proficiency with typical law office software (Microsoft Office applications, Clio, and web-based filing and search services like Appara, BC Online and MyLTSA), superior organizational and interpersonal skills, the ability to handle a high volume of work with tight deadlines.
- Characteristics: This is a position of significant responsibility, so you should be self-motivated, proactive and thrive on solving problems both independently and with the team. The position is also demanding, meaning that you need to remain calm under pressure and eager to take on challenges for your growth and development. We take pride in the high quality of our work, so we expect you to be meticulous and attentive in generating all work product. You will have contact with clients and other law firms, so you should relish the opportunity to communicate with others and maintain a professional atmosphere.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
This unique role is best suited for individuals keen on a hybrid set of responsibilities from our corporate and conveyancing departments. You will be an integral part of our corporate services and conveyancing teams, critical to the success of both the lawyers you work with and our clients, and learning from existing team members that bring in-depth knowledge that you can learn and adapt from.
Along your journey of providing invaluable assistance to our clients with their challenges, you will be responsible for:
Corporate
- Preparing documents in relation to corporate/commercial transactions including incorporation and organization of BC and Federal Companies, corporate and tax reorganizations, amalgamations, share and asset purchases including due diligence, capital alterations, share allotments and transfers, eligible/ineligible dividend resolutions, dissolutions and restorations, name changes, and share redemptions/repurchases
- Maintaining our corporate records management system, Appara, including inputting changes and updates as needed
- Ensuring accuracy and completeness of any documents prepared or generated using our corporate records systems or existing precedents
- Identifying and correcting deficiencies of records, and updating minute books for all companies
- Managing annual maintenance processes for some of the firm’s corporate clients
- Responding to client and auditor/accountant inquiries in a timely manner
- Managing file-related task lists and bring forward systems
- Completing any other administrative duties as requested / required.
Conveyancing/Commercial
- Providing support to our commercial lending paralegal, such as bringing an ongoing matter to completion and keeping diligent notes on progress.
- Preparing documents for the acquisition and sale of various types of commercial and residential properties, financing, and development of land.
- Reviewing contracts of purchase and sale, easements, rights of way, subdivisions, and strata plan filings, while ensuring their timely filing and delivery.
- Drafting covenants, easements, rights of way, undertaking letters, and documents as required by the Land Title Office for complex transactions.
- Preparing mortgages and related documents for financing of both lender and borrower clients.
- Conducting BC Online and Land Title Office searches, including title searches, BC assessments, company searches, and other relevant searches.
- Filing documents with the Land Title and Survey Authority of BC.
- Communicating professionally with clients, counsel, vendors, financial institutions, realtors, and brokers to gather information, provide updates on file status, coordinate dates, and convey next steps in a timely fashion.
- Administering clients’ files from start to finish independently, including file opening (conflict searches, client identification and other tasks), scanning documents, filing (primarily electronically), binder assembly, billing, and file closing.
SALARY RANGE
$60,000 to $80,000; salary commensurate with appropriate skills and experience. Part-time candidates may be considered.
HOW TO APPLY
If you’re ready to take the next step in your career and join our team at Hamilton Duncan, act now by sending your cover letter and resume by email to our Human Resources Manager, Pavanpreet Athwal, at [email protected].
While we thank all applicants for their interest in our firm and keep all applications on file in the event of future openings, only those shortlisted for interviews for this position will be contacted as a part of this recruiting effort.