Commercial Real Estate Paralegal (Leasing) — Part-Time, Remote (1099)

Commercial Real Estate Paralegal (Leasing) — Part-Time, Remote (1099)

Location: Remote (NY metro area preferred) | Type: Independent contractor, hourly | Hours: Approximately 10–20 per week, varying with deal flow | Rate: $45–$65 per hour, commensurate with experience

About us

We are a third-generation, family-owned commercial real estate enterprise operating a retail portfolio of roughly 30 properties and 500,000 square feet across the New York metro area, with in-house legal, property management, and construction management functions. We are deliberately modernizing how the work gets done: our lease documentation runs on a structured, AI-assisted drafting framework built in-house, and this role operates it.

The role

You will run the lease documentation function end to end for an active retail portfolio, working directly with the principal (a practicing attorney) inside a defined framework of master leases, a negotiation playbook, and clear escalation rules. This is a role for a precise, self-directed paralegal who wants real ownership of a documentation practice, genuine schedule flexibility, and a modern toolkit, not a seat in a document mill.

What you'll do

• Draft leases, modifications, assignments, and related documents from our master framework based on deal terms sheets.

• Triage incoming redlines against the negotiation playbook: resolve issues with pre-approved fallbacks, and summarize anything novel in a concise exceptions memo for the principal's decision.

• Manage execution paperwork through signing; prepare lease abstracts post-execution.

• Run credit reports on prospective tenants; maintain organized legal files by property and matter.

• Prepare standard notices (rent demands, notices to cure, terminations) for the principal's approval, and coordinate day to day with outside landlord-tenant counsel on enforcement matters: assembling document packages, tracking court dates and deadlines, reporting status.

• Administer the tax certiorari process: documentation, filing deadlines, and follow-up with outside tax counsel.

• Maintain the currency of templates and playbook materials as they evolve.

• Log hours by matter.

What we're looking for

• 3+ years of commercial real estate paralegal experience with significant leasing work; landlord-side and retail experience strongly preferred.

• Familiarity with New York commercial leasing practice; exposure to landlord-tenant proceedings a plus.

• Exacting document management habits and proven remote work discipline: you meet turnaround commitments without supervision.

• Genuine comfort working with AI-assisted drafting tools. We provide the framework and training; you bring accuracy, judgment about what needs a human flag, and willingness to work inside a structured system.

• Clear, economical written communication. The exceptions memo is the core work product: one page that lets a decision get made.

How we work

• Fully remote with a weekly video check-in and direct access to the principal during active deals.

• Defined service levels: first drafts within two business days of a completed terms sheet; redline triage within three.

• Hours flex with deal volume. We review logged hours together after six months and right-size the engagement on data, in either direction.