Assistant Legal Counsel

New Jersey Schools Development Authority; Trenton (NJ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The New Jersey Schools Development Authority seeks an experienced real estate attorney to support Chief Counsel in real estate matters for school facilities projects. You will advise staff, manage outside counsel, and oversee title work to minimize risk and ensure regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities include reviewing grants, negotiating contracts, coordinating closings, and advising on claims and regulatory matters related to property acquisitions and dispositions.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of Eminent Domain Act and condemnation practice in New Jersey.
• Thorough understanding of real estate practice and the contractual relationships in purchase/sale.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong research, organizational and analytical abilities.
• Ability to organize and compose persuasive arguments.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on real estate related issues.
• Perform legal review of all NJSDA grants to SDA Districts and Regular Operating Districts.
• Serve as legal liaison in development and promulgation of NJSDA policies and SOPs.
• Manage legal functions relating to real property acquisitions under Eminent Domain Act for school projects.
• Prepare/review contracts for purchase and closing of title; advise on title issues.
• Coordinate and represent NJSDA at real estate title closings.
• Supervise outside counsel on condemnation proceedings and related litigation.
• Facilitate solutions to real estate related issues through coordination with staff and outside counsel.
• Coordinate with internal staff supporting construction, property management and financial functions.
• Assist Property Management with swing space leases and occupancy agreements.
• Assist Program Operations Teams in resolving property issues affecting school construction.
• Assist management in leasing NJSDA administrative office space.
• Negotiate, draft and analyze contracts ensuring legal compliance.
• Evaluate and advise on potential or actual claims against NJSDA; advise on claims.

Skills

Real estate law

Eminent Domain Act

Negotiation

Drafting & closing docs

Oral & written communication

Research & analysis

Persuasion

Education

Juris Doctor

New Jersey law/regulatory knowledge

Relocation Act knowledge

Environmental regulation knowledge

Trial/Litigation experience

Tools

Job description

Company Description

The New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) is the State agency responsible for fully funding and managing new construction, modernization, and renovation of school facilities in 31 SDA Districts. It also provides grants covering at least 40 percent of eligible costs for school facilities projects in New Jersey’s Regular Operating Districts. The SDA’s active project portfolio is valued at approximately $2 billion and includes capital projects, emergent projects, and district grants. Since its inception, the SDA has supported more than 850 completed school facilities projects and executed over 5,400 grants statewide. Team members contribute to building state-of-the-art learning environments for New Jersey’s children in a mission-driven, public-service setting.

Role Description

Assist Chief Counsel and Deputy Chief Counsel in the management of legal issues involving real estate-related legal matters.Provide advice and counsel to NJSDA employees, including senior and executive management, regarding project-specific, program-wide administrative and regulatory matters and other legal issues.Effectively manage outside counsel to achieve positive outcomes and minimize the NJSDA’s litigation risk.Address day-to-day NJSDA legal issues and inquiries from external parties.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1.Provide legal advice on real estate related legal issues.

2.Perform legal review of all NJSDA grants to SDA Districts and Regular Operating Districts.

3.Serve as legal liaison in connection with the development and promulgation of NJSDA policies and Standard Operating Procedures.

4.Manage legal functions relating to the acquisition of real property under New Jersey Eminent Domain Act (N.J.S.A. 20:3-1 et seq.) for school facility projects in furtherance of the New Jersey Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act (N.J.S.A. 18A:7G-1 et seq.), including negotiated land purchases arising therefrom.

5.Prepare/review contracts for purchase and all documents relating to closing of title, review reports of title and provide advice concerning the means of resolving title issues.

6.Coordinate and represent the NJSDA at real estate title closings.

7.Supervise outside counsel retained to perform condemnation proceedings in New Jersey Superior Court in accordance with the New Jersey Eminent Domain Act, coordinate litigation with outside counsel on assigned relocation, condemnation and environmental matters.

8.Facilitate solutions to legal issues involving real estate-related matters, including real property acquisition, disposition, management, relocation, temporary use, leases, swing space and easements through coordination of and among NJSDA staff, outside legal counsel and/or the Division of Law in the office of the Attorney General and other parties.

9.Coordinate with internal NJSDA staff responsible for construction, real property management and financial functions in support of outside counsel engaged on condemnation, property acquisition and disposition, relocation, title, litigation, environmental compliance, environmental cost recovery and other real estate-related matters.

10.Assist Property Management Division with respect to managing swing space leases, drafting occupancy agreements for the temporary use of NJSDA-owned real estate, and assistance with general property management and maintenance issues as necessary.

11.Assist Program Operations Teams in resolving property issues encountered in connection with school construction projects, including matters relating to encroachments, utility easements and connections, street vacations, green acres restrictions and compliance with NJ Department of Environmental Protection institutional control requirements.

12.Assist NJSDA management in the negotiation, drafting and analysis of documents related to the leasing of NJSDA administrative office space.

13.Negotiate draft and analyze contracts and other documents, assuring legal compliance as required.

14.Evaluate and advise senior management concerning potential or actual claims by NJSDA, and advise NJSDA concerning claims asserted against it.

15.Draft legal memoranda and memoranda to the NJSDA Board.

16.Keep current on legislative issues, statutes, decisions and ordinances affecting or of interest to NJSDA; provide legal review and comment regarding proposed legislation impacting the NJSDA.

17.Review and respond to efforts to lien NJSDA-owned real property, projects or contracts.

18.Assist with the drafting of new and revised NJSDA regulations.

Required Skills and Abilities

1.Well versed in all aspects of legal issues pertaining to the voluntary real estate acquisition process including, title issues, New Jersey closing practices, settlement preparation, contract negotiations, and drafting of closing documentation.

2.Well versed in all aspects of legal issues pertaining to the acquisition of real property interests through the condemnation process of the Eminent Domain Act of 1971.

3.Thorough understanding of real estate practice and the contractual relationships that exist between parties to real estate purchase and sale contract and the obligations of each.

4.Excellent oral and written communication skills.

5.Excellent research, organizational and analytical skills.

6.Ability to organize and compose arguments to persuade and influence others.

Required Education and Experience

1.Juris Doctor Degree required.Two (2) to five (5) years legal experience preferred.

2.Thorough knowledge of the Eminent Domain Act and condemnation practice in New Jersey and its case law required, trial experience preferred.

3.Knowledge of New Jersey Relocation Act (N.J.SA. 20:4-1 et seq.), Relocation Assistance Law (N.J.S.A. 52:31B-1 et seq.) and Regulations for Provision of Relocation Assistance (N.J.A.C. 5:11-1 et seq.).

4.Extensive experience in negotiating contracts of purchase and sale as well as familiarity with commercial real estate leases and leasing issues.

5.Knowledge of the Brownfields and Contaminated Site Remediation Act, N.J.S.A. 58:10B-1 et seq. and brownfields redevelopment projects.

6.Litigation and ADR experience preferred.

7.Familiarity with environmental law preferred, including New Jersey Spill Compensation and Control Act (N.J.S.A. 58:10-23.11 et seq.); the Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) which was amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) on October 17, 1986 and experience with environmental litigation including cost recovery legal proceedings.

Physical Demands

Minimal

Certificates and Licenses Required

Licensed to practice law in the State of New Jersey

Salary Range

$120,000-130,000

The NJ Schools Development Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions at the NJ Schools Development Authority are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations.