First Legal Foreclosure Attorney

The Howard Law Group; Boca Raton (FL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Howard Law Group in Boca Raton seeks a First Legal Attorney to ensure every matter leaving the firm meets accuracy, sufficiency, and compliance standards. You will review complaints, assess title issues, respond to title claims, and support foreclosure and real estate practice in a fast-paced environment.

The role requires attention to detail, a solid understanding of Florida foreclosure and real estate law, and proactive communication with paralegals and supervising attorneys.

Qualifications

• Active member in good standing of the Florida Bar.
• Minimum 1–3 years of experience in Florida foreclosure, real property, or creditor-side real estate law.
• Working knowledge of Florida foreclosure procedure from referral through final judgment and sale.
• Demonstrated experience reviewing foreclosure complaints, pleadings, and/or real estate title.
• Familiarity with Florida title examination standards, chain-of-title analysis, and common title defects.
• Strong analytical and legal writing skills; ability to identify issues and communicate them clearly and concisely.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 (Word, Outlook, Excel, Teams); comfortable working across multiple case management and document platforms.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple reviews simultaneously in a high-volume environment.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with attorneys and paralegal staff.

Responsibilities

• Review foreclosure complaints prepared by paralegals for legal sufficiency, factual accuracy, proper party identification, and compliance with Florida Rules of Civil Procedure and applicable court requirements.
• Confirm that all exhibits, attachments, and supporting documents (notes, mortgages, assignments, allonges) are properly attached and legally sufficient prior to filing.
• Identify deficiencies, missing documentation, or threshold legal issues and communicate corrections to the paralegal team with clear, actionable direction.
• Verify standing, proper plaintiff identification, and chain of assignment prior to complaint approval.
• Serve as the signing or reviewing attorney of record on complaints requiring attorney certification.
• Conduct or supervise review of title search reports, O&E reports, and foreclosure title packages to identify parties to be joined, lien priority issues, chain-of-title defects, and encumbrances requiring resolution.
• Analyze chain-of-assignment of mortgage, intervening liens, HOA/COA claims, tax certificates, and other title matters affecting the foreclosure or closing.
• Prepare or review title examination memoranda summarizing findings, required parties, and recommended action.
• Coordinate with title agents, underwriters, and paralegals on title-related issues arising at any stage of the matter.
• Review title commitments in connection with post-foreclosure closings and REO transactions as needed.
• Assist with the evaluation, response, and resolution of title claims, including claims arising from alleged title defects, recording errors, lien disputes, and post-closing issues.
• Research applicable Florida statutes, case law, and title insurance standards relevant to claim resolution.
• Draft correspondence, legal memoranda, and curative documents in connection with title claims and defect resolution.
• Coordinate with title insurance underwriters on claim notifications, reservations of rights, and coverage positions.
• Support the managing attorney on complex curative matters, including quiet title actions and related litigation.
• Conduct legal research on foreclosure procedure, real property law, and related areas as assigned.
• Support the firm’s compliance obligations by ensuring files meet client guidelines and applicable legal standards.
• Collaborate with supervising attorneys, paralegals, and staff to advance files efficiently through each stage of the process.
• Communicate directly with clients on file-level legal questions as directed by the managing attorney.

Skills

Florida Bar

Foreclosure knowledge

Legal writing

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Microsoft 365

Client communication

Multi-tasking

Tools

Microsoft 365

Job description

About Howard LawHoward Law is a Boca Raton-based creditor-side real estate and foreclosure law firm with over a decade of experience representing lenders, servicers, and investors across Florida and Georgia. Grounded in our core values of Communication, Quality, and Aggressive Litigation, we deliver sophisticated legal representation on high-volume foreclosure dockets, complex title matters, and real estate transactions.

