Paralegal - Construction and Litigation

Ryan Companies US; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Ryan Companies US in Minneapolis seeks a Construction Law Paralegal to support three attorneys and cross-functional project teams nationwide. The role combines legal strategy with field operations, providing comprehensive contract and risk management across the full project lifecycle.

You will draft, review, and negotiate Owner-Contractor, GMP, MSAs, and architect agreements; manage subcontractor MSAs and POs; lead eDiscovery; assist with liens, waivers, and bond claims; mentor junior staff and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Legal Studies, Construction Management, or related field; ABA-approved Paralegal Certificate preferred.
• 5+ years of progressive paralegal experience, including real estate.
• Strong understanding of construction, development, and commercial real estate law.
• Ability to review titles, surveys, estoppels, SNDAs, and related documents.
• Excellent written communication for letters, closing documents, and legal correspondence.
• Proficiency with MS Office, e-discovery, and legal document management systems; Procore familiarity preferred.
• Experience with AI tools for contract analysis (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and track complex contracts including Owner-Contractor, GMP, MSAs, and architect agreements.
• Review subcontractor MSAs, PO's, and modifications based on local markets.
• Develop contract playbooks with standard language and risk thresholds.
• Assist attorneys with prelitigation letters, dispute management, lien notices, waivers, and bond claims.
• Lead eDiscovery processes including holds and subpoenas.
• Track warranties, claims, and close-out requirements; assist with licensing compliance.
• Provide training for Project Coordinators, Project Managers, and Superintendents; mentor junior staff.
• Support entity formations and real estate transactions as needed.
• Balance corporate governance tasks with multi-state project schedules; translate legal requirements for field teams.

Skills

Analytical skills

Multi-tasking

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Legal Studies/Construction Management or related field

ABA-approved Paralegal Certificate

Tools

Procore

MS Office

e-discovery software

Contract management systems

Job description

Job Description

The Construction Law Paralegal serves as a vital anchor within the legal department. This role is designed for a highly skilled, seasoned professional who can manage complex legal processes across the full lifecycle of construction with high autonomy and minimal supervision. The ideal candidate bridges the gap between legal strategy and field operations, collaborating cross-functionally with Project Managers, Preconstruction, Risk Management, and Leadership. In this pivotal role, you will provide comprehensive legal support to three construction attorneys and collaborate directly with operational and project teams across the country.

Key Responsibilities

Construction Project Pipelines

Serve as primary legal support to three construction attorneys and national construction project teams, managing substantive workflows across national construction project pipelines.

Contract Lifecycle & Project Support

• Draft & Negotiate: Draft, review, and track complex contracts, including Owner-Contractor agreements, Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) agreements, Master Service Agreements (MSAs), and architect/designer agreements.
• Subcontractor Management: Review and track subcontractor MSAs, purchase orders, and required modifications based on local market dynamics.
• Develop Contract Response Playbooks: Create, refine, and maintain institutional contracts playbooks featuring standard fallback language, risk thresholds, and pre-approved compromise positions to streamline negotiations across project teams.

Dispute Resolution & Litigation Support

• Prelitigation Risk Mitigation : Assist attorneys in drafting formal default/demand letters to subcontractors, managing punch-list and closeout disputes, and evaluating delay-related claims or schedule-extension documentation.
• Mechanic's Liens: Draft, track, and manage mechanic's lien notices, lien waivers, and bond claims across multiple jurisdictions to secure corporate payment rights.
• Litigation Management: Act as an internal liaison for outside counsel during pre-litigation disputes and active lawsuits.
• eDiscovery: Lead document collection, hold notices, and responses to subpoenas and formal discovery requests.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Warranties & Claims: Monitor, track, and process incoming warranty claims; collaborate with construction and operations teams to gather evidence and draft response strategies. Assist with project close-out requirements.
• Entity Licensing: Provide back up and support for licensing compliance for general contractor, and business licensing requirements across all regional operating markets.

Training & Mentorship

• Field Education: Conduct training sessions for Project Coordinators, Project Managers, and Superintendents on contract policies, lien law compliance, and proper project documentation.
• Team Leadership: Mentor and guide junior paralegals, legal assistants, and administrative staff within the legal department and across other parts of the organization through liaison with legal team.

Corporate & Real Estate Development Paralegal Support (As Needed)

• Assist with entity formations, foreign qualification filings, state annual reports, board resolutions, officer certificates, and corporate organizational charts.
• Provide transactional support for real estate development transactions.

Common Challenges in This Role

• Volume & Velocity: Balancing corporate-level governance tasks while keeping pace with fast-moving, multi-state construction project schedules.
• Bridging Communication Gaps: Translating legal requirements into actionable, practical guidance for field-based construction operations teams.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Legal Studies, Construction Management, or a related field; ABA-approved Paralegal Certificate highly preferred.
• Experience: 5+ years of progressive paralegal experience, including real estate.
• Technical Knowledge: Understanding of construction, development, and commercial real estate legal concepts and basic contract law; ability to interpret contracts to provide legal support and mitigate risk.
• Document Review: Ability to review and respond to title and survey, settlement statements, estoppels, SNDAs, listing and confidentiality agreements, and other basic legal documents.
• Writing: Superior writing skills for correspondence, title and survey objection letters, closing documents, and other legal documentation.
• Software Skills: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), legal document management, e-discovery, and corporate entity management systems and databases; familiarity with construction contract management platforms (e.g., Procore) preferred.
• Legal Tech & AI Proficiency (Preferred): Experience with legal AI tools, AI-powered contract analysis platforms (e.g., Kira, Document Draft), and generative AI assistants for drafting, contract review, and legal research.
• Core Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to multi-task and work within a defined scheduled).