Senior Legal Assistant

Description and Requirements
Role Value Proposition:
MetLife, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world's leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. We're united by our purpose to help our customers and each other create a confident future; we're guided by empathy; and we're inspired by each other to make a difference in the lives of our coworkers, customers, communities, and the world at large. At MetLife, it's #AllTogetherPossible. Join us!
Legal Affairs - Building confident futures is at the center of all our work at MetLife. In Legal Affairs, that means empowering our trusted advisors and advocates to focus on what's possible while safeguarding MetLife's global interests. Collaborating with each other and our businesses around the globe, we support innovative solutions while protecting our customers, employees, communities, and shareholders. And we work in an environment founded on integrity, trust, candor, and respect, where new challenges and diverse perspectives are encouraged and celebrated.
We are seeking an experienced paralegal to join the in-house Legal Services Team of paralegals and administrative associates to support MetLife's Government and Legal Affairs department to work closely with our Investments attorneys. This paralegal position will support attorneys and professionals across the Law Department, including our Whippany Real Estate Investments Unit servicing the Northeastern Territory of MetLife. The Unit handles a host of real estate matters, including mortgage loan origination and servicing, equity property acquisitions and dispositions, joint venture formation and servicing, leasing, entity maintenance, real estate related bankruptcy, and foreclosures. The role may also support other enterprise units and national/multi-national projects. This self-motivated paralegal will aid with a wide range of activities and primarily support the Real Estate Investments' legal team, Business Partners, and Legal Services Team initiatives. We expect that this role will support workflow for many of the asset classes supported by the Investments Law Department.
The successful candidate will possess excellent legal research and legal systems proficiencies with strong attention to detail, highly adaptable, display legal acumen and good judgment. Prepares first drafts of basic agreements and negotiates routine agreements with supervision. Prepares periodic reports and fulfills audit requests. Occasional research of legal codes and statutes. Excellent organizational and administrative skills including Word, PowerPoint and Excel required. Relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Ability to handle multiple projects independently and under the general supervision of attorneys; meet deadlines, produce quality deliverables and be a strong team player. Ability to identify trends and opportunities to develop strategies and implement solutions to improve tools, systems and processes. Reports to an on-site attorney and an off-site manager of paralegals.
Key Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and manage real estate transaction closings, closing binders and post-closing matters, draft and negotiate confidentiality agreements, loan modifications, satisfactions, participations and releases, purchase and sale documents
• Analyze and summarize debt and equity transaction documents, including amendments
• Ability to execute legal research under direction of attorney - locating and providing copy of statute or case
• Maintain corporate entities, digital minute books, entity libraries
• Assist with Corporate Secretary's Office quarterly entity reports, IR/PIR forms, audits
• Respond to requests from business partners, external counsel, third party vendors
• Demonstrated strong attention to details, organization and proofreading of documents
• Prepare redlines electronically and manually when needed
• Assist with document filing and database maintenance of files, project tracking
• Notary status will be required for this position to notarize closing documents

Essential Business Experience and Technical Skills:
Required:

• 5+ years of paralegal experience; corporate or real estate law preferred.
• Ability to independently perform various aspects of research and analysis.
• Highly motivated and adaptable.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organization and time management skills; strong attention to detail and project prioritization.
• Solution-oriented, dependable and cooperative.
• Strong record of success in collaborating with diverse personalities and operating in a team environment.
• Interest in knowledge sharing and coaching of junior paralegals.
• Unquestionable ethical and professional judgment; as well as the ability to work with confidential documents and information.
• Highly versed with technology, works optimally in fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365, Litera, Westlaw, LexisNexis.

Preferred:

• Paralegal certificate and/or college degree preferred.
• Commissioned Notary Public preferred or willingness and ability to obtain commission.
• Experience in GEMS, Backshop, Intralinks, ProDeal, CTAdvantage, iManage is a plus.

At MetLife, we're leading the global transformation of an industry we've long defined. United in purpose, diverse in perspective, we're dedicated to making a difference in the lives of our customers.
The salary range for applicants for this position is 73000 - 97400.
Benefits We Offer
Our U.S. benefits address holistic well-being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families. We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no-cost short- and long-term disability. We also provide company-paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, as well as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs, parental leave, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more!
About MetLife
Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the 2024 "World's Most Admired Companies", Fortune World's 25 Best Workplaces™ for 2024, as well as the 2025 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For ®, MetLife , through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world's leading financial services companies; providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. With operations in more than 40 markets, we hold leading positions in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Our purpose is simple - to help our colleagues, customers, communities, and the world at large create a more confident future. United by purpose and guided by empathy, we're inspired to transform the next century in financial services. At MetLife, it's #AllTogetherPossible . Join us!
MetLife is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are made without regards to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status (although applicants and employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States), uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law ("protected characteristics").
If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at [email protected]. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application process.
MetLife maintains a drug-free workplace.
73000 - 97400
#BI-Hybrid