In-House Counsel

Job Summary:

The In-House Counsel serves as an internal legal advisor for NCS Credit, providing strategic guidance and oversight across the company’s nationwide network of collection and construction attorneys. This role supports litigation paralegals and internal teams by advising on case strategy, reviewing legal processes, ensuring accountability and quality within the attorney network, and safeguarding client interests. This position provides legal direction, oversight, and education to internal staff and collaborates closely with external counsel across the United States and Canada. This role requires strong negotiation skills, assertiveness, and the ability to translate complex legal concepts into practical, client-focused guidance.

Essential Responsibilities:

· Provide strategic legal guidance to litigation paralegals managing collection and foreclosure portfolios.

· Oversee, cultivate, and expand NCS’s nationwide attorney network by identifying coverage gaps, recruiting and onboarding qualified firms, setting performance and reporting expectations, and ensuring matters progress appropriately and deadlines are met.

· Monitor outside counsel performance, address issues promptly, and maintain accountability to NCS standards, client requirements, and service expectations.

· Review outside counsel invoices for accuracy, reasonableness, and compliance with client billing guidelines.

· Serve as a legal resource to litigation paralegals and internal teams through coaching, training, and guidance on legal procedures and best practices.

· Respond to complex legal and procedural questions involving collections, foreclosure, mechanic’s liens, preliminary notices, and UCC matters.

· Review legal documents, case strategies, and non-routine matters, and provide practical recommendations and risk analysis.

· Identify and help mitigate legal and operational risks across portfolios.

· Participate in client calls and advise clients on legal options, risks, and likely outcomes, translating complex legal concepts into clear, business-focused guidance.

· Collaborate closely with Preliminary Notice, Mechanic’s Lien, and UCC teams to provide legal analysis, direction, and support on escalated or complex matters.

· Review case documentation for accuracy, compliance, and procedural sufficiency.

· Recommend and support process improvements that enhance quality, consistency, compliance, and efficiency.

· Stay current on statutes, case law, and regulations relevant to creditors’ rights, UCC, mechanic’s liens, foreclosure, and collections in the U.S. and Canada.

· Promote ethical, compliant, and best-practice legal processes across the organization.

· Perform other related duties as assigned.

Competencies:

· Strong negotiation and relationship-management skills, with the ability to influence outside counsel and clients effectively.

· Ability to set clear expectations, drive accountability, and maintain productive professional relationships.

· Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex legal issues to non-legal audiences.

· Strong judgment, analytical ability, and practical risk-assessment skills.

· Strong problem-solving, critical-thinking, and conflict-management skills.

· Ability to manage competing priorities, exercise sound judgment under pressure, and respond effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Education, experience, certifications:

· Licensed to practice law in Ohio and/or other U.S. jurisdictions, with multi‑state admission a plus.

· Eligibility to obtain additional state admissions as needed.

· 5 plus years’ experience practicing law and/or legal commercial collections preferred

· Knowledge of construction and bankruptcy law strongly preferred

· Experience working directly with clients

Physical and mental demands:

· Frequent typing and use of keyboard/mouse

· Near visual acuity

· Ability to present information clearly and communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, to management, clients, attorneys, and other staff members

· Prolonged sitting while viewing a computer monitor