Hiring Commercial Real Estate Paralegal in Louisville

Randstad USA is partnering with a leading commercial real estate development and property management firm based in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, to fill a full-time Commercial Real Estate Paralegal role. The client firm has operated in the Louisville metro area for over 25 years, managing a portfolio of 120+ commercial properties including downtown office spaces, industrial warehouses in the south end of the city, and mixed-use retail and residential developments across the region. This role offers the opportunity to work on high-value transactions, build expertise in Kentucky commercial real estate law, and contribute to the growth of a well-established local firm, with a starting annual salary range of $55,000 to $65,000, plus performance-based incentives and full benefits eligibility after 90 days of employment.

In this role, you will serve as a key support member of the firm’s legal team, working directly with senior real estate attorneys, property managers, clients, lenders, and title companies to ensure smooth, compliant, and timely completion of all commercial real estate transactions. Your core responsibilities will include:
1. Managing end-to-end documentation for 15+ commercial property transactions per quarter, including purchase and sale agreements, lease abstracts, title commitment reviews, and closing statements, ensuring 100% compliance with Kentucky state real estate regulations and firm internal policy.
2. Conducting due diligence for all active transactions, including reviewing property surveys, zoning records, environmental reports, and lien searches, flagging discrepancies or risks to senior attorneys within 24 hours of identification to avoid costly closing delays.
3. Maintaining a centralized, organized digital and physical filing system for all active and closed commercial real estate transactions, with a target of 99% document retrieval accuracy for internal audits and client requests.
4. Coordinating directly with real estate agents, lenders, title companies, clients, and internal legal teams to schedule closings, track transaction milestones, and communicate status updates to all stakeholders within 2 business days of any material change to the transaction timeline.
5. Drafting and revising standard commercial lease documents, including office, industrial, and retail lease addendums, reducing the need for senior attorney revisions by 30% over the first 6 months in the role through consistent adherence to firm templates and Kentucky legal requirements.
6. Tracking and logging all billable hours related to transaction support, ensuring accurate billing for client accounts and adherence to firm billing cycle deadlines.
7. Supporting the firm’s commercial property portfolio management team by updating lease abstraction databases, tracking rent escalations, and flagging lease expiration dates 90 days in advance to the property management team to support renewal or vacancy planning.
8. Assisting with the preparation of evidence and documentation for commercial real estate dispute resolution cases, including organizing exhibits, summarizing depositions, and coordinating with external counsel as needed.

The work environment for this role is designed to support both productivity and work-life balance. The position is based in the firm’s modern downtown Louisville office, with a hybrid work arrangement of 3 days in-office and 2 days remote per week available after successful completion of the 90-day onboarding period. The legal team is a close-knit group of 8 professionals with a flat hierarchy that encourages open communication and collaborative problem-solving, with no expectation of after-hours communication for non-urgent matters. The firm hosts regular team-building events including quarterly offsites focused on local real estate market trends and monthly lunch and learns with industry guest speakers.

To qualify for this role, candidates must hold a minimum of 2 years of experience working as a paralegal in a commercial real estate law firm or in-house legal department supporting commercial real estate transactions. A bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies, legal studies, or a related field is required, and a Certified Paralegal (CP) credential or specialist certification in real estate law is strongly preferred. Candidates must have advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel for tracking transaction data and lease abstractions, and experience with legal practice management software such as Clio or PracticePanther. Familiarity with Kentucky state real estate laws, title insurance processes, and standard commercial lease structures is a strong plus. Ideal candidates will have meticulous attention to detail, strong written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple concurrent transactions without sacrificing accuracy.

In addition to the competitive base salary, this role includes a comprehensive benefits package: medical, dental, and vision insurance with 80% of premium costs covered by the firm for employees and 50% for dependents, 10 days of paid time off per year plus 7 paid company holidays and 1 additional paid volunteer day to support Louisville-based community organizations. The firm offers a 401(k) retirement plan with a 4% employer match available from day 1 of employment, plus a $1,500 annual professional development stipend for paralegal certification courses, industry conferences, or continuing legal education (CLE) relevant to commercial real estate law.

There is a clear, structured path for career growth for high-performing paralegals in this role: team members are eligible for promotion to Senior Paralegal after 2 years of consistent high performance, with a salary increase of 10-15%, or to Legal Operations Manager after 3-4 years of experience, overseeing a team of junior paralegals and administrative staff. The firm also supports internal transfers to other practice areas including residential real estate, corporate law, or litigation for paralegals looking to broaden their skill set, with semi-annual performance reviews to help employees track progress and set growth goals.

The hiring process for this role is transparent and efficient, with a total timeline of 2-3 weeks from application receipt to offer. First, selected candidates will be invited to a 30-minute initial phone screen with Randstad recruitment specialist Nick Reyes to discuss background, experience, and salary expectations. Next, candidates who pass the screen will complete a 1-hour virtual interview with the firm’s lead real estate attorney and office manager, including a short practical exercise to review a sample commercial lease abstract. Finalists will be invited to a 45-minute in-person interview at the downtown Louisville office to meet the broader legal team and tour the workspace. All candidates will receive a status update within 3 business days of each interview stage. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, with an expected start date of November 18, 2024 for the selected candidate.