Senior Law Clerk (Conveyancing/Metes and Bounds)

The Senior Law Clerk [Conveyancing, Metes and Bounds] supports Infrastructure Ontario’s Legal Services Team with the completion of real estate transaction activities (that include the acquisition, disposition and leasing of real property), by providing niche title search and conveyancing expertise as required to provide title advice and close transactions and as otherwise required to assist with and support the real estate related legal activities of Infrastructure Ontario.

What You Will Do:

Provide title searching/conveyancing support to the Legal Services Team

• Work independently to complete complex title searches in the Land Titles system including the ability to critically analyze title search results and prepare title confirmations, capturing all relevant title information.
• Review and analyze historical title information, including reviewing and interpreting abstracts, transfers, title instruments, reference plans and other land surveys, expropriation plans and ability to plot property boundaries, as necessary.
• Identify and resolve deficiencies and/or discrepancies with title. Prepare and manage registration of documentation to update or correct any title inaccuracies.
• Complete searches under the Registry system, including examining the chain of title and completing full historical 40 year searches where required.
• Conduct real property title sub-searches, execution searches, corporate searches, bankruptcy searches and other required searches in support of sales and acquisitions, loans and other real estate transactions.
• Conduct full historical 40-year searches under the Registry system, review and interpret abstracts, transfers, title instruments, reference plans, and other land surveys.
• Identify and resolve deficiencies and discrepancies with title, manage registration of documentation to update or correct title inaccuracies.
• Liaise with internal legal counsel, external legal counsel, client teams, and other stakeholders to provide necessary support and information at all stages of transactions.

Provide transactional support to the Legal Services team

• Assist with and assume carriage of a commercial real estate transaction following the execution and delivery of the Agreement of Purchase and Sale to transaction close.
• With minimal supervision, independently manage all aspects of the closing of real property transactions, including, but not limited to, preparing closing documentation, updating ownership information, preparing statements of adjustment, and preparing and revising other legal documents as required and directed by Legal Counsel.
• Assist Legal Counsel with preparation and registration of electronic documents.
• Liaise with external counsel (where retained), clients and staff to provide necessary support and information at all stages of transaction.
• Maintain tracking systems for action items and deadlines, including the use of Microsoft Outlook for tasks and reminders and to communicate with the supervising lawyer as appropriate to meet deadlines.
   

Provide operational support to the Legal Services team

• Review, edit and organize all real estate documentation required for approval submissions relating to Orders-in-Council, Minister’s Orders and Minister’s Consents.
• Review and interpret legislation, draft legal documents, prepare memorandums, advise lawyers and provide solutions.
• Maintain comprehensive electronic and hard copy files of transactional documents for sales and acquisitions and manage organization of files for easy access by Legal Services team members.
• Organize and manage all aspects of on-boarding and off-boarding of properties either acquired or disposed of from the general real estate portfolio, in order to ensure that portfolio records are accurate and up-to-date province-wide.
• Ensure notification of portfolio changes are communicated to all head office and regional Infrastructure Ontario staff who require this information for their business lines.
• Provide mentoring and training to junior lawyers, law clerks and administrative assistants, as may be required, including oversight of title confirmations prepared by law clerks to ensure accuracy and consistency of standards.
• Provide administrative assistance to a team of lawyers and assume other duties as assigned.

What We Are Looking For:

• Several years' experience in real estate conveyancing (a strong understanding and experience with metes and bounds are essential).
• Comprehensive understanding of relevant legislation and regulations (e.g., Land Titles Act, Land Registration Reform Act, Registry Act, Business Corporations Act).
• Advanced knowledge of real estate terminology and practices, title search methods and procedures, Land Registry Office operations and systems, electronic registration and conveyancing procedures, relevant legislation and regulations, Teraview, plotting metes and bounds legal descriptions, and government structure and processes.
• Significant years of relevant experience as a title searcher/conveyancer in commercial real estate required with in-house legal group or law firm.
• Thorough knowledge of legal terminology, industry practices and formats for various legal documents and standard business processes of a law office.
• Computer literacy with high proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite of products, Teraview, and electronic databases.
• Excellent written communication skills, meticulous attention to detail to proofread and edit legal documents.
• Strong interpersonal skills and proven ability to build and maintain positive working relationships and work in a team-based environment.
• Strong ability to liaise and convey information.
• Strong organizational and mentoring skills.
• Knowledge of government structure, processes, and operations considered an asset.
• A Law Clerk diploma/certificate/designation from a recognized college or other institution, or equivalent experience is required.

What We Offer:

• Commitment to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture that promotes a sense of belonging and represents and reflects the needs of the communities we serve.
• A flexible, hybrid work approach that allows colleagues to find balance between their professional and personal lives and making the most of the benefits of working remotely and purpose-driven in-person collaboration opportunities.
• A defined contribution pension plan, where IO contributes the equivalent of 5% of a full-time employee’s annual salary, with an option for IO to match an additional 5% contribution made by the employee. IO also offers a Group Retirement Savings Plan and Group Tax Free Savings Account, designed to help IO colleagues plan and save for their future.
• A comprehensive package that covers health, dental, vision, out-of-country care, paramedical services, and more.
• A pregnancy and parental leave program that offers expecting, eligible employees a top-up to 95% of their annual base salary for 31 weeks, and our parental leave program offers eligible employees a top-up to 95% of their annual base salary for 15 weeks.
• Access to our $1000 Healthcare Spending Account to top up expenses not covered in the benefits program and a Lifestyle Account that expands the eligibility of health and wellness options and can include coverage for gym memberships and fitness equipment, nutrition counselling or financial planning.
• Support for professional development opportunities for all colleagues through a broad range of learning programs that include in-person and online training, leadership development, and support for colleagues’ well-being. IO will also cover the costs associated with up to two membership and license fees per year for eligible colleagues if directly related to the employee’s role.
• Access to a suite of virtual healthcare options to support non-urgent medical needs.
• A convenient, central location at 1 Dundas St West, easily accessible by public transit.

We offer a competitive salary range.  Pay will align with skills, knowledge and experience of the candidate.

This posting will close on April 7, 2025.

Interviews will occur on a rolling basis until the role is filled.