Legal Assistant (Milwaukee)

The Legal Assistant supports the Legal Department of a real estate development company with a primary focus on drafting and managing construction contracts (e.g., design, GC/CM, trade, and vendor agreements) and coordinating real estate/financing closings. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, deadline-driven, and comfortable operating in a high-volume, fast-moving project pipeline.

Responsibilities Construction Contracting Draft, edit, and format

construction-related agreements

using company templates, including prime agreements (GC/CM), design professional agreements, trade/subcontractor agreements, purchase orders, change orders, and service/vendor agreements.

Closing & Transaction Support Coordinate signatures, notarization, and document execution (including e-signature platforms such as DocuSign). Draft and coordinate estoppels and SNDAs with tenants and lender’s counsel. Order and track title commitments, surveys, zoning letters, and certificates, and coordinate curative deliverables. Assist with UCC and lien searches/filings, good standing certificates, and entity documentation. Track critical dates; compile closing binders and post-closing deliverables.

Process, Systems, & Collaboration Interface with project managers, construction, development, and finance to align legal deliverables with project schedules.

Skills & Competencies Drafting precision : Maintains excellent grammar and formatting; integrates negotiated changes cleanly. Detail orientation : Tracks dozens of dates, exhibits, and requirements without losing the thread. Project management : Uses proactive checklists, follows through, and manages deadlines. Stakeholder communication : Uses clear, professional coordination across internal teams and external parties. Issue spotting : Flags deviations from templates (insurance limits, indemnity, warranty, lien waivers). Confidentiality & judgment : Handles sensitive information with discretion.

Qualifications 2+ years as a legal assistant, contracts specialist, or paralegal role, preferably in real estate development or construction. Strong experience with contract drafting/formatting. Familiarity with title/survey processes, closing checklists, and entity documentation. Proficiency with Microsoft 365 (Word styles/TOC, Excel trackers, Outlook, SharePoint/OneDrive) and e-signature platforms (e.g., DocuSign, Adobe Sign).

Preferred Qualifications Experience with AIA forms and construction contract structures (lump sum, GMP, cost-plus). Notary Public commission (or willingness to obtain). Paralegal certificate or associate’s degree

Work Environment Office-based

All salary estimates are provided by LinkedIn, not Phoenix. Phoenix is committed to offering a competitive salary based on experience.