Underwriting Counsel

Job Description:

Summary:

Old Republic National Title Insurance Company is seeking a dynamic and knowledgeable Alabama-licensed real estate attorney to join our team as In-House Counsel. If you have 2–4 years of experience in real estate and business law and are looking for a role that combines legal expertise with business development, this could be the perfect fit for you!

In this role, you will have the opportunity to:

• Advise title agents and attorneys on complex real estate legal matters related to purchase and finance transactions.
• Provide underwriting support and expertise to company personnel, agents, and customers.
• Apply underwriting standards and guidelines within delegated authority limits to ensure smooth title insurance issuance and settlement services.
• Engage in business development, including networking with attorneys locally and out of state.
• Present at seminars and conferences, positioning yourself as a thought leader in real estate law.

To thrive in this position, you must have a strong understanding of Alabama real estate law and stay up to date on state statutes, regulations, and case law affecting title insurance underwriting. Additionally, you will play a key role in developing and delivering continuing legal education (CLE) presentations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Build strong relationships with attorney agents through in-person, email and phone contact.
• Provide proactive and timely response and resolution to title policy and endorsement underwriting queries, preferably respond the same business day.
• Actively manage any title, survey or other issues that arise in transactions to ensure accurate risk analysis.
• Collaborate with other ORT Underwriting Counsel and National Legal Department to share and discuss legal, transactional and title underwriting issues encountered on specific transactions.
• Ability to analyze complex legal issues quickly and accurately and articulate clear solutions.
• Ability to present in-depth continuing education presentations on title insurance and real property matters.
• Ability to prioritize, organize and manage multiple projects.

• Complies with Company policies, procedures, regulatory requirements and completes mandatory company compliance training by assigned deadlines.
• At a minimum, the ability to work during scheduled or core business hours, Monday through Friday.
• Dependable, reliable and punctual attendance is required, which may include in-office attendance or attendance at company, industry or other events that occur outside regular business hours.
• Prepare periodic customer bulletins and conduct periodic seminars with customers, agents and attorney clients on underwriting topics.
• Ability to accept supervision and direction, as well as constructive feedback.
• Demonstrates courtesy, flexibility, professionalism and is proactive and responsive to supervisor/manager, co-workers and customer needs and expectations.
• Other duties that may be assigned.

Knowledge and Skills Required:

• Juris Doctorate from an ABA accredited law school
• Active license to practice law in Alabama
• Minimum of two years of real estate and business law experience
• Background in and an understanding of Alabama real property law
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Basic computer skills including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook and Westlaw/Lexis
• Strong research, analytical and problem solving skills
• Ability to work in fast paced environment while successfully performing under extreme time constraints and meets prescribed deadlines
• Strong attention to detail with excellent organizational skills, with ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks and projects
• Ability to act independently with sound judgment and take initiative

Communication and Interpersonal Skills:

• Excellent professional written, verbal, listening and communication skills.
• Must be a personable, positive, and professional representative of the company.
• Ability to foster, develop and maintain professional and collaborative working relationships. Must be able to get along with others, i.e., peers, employees, supervisors, outside customers, and vendors. Lead by positive example.
• Ability to collaborate and interact effectively and professionally with all levels of management, employees and customers by email, phone, video conferences and in person.
• Actively listens and is mindful of the role body language, gestures and other nonverbal actions can play in communication.

Physical/Mental Demands:

• The ability to work with confidential information.
• The ability to perform under pressure and be flexible with disruptions throughout the workday.
• Local/daily travel by automobile and overnight business travel by air and/or automobile, may be required.

#LI-MO1

Benefits may include:

• Comprehensive medical, prescriptions, dental and vision plans

• 401(k) plan with a discretionary company match

• Shareholder Purchase and Reinvestment Plan

• Basic life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance premium paid by the company

• Voluntary supplemental life insurance for employees, spouses and dependent children

• Fertility and Family Building Benefits

• Paid Disability benefits

• Paid time off programs

• 11 Company paid holidays per year

• Flexible spending account

• Health savings account (available to High Deductible Health Plan participants only)

• Employee Assistance Program

• Educational Assistance Program

• Voluntary benefits, such as Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Pet Insurance and Accident Insurance

• Title insurance policies and certain escrow services for the employee’s primary personal residence at no charge

• Transportation benefit plan for mass transit, parking and vanpool, in several markets

Note: If you currently are employed by Old Republic Title (or one of its wholly owned affiliated companies) please get in touch with your human resources representative regarding the application process.

Old Republic Title is an Equal Opportunity Employer