Associate Operations Counsel (Remote Opportunity)

First American; Athens (GA); Remote; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

First American seeks an Associate Operations Counsel to provide in-house legal and regulatory guidance for mortgage servicing and origination. You will draft contracts and policies, research regulations, and advise operations teams on compliance.

The role requires a law degree, admission to the US bar, and experience with RESPA/Reg X and related mortgage servicing rules.

Qualifications

• Juris doctor degree required and active bar status.
• Experience with residential mortgage servicing regulations and documentation.
• Ability to translate regulatory requirements into practical documents and workflows.
• Strong legal research and analytical skills.
• Ability to work independently and with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide in-house legal and regulatory advice on mortgage servicing and origination.
• Draft contracts, policies and product forms.
• Research and interpret federal/state mortgage servicing laws and regulations.
• Review, develop and maintain mortgage servicing documents and forms.
• Collaborate with operations, product, technology, and compliance teams to address servicing documentation questions.
• Engage with regulators and management on changes in applicable law.

Skills

Mortgage servicing regulations

Reg X (RESPA)

Reg Z (TILA)

Documentation review

Legal research

Written & verbal communication

MS Office

Education

Law Degree

Admitted to practice law in the US

Licensed to practice law, in good standing

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

They are passionate about what they do, and we are equally passionate about fostering an environment where all feel welcome, supported, and empowered to be innovative and reach their full potential. We have also earned awards as a best place to work for women, diversity and LGBTQ+ employees, and have been included on more than 50 regional best places to work lists.

Associate Operations Counsel provides in-house legal and regulatory advice relative to topics affecting the mortgage servicing and origination industry, particularly around mortgage servicing document requirements; provides legal counsel to operational teams; drafts contracts, policies and product forms; occasionally interfaces with regulatory authorities and reports to management on changes in applicable law and regulatory trends in the industry.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate the business objectives of the Division(s) supported and Company by providing timely and effective legal support while minimizing potential legal exposure and risk.
• Provide practical, timely, and high-quality legal counsel and guidance to the Company divisions and departments supported, with a primary focus on mortgage servicing documentation and regulatory compliance.
• Research and interpret federal and state mortgage servicing laws, regulations, and investor requirements to ensure servicing documents, forms, and related processes remain compliant.
• Review, develop, and maintain mortgage servicing documents and forms, ensuring accuracy and compliance with applicable regulatory and investor requirements.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory changes and evaluate their potential impact on mortgage servicing documents, systems, and business processes.
• Partner with internal operations, product, technology, and compliance teams to address servicing documentation questions, support product enhancements, and implement regulatory changes.
• Work with clients' legal and compliance contacts to research and resolve mortgage servicing-related questions and concerns.

Qualifications

• Law Degree required.
• Admitted to practice law in the US.
• Licensed to practice law, in good standing.
• Direct experience with residential mortgage servicing regulations, compliance, and documentation.
• Working knowledge of Regulation X (RESPA), Regulation Z (TILA), and applicable federal and state mortgage servicing requirements.
• Experience researching, reviewing, or developing mortgage servicing documents, forms, and borrower communications.
• Familiarity with government agency and investor requirements affecting mortgage servicing.
• Ability to interpret complex regulatory requirements and translate them into practical documentation, system, or operational solutions.
• Comfortable performing detailed, hands-on legal research and documentation review while working independently and collaboratively with business teams.
• Developed legal research, written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products.

First American will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest or conviction records, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws (e.g., First American reasonably believes that a criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following material job duties for this position potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment: handling of confidential, proprietary or trade secret information belonging to First American or its customers, administrating or facilitating financial transactions, and the ability to meet customer-imposed criminal history requirements.

Based on eligibility, First American offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401k, PTO/paid sick leave and other great benefits like an employee stock purchase plan.