Law Clerk/ Claims Handler

First American; Oakville; Hybrid; CAD 67,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangements

EFAP

Wellness plan with company match

Paid holidays and generous PTO

Stock purchase plan

Job summary

FCT is seeking a Law Clerk/Claims Handler to assess title insurance claims for residential and commercial properties across Canada (excluding Quebec). You will determine coverage positions, communicate with property owners, lawyers, and lenders, and coordinate with outside counsel and experts.

The role emphasizes accuracy, regulatory knowledge, and timely response. You will autonomously apply coverage positions, manage multiple files, and maintain robust documentation while working in a

Qualifications

• Law Clerk designation from Ontario post-secondary institution.
• Minimum 5-10 years of experience as a real estate law clerk in a firm or title insurance environment.
• Strong knowledge of Ontario Land Titles System and terminology.
• Strong ability to read and understand Ontario title searches and identify title defects.
• Familiarity with building and zoning regulations and land use laws.
• Strong ability to read and understand surveys.
• Excellent ability to prioritize tasks and highly organized.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and claims file management software.

Responsibilities

• Investigate, assess and manage title insurance claims.
• Communicate coverage options and exclusions to customers and internal partners.
• Determine and communicate claim resolution options and involve third parties as needed.
• Negotiate settlements and release provisions; review files for potential recovery.
• Review and authenticate new title claims for accuracy across Canada (excluding Quebec).
• Maintain service levels with retained third parties and meet deadlines.
• Identify potential business concerns and escalate as needed.
• Post financial transactions and maintain file management processes.

Skills

Law Clerk designation

Real estate experience

Ontario Land Titles

Title search interpretation

Building & zoning regs

Microsoft Office

Negotiation skills

Attention to detail

Education

Ontario Law Clerk designation

Tools

Claims file management software

Job description

Company Summary

Come work for a company that is committed to the success of each and every employee. A place where innovators and collaborators come together and build on each other's talents. Where diversity is welcomed and celebrated. FCT provides industry-leading title insurance, default solutions and other real estate related products and services to legal, lending, valuation and real estate professionals across Canada. With FCT, you will have the opportunity to build a meaningful career. Join us as we continue to do exciting work and make a big impact on our colleagues, customers and communities.

Job Summary

We are continually searching for great talent; individuals who possess a deep commitment to the customers and markets we serve. If you would like to join a company that is committed to the success of each employee and offers challenge, purpose and the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally in a team-oriented environment, you'll enjoy a career with us! We understand that fostering a diverse and inclusive environment is critical for the success of our business, and we actively work towards it every day. As a Law Clerk/Claims Handler you will be responsible for high level decision-making, assessing title insurance claims on behalf of property owners and lenders. In your role as a Law Clerk/Claims Handler, you will be required to independently determine and apply appropriate coverage positions for residential, commercial and loan policies accounting for the varying regulatory requirements in all provinces and territories across Canada (excluding Quebec). As a Law Clerk/Claims Handler, you will:

Here’s how you’ll contribute:

• Investigate, assess and manage claims made under the title insurance policies, including but not limited to claims related to title defects, survey issues, building and zoning matters.
• Communicate with our customers (including property owners, lawyers and lenders, as well as all internal business partners) the coverage available under the respective policies and accurately identify the applicable exceptions and exclusions to coverage relating to the title insurance policies.
• Determine and communicate claim resolution options and retain and instruct third party experts as needed (i.e. outside counsel, adjusters, appraisers etc.)
• Negotiate settlements and release provisions and conduct review of files for potential recovery.
• Review and authenticate new title claims relating to various areas of coverage across Canada (excluding Quebec) for accuracy
• Initiate contact with the claimant within timelines required to meet service levels
• Determine and communicate next steps by applying Provincial/Territorial knowledge as well as identifying the correct area of coverage applicable to each claim
• Retain and instruct external professionals as needed (adjuster, lawyer, surveyor, appraiser, contractors etc.).
• Manage service levels of retained third parties to ensure they are aligned with FCT's service levels
• Correspond and communicate with customers regarding decisions, timelines, options under the policy, etc.
• Analyze third party reports including legal opinions, surveys, appraisals etc. for accuracy, coverage determination or to assist with determining next steps in the claim resolution process.
• Communicate denied claims with internal business partners and external parties as required
• Negotiate settlements and release provisions, and conduct review of files for potential recovery
• Manage escalations and disputes surrounding the coverage positions in a professional manner
• Identify potential business concerns with respect to a coverage position and elevate as needed
• Determine, set and maintain settlement and expense reserves
• Post financial transactions as required
• Follow standard internal guidelines and processes with respect to file management
• Maintain a flexible and co-operative approach towards changing business needs
• Communicate denied claims with internal business partners and external parties as required
• Maintain a flexible and co-operative approach towards changing business needs

Here’s what you’ll bring:

• Law Clerk designation from Ontario post-secondary institution
• Minimum 5-10 years of experience as a real estate law clerk in a firm and/or title insurance environment
• Strong knowledge of Ontario Land Titles System and terminology (knowledge of Land Tites systems across Canada would be considered an asset)
• Strong ability to read and understand Ontario title searches as well as identify title defects (ability to read title search for provinces across Canada would be considered an asset)
• Familiarity with building and zoning regulations and land use laws that affect real estate transactions
• Strong ability to read and understand surveys
• Ability to interpret and apply legal principles and decisions to specific real estate issues, claims, and transactions.
• Strong negotiation skills with the ability to make difficult decisions with confidence
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to investigate, collect, organize, analyze and disseminate significant amounts of information with extreme attention to detail
• Effective oral and written customer communication, oriented towards delivering a superior customer service experience even in circumstances that may be adverse
• Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple files in parallel and meet deadlines
• Ability to work independently as well as with a team
• Positive attitude and good team spirit evidenced through comfort in developing relationships with people throughout the company
• Excellent ability to prioritize tasks and highly organized
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook ...) and will need to use corporate claims file management and finance software platform daily

Here’s what sets us apart:

• Through mentoring, innovative tools, and a variety of programs that engage and reward, we empower each employee to be great and drive results.
• Comprehensive benefits that include Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) and Wellness Essentials Group retirement savings plan with company match
• Paid holidays and generous paid time off
• Hybrid work arrangements
• Paid volunteer opportunities and charitable donation matching
• Employee recognition programs that include referral incentives
• Potential for performance-based incentives
• The opportunity to participate in our stock purchase plan
• And more! *As per terms of the employment agreement

Total Direct Compensation: 66,700 - 81,700

Any pay range is in $CAD. The stated pay range reflects the total expected compensation for this role (e.g., base pay plus any expected incentives or allowances, where applicable)

For over a decade, FCT has been certified by the Great Place to Work® Institute as one of Canada’s best workplaces. We have also been recognized as a Top 50 Best Workplace in Canada, Best Workplaces in Canada for Women and Best Workplaces in Canada with Most Trusted Executive teams. In addition, FCT is recognized as one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers. By joining us, you will not only be part of an award-winning organization, you will be part of a workforce that is engaged and empowered to succeed.

Thank you for considering FCT. We look forward to meeting you.

We may use AI assisted tools to help screen or assess applications; however, all hiring decisions include human review. In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, a request for accommodation will be accepted as part of FCT’s hiring process. To avoid any delays in the recruitment process, if you require accommodation to apply, please provide your accommodation needs in advance. You may also be required to submit adequate medical/other documentation to Human Resources to support your request for accommodation.

FCT is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. All recruitment, hiring, placements, transfers, promotions, training, compensation, benefits, discipline, and other terms and conditions of employment will be on the basis of the qualifications of the individual regardless of race, colour, place of origin, ethnic origin, citizenship, handicap (including mental and physical disability), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, creed (religion), marital status, family status (being in a parent/child relationship), age, or any other basis prohibited by the applicable provincial or federal human rights legislation.

We are continually searching for great talent; individuals who possess a deep commitment to the customers and markets we serve. If you would like to join a company that is committed to the success of each employee and offers challenge, purpose and the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally in a team-oriented environment, you'll enjoy a career with us!