Construction Paralegal

Ghilotti Construction Company; Santa Rosa (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

GCC in Santa Rosa, CA seeks a Construction Paralegal to provide comprehensive legal and administrative support across estimating, contracts, finance, and operations. Responsibilities include contract risk review, regulatory compliance, governance, liens, disputes, and litigation support.

Strong focus on organization, documentation, and risk mitigation. Requires a Bachelor's degree in a legal-related field, 10–15 years paralegal experience (construction/corporate law preferred), and proficiency

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field required; Paralegal Certificate preferred.
• 10–15 years of paralegal experience, preferably in construction or corporate law.
• Strong organizational, communication, and document management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive legal and administrative support across estimating, contracts, finance, and operations.
• Draft, review, and negotiate owner construction contracts, subcontracts, and vendor agreements within risk parameters.
• Support licensing, registrations, and regulatory filings; track renewal requirements.
• Assist with governance activities, lien rights, notices, and payment recovery.
• Support outside counsel with litigation preparation and discovery responses.
• Prepare reports and summaries for management; maintain contract standards and playbooks.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Document management

Microsoft Office proficiency

Adobe Acrobat proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Paralegal Studies, Legal Studies, Business Administration, or related field

Paralegal Certificate (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe Acrobat

Job description

The primary purpose of the Construction Paralegal role is to provide comprehensive legal and administrative support to the corporation, including GCC’s estimating, contracts, finance, and construction operations. This position is responsible for contract risk review and negotiation, regulatory compliance, corporate governance support, claims and dispute administration, protecting lien rights and payment recovery, litigation support, legal research and executive risk reporting. The Construction Paralegal serves as a liaison between company leadership, project teams, and outside legal counsel while helping minimize legal and operational risk through effective organization, documentation, and compliance.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Maintain a high degree of accuracy, confidentiality, and attention to detail in all legal and administrative work.
• Draft, review, and negotiate owner construction contracts, subcontracts, vendor agreements, purchase orders, service agreements, amendments, and other commercial documents within GCC-approved risk parameters.
• Review contract modifications and change orders for consistency with contractual requirements.
• Assist with contractor licensing, corporate registrations, permits, and regulatory filings.
• Track expiration dates and renewal requirements for corporate licenses and registrations.
• Support corporate governance activities, including entity filings, resolutions, and corporate records.
• Monitor labor compliance documentation, certified payroll records, and regulatory reporting.
• Assist with mechanics' liens, stop payment notices, bond claims, preliminary notices, notices of completion, and lien releases.
• Research project documentation and compile chronologies relating to claims, disputes, or potential litigation.
• Collect, organize, and maintain legal documents, correspondence, project records, photographs, schedules, and electronic evidence.
• Coordinate responses to subpoenas, discovery requests, and other legal information requests.
• Assist outside legal counsel with litigation preparation, depositions, hearings, and trial support.
• Conduct legal and regulatory research related to construction law, employment matters, contracts, and compliance issues.
• Prepare reports, correspondence, legal summaries, and presentations for management.
• Coordinate document retention and legal recordkeeping in accordance with company policies.
• Develop and maintain contract standards, clause libraries, negotiation playbooks, and risk tracking tools.
• Maintain confidentiality of privileged, proprietary, and sensitive company information.
• Support achievement of company goals through cross-training and assisting other departments as needed

EQUIPMENT USE

• Telephone – Frequently
• Copier – Occasionally
• Computer - Frequently

SOFTWARE USE

Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat

QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION, AND/OR EXPERIENCE, LICENSES, AND CERTIFICATIONS

A Bachelor's degree in Paralegal Studies, Legal Studies, Business Administration, or a related field is required; a Paralegal Certificate is preferred. Candidates should have 10 to 15 years of paralegal experience, preferably in construction or corporate law, with strong organizational, communication, and document management skills. The ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain confidentiality, and demonstrate proficiency in Microsoft Office is essential.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Pre-employment background screening investigation results that are acceptable to GCC at GCC’s sole discretion.

• Background/security clearance.
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record.

MENTAL DEMANDS

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.Ability to apply mathematical concepts.Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, and factor analysis. Ability to define and document problems, collect data, and establish facts.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands 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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds.Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

GCC is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.