Description:

General Description:
Staff Legal Counsel is responsible for various duties within the bank's legal department. This includes handling and reviewing consumer and commercial bankruptcies, as well as researching and advising bank management and personnel on a range of legal issues within the scope of bank business operations. Additionally, Staff Legal Counsel keeps the Managing Director of Legal Department, and the Chief Risk Officer informed concerning developments within their area of responsibility.

Essential Duties:

Responsible for reviewing and handling a diverse range of consumer and commercial bankruptcy cases from multiple jurisdictions. Duties include filing proofs of claim, submitting various motions to the bankruptcy court, assessing court treatment of loans, collaborating with outside legal counsel, and providing recommendations on the appropriate handling of specific cases. This duty is performed about 25% of the time.
Reviews new and existing lending transactions to ensure all required documentation for loan file closing is complete. Focuses on loan documents prepared by outside legal counsel and reviews due diligence materials, including real estate title information, flood certificates, appraisals, surveys, lien searches, and documents related to the borrowing entity. This duty is performed about 25% of the time.
Reviews new and existing contractual agreements affecting the bank as determined by the Managing Director of Legal Department. Ensures all documentation has been received and reviewed to close the transactions, focusing specifically on ensuring that the contractual agreement meets all policy and procedures of the bank and seeks necessary internal approval when required. This duty is performed about 20% of the time.
Researches and advises bank associates regarding a variety of legal issues and challenges facing a financial institution as necessary for improvement of the bank's policies, procedures, and documentation. This duty is performed about 15% of the time.
Responsible for curing defects in documentation as necessary to properly resolve legal issues in connection with lending and deposit transactions, which may not be available in the bank's standard documentation software programs and documenting any discrepancies found and/or the documentation needed for all incomplete files that do not fall within the guidelines of bank or loan approval. This duty is performed about 10% of the time.
Assists the Special Assets Department and Collections Departments in working through certain workout and foreclosure files at the direction of the Managing Director of Legal Department. This duty is performed about 5% of the time.
Maintains regular and reliable attendance, punctuality and personal appearance. Reads, writes, and communicates in a clear and efficient manner via various types of correspondence, such as, in person, phone, email, letters, etc. Adheres to all company policies and procedures, as well as all applicable banking rules, regulations, and laws (including BSA/AML).
Performs any other related duties as required or assigned.

Education and Experience Requirements:

High school diploma or GED
A J.D. Degree (Law) is required, plus a minimum of 3 years relative experience
Regular use of desktop/laptop computer, basic operating systems, and specialized software systems
Basic experience with alphanumeric data entry, PowerPoint, Excel, and Word Processing
Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide

Physical Requirements:
The following physical activities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations.

Semi-repetitive and low physical activities.
Semi-repetitive type work which requires periods of concentration for varied time cycles as prescribed by the tasks.
Frequently required to talk or hear; regularly required to sit, use hands to handle or feel, reach with hands and arms; and occasionally required to stand, walk, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
Occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Additional Requirements:
Occasional travel and some overnight stays may be required.