Practice Support Lawyer, Real Estate & Lending

Gowling WLG; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental coverage

Mental health coverage

Lifestyle spending allowance

Vacation days

Parental leave top-up

Retirement savings plan

Disability & life insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Gowling WLG in Canada is seeking a PSL to support the Real Estate & Lending Practice Groups with knowledge, training, and innovation initiatives. The role focuses on enhancing client service, drafting and updating precedents, and coordinating training across offices and jurisdictions.

You will collaborate with the Department Chair and Legal Talent Team to manage knowledge assets, automation projects, and practice technology integration while helping deliver high-quality legal services.

Qualifications

• Licensed JD or LLB in good standing.
• Significant post-call experience at a global or national law firm.
• Expertise in Real Estate and Lending.
• Strong drafting, research, and communication skills.
• Ability to lead knowledge management and training initiatives.
• Comfort with AI, innovation, and legal tech.

Responsibilities

• Monitor jurisprudence and regulatory changes in Real Estate and Lending.
• Develop client and internal updates on key developments.
• Identify and implement technologies to improve efficiency.
• Partner with AI and Innovation teams to roll out tools.
• Create precedents, templates, and training materials.
• Collaborate with Knowledge Development and Practice Technology teams.

Skills

Real estate & lending expertise

Knowledge management

Training program design

Legal drafting

Analytical thinking

Change management

Education

JD or LLB (licensed)

Tools

Practice management software

AI in legal services

Job description

ABOUT GOWLING WLG

At Gowling WLG, our commitment to excellence begins with our people. As an international law firm with offices in Canada, the U.K., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, we are proud to recruit and retain top talent who bring energy, insight, and a singular focus on delivering exceptional experiences – for our clients and each other.

ABOUT GOWLING WLG

At Gowling WLG, our commitment to excellence begins with our people. As an international law firm with offices in Canada, the U.K., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, we are proud to recruit and retain top talent who bring energy, insight, and a singular focus on delivering exceptional experiences – for our clients and each other.
We’re intentional about building a workplace that’s both high-performing and supportive, ensuring that everyone is empowered to do their best work and reach their full potential. Our culture is grounded in our shared values: Raise the Bar, Embrace Differences, and Thrive Together. These values shape how we collaborate, lead, and succeed – across teams, time zones, and career paths.
Whether you’re pursuing a role in law or business services, explore what’s possible and make your mark with Gowling WLG.

PROFILE

The Real Estate & Banking Department’s Practice Support Lawyer (“PSL”) is a key contributor to Gowling WLG’s A.I., Innovation, and Knowledge strategy, enhancing the efficiency, technical quality, and client service of our large and well-established Real Estate and Lending Practice Groups spanning several offices across Canada. Embedded within the Real Estate & Banking Department, the ideal candidate is proactive, committed to excellence, and able to build strong working relationships across all levels and jurisdictions.
In collaboration with the Department Chair, Practice Group Leaders, Legal Talent Team, and Director of Knowledge & Practice Support, the PSL captures, develops, and leverages the collective expertise of our Real Estate and Lending Practice Groups encompassing a wide range of transactional, advisory, and financing work. The role focuses on supporting internal projects that improve client service and operational efficiency, as well as creating and managing know-how, precedents, and training programs. This career path suits experienced lawyers who are passionate about managing knowledge, collaboration, and innovative approaches to legal service delivery in the identified practice areas.
This position can be based in any office in Canada and requires hybrid attendance in the office.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The role is broad, cross-jurisdictional, and priorities may change from time to time, but typically involves some, or all of:

Legal and Technical Support

• Monitor relevant jurisprudence and legislative and regulatory changes in the Real Estate and Lending Practice Groups.
• Develop and distribute client and internal updates on key developments, new cases, and emerging trends.
  

Innovation and Process Improvement

• Identify and implement modern technologies and processes that improve efficiency and enhance legal service delivery.
• Partner with the A.I. and Innovation teams to assess and roll out tools that leverage automation, data, and A.I. capabilities.
• Contribute to firm-wide innovation projects, helping to integrate digital transformation across Departments.
  

Training and Learning

• Design and deliver training programs for lawyers and students on substantive legal topics, precedents, and practice tools.
• Support Learning & Development by coordinating technical and professional training initiatives within the Real Estate and Lending Practice Groups.
  

Client and Business Development Support

• Collaborate with members of the Real Estate and Lending Practice Groups and Business Development to prepare thought leadership content, client alerts, presentations, and publications.
• Assist in the preparation of client materials, proposals, and other strategic initiatives that showcase the expertise of the Real Estate and Lending Practice Groups.
• Support the delivery of client seminars and innovation workshops.
  

Knowledge Development and Management

• Create, maintain, and update model precedents, templates, and checklists relevant to the Real Estate and Lending Practice Groups.
• Develop and implement best practices to ensure knowledge is shared and easily accessible across the Real Estate and Lending Practice Groups.
• Lead efforts to automate and modernize precedents and matter workflows in collaboration with Gowling WLG’s Innovation and A.I. teams.
• Liaise with Practice Technology and Library Services to ensure the Real Estate and Lending Practice Groups have access to a comprehensive suite of practice technologies and relevant resources.
  

QUALIFICATIONS

• Licensed JD or LLB, in good standing.
• Significant post-call experience in a global or national law firm.
• Expertise in Real Estate and Lending.
• Exceptional ability to analyze and interpret complex legal concepts and convey them clearly and concisely.
• Strong business acumen, commercial awareness and strategic thinking.
• Curiosity and enthusiasm for A.I., innovation, legal technology, and continuous improvement.
• Strong legal drafting skills with extraordinary attention to detail.
• Excellent legal research skills.
• Outstanding oral and written communication and presentation skills.
• Proven ability to develop and manage knowledge assets and solutions.
• Solid experience in designing and delivering training programs.
• Proactive, able to manage own workload, set priorities and set and meet deadlines.
• Highly personable and collaborative mindset with the ability to quickly gain the confidence of legal professionals at all levels and influence without direct authority.
  

Benefits

Gowling WLG’s total rewards program is designed to foster a culture where high performance and personal well-being go hand-in-hand. We support your career and life with:

• 100% employer-paid health, dental, and mental health coverage, plus an annual lifestyle spending allowance
• Benefits coverage for Firm members and their dependents from day one
• 15+ vacation days and hybrid work flexibility
• Parental leave top-up for 26 weeks (after 12 months of full-time employment)
• Group Retirement Savings Plan with employer match
• Financial protection through short & long-term disability, life, accident & critical illness insurance
• Employee & Family Assistance Program, guided CBT, and an internal network of 120+ trained Mental Health First Aid responders
• Recognition awards, appreciation events, and a supportive, collaborative work culture
• Perks and preferred pricing programs, referral bonuses and more

The starting range for this role is $130,000 to $180,000. Starting salary will be determined based on location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, internal and market equity. Gowling WLG employees have the potential to exceed this range based on tenure and performance.

This position is currently vacant and is open to both internal and external candidates. Gowling WLG is recruiting for this role to support ongoing firm needs and team operations.

This employer may use tools within our applicant tracking system that include artificial intelligence–supported features, such as automated candidate matching. These tools do not make hiring decisions; all screening, assessments, and selections are reviewed and completed by human recruiters and hiring managers.

Gowling WLG is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you are in need of accommodation or support at any time during the recruitment process, please let us know.