About the Role

As we continue to grow, we are seeking a skilled First Legal Attorney to join our team and serve as a critical checkpoint in the quality and integrity of our legal work. The First Legal Attorney is a front-line legal review role responsible for ensuring that every matter leaving the firm meets our standards for accuracy, legal sufficiency, and compliance before it advances. This attorney serves as the first substantive legal eye on incoming files - reviewing complaints, evaluating title, responding to title claims, and supporting the broader foreclosure and real estate practice. This is a practitioner’s role for an attorney who is detail-oriented, well-versed in Florida foreclosure and real estate law, and comfortable working within a fast-paced, high-volume environment. The ideal candidate takes ownership of their work, communicates proactively, and understands that quality at the front end prevents complications down the line.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Complaint Review & First Legal Sign-Off

• Review foreclosure complaints prepared by paralegals for legal sufficiency, factual accuracy, proper party identification, and compliance with Florida Rules of Civil Procedure and applicable court requirements.
• Confirm that all exhibits, attachments, and supporting documents (notes, mortgages, assignments, allonges) are properly attached and legally sufficient prior to filing.
• Identify deficiencies, missing documentation, or threshold legal issues and communicate corrections to the paralegal team with clear, actionable direction.
• Verify standing, proper plaintiff identification, and chain of assignment prior to complaint approval.
• Serve as the signing or reviewing attorney of record on complaints requiring attorney certification.

Title Review & Examination

• Conduct or supervise review of title search reports, O&E reports, and foreclosure title packages to identify parties to be joined, lien priority issues, chain-of-title defects, and encumbrances requiring resolution.
• Analyze chain of assignment of mortgage, intervening liens, HOA/COA claims, tax certificates, and other title matters affecting the foreclosure or closing.
• Prepare or review title examination memoranda summarizing findings, required parties, and recommended action.
• Coordinate with title agents, underwriters, and paralegals on title-related issues arising at any stage of the matter.
• Review title commitments in connection with post-foreclosure closings and REO transactions as needed.

Title Claims & Curative Work

• Assist with the evaluation, response, and resolution of title claims, including claims arising from alleged title defects, recording errors, lien disputes, and post-closing issues.
• Research applicable Florida statutes, case law, and title insurance standards relevant to claim resolution.
• Draft correspondence, legal memoranda, and curative documents in connection with title claims and defect resolution.
• Coordinate with title insurance underwriters on claim notifications, reservations of rights, and coverage positions.
• Support the managing attorney on complex curative matters, including quiet title actions and related litigation.

General Legal Support

• Conduct legal research on foreclosure procedure, real property law, and related areas as assigned.
• Support the firm’s compliance obligations by ensuring files meet client guidelines and applicable legal standards.
• Collaborate with supervising attorneys, paralegals, and staff to advance files efficiently through each stage of the process.
• Communicate directly with clients on file-level legal questions as directed by the managing attorney.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Active member in good standing of the Florida Bar.
• Minimum 1-3 years of experience in Florida foreclosure, real property, or creditor-side real estate law.
• Working knowledge of Florida foreclosure procedure from referral through final judgment and sale.
• Demonstrated experience reviewing foreclosure complaints, pleadings, and/or real estate title.
• Familiarity with Florida title examination standards, chain-of-title analysis, and common title defects.
• Strong analytical and legal writing skills; ability to identify issues and communicate them clearly and concisely.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 (Word, Outlook, Excel, Teams); comfortable working across multiple case management and document platforms.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple reviews simultaneously in a high-volume environment.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with attorneys and paralegal staff.

Required Skills

• Active member in good standing of the Florida Bar.
• Minimum 1-3 years of experience in Florida foreclosure, real property, or creditor-side real estate law.
• Working knowledge of Florida foreclosure procedure from referral through final judgment and sale.
• Demonstrated experience reviewing foreclosure complaints, pleadings, and/or real estate title.
• Familiarity with Florida title examination standards, chain-of-title analysis, and common title defects.
• Strong analytical and legal writing skills; ability to identify issues and communicate them clearly and concisely.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 (Word, Outlook, Excel, Teams); comfortable working across multiple case management and document platforms.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple reviews simultaneously in a high-volume environment.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with attorneys and paralegal staff.