Assistant General Counsel - Home Lending, Vice President

Join the Legal team advising an industry-leading Home Lending business at one of the world’s largest and most innovative banks. This rare opportunity offers the best of both worlds: you’ll be part of a world-class legal department while directly supporting mortgage loan originations. You’ll also have meaningful influence on mortgage and housing policy, with a front-row view into where mortgage law, title, and technology are headed.

As Counsel in the Home Lending Originations Legal Department, you will become a trusted mortgage banking lawyer and subject-matter expert on the federal and state law questions that touch every loan the firm originates. You will independently deliver product-level legal implementation support (requirements, documentation, controls) and loan-level problem-solving (issue spotting, escalation resolution), providing clear and consistent guidance while  partnering with Product, Risk, Controls and Compliance to drive legally sound, operationally practical, customer-centric outcomes.

You will also counsel the business on new initiatives and new technologies,translating legal requirements into a practical framework that enables the Business to move from requirements through all stages of implementation through launch and beyond. This role also carries a deep specialty in closing, title and funding, where some of the hardest and most interesting issues in residential real estate finance live. Beyond the day-to-day work, you will have the opportunity to engage on industry developments and emerging policy - the kinds of federal, state law, GSE, and regulatory shifts that shape how America acquires and finances homes. In this role you will have  a voice in the direction of the business in the US residential housing market.

The Legal Department at JPMorgan Chase & Co. manages legal and other risks, advises on products and services, interprets the laws and regulations that impact the firm, and counsels the firm on matters large and small. Our global team of more than 2,000 lawyers and legal professionals is known for thought leadership and best-in-class service. As trusted advisors, we help the firm’s clients succeed while safeguarding the integrity of the firm. We are committed to a culture of inclusivity and belonging, where people grow and succeed throughout their careers while doing cutting-edge work at a first-in-class financial institution. If these values resonate with you, we would like to hear from you.

Job Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary subject-matter expert on federal and state mortgage/consumer finance/real property law for the broader Home Lending Originations legal team, including escalated matters and federal and state law research. 

• Provide authoritative legal guidance on state-specific closing practices, disclosures and documentation, including for example, transfer tax and fee related inquiries, vesting and authority questions, marital property considerations and issues impacting the issuance and enforceability of lender’s title insurance.

• Lead team projects and legal review workstreams for assigned areas, driving clear decisions and consistent outcomes.

• Review, draft, and provide legal guidance on mortgage-related documents, forms, disclosures, policies, and procedures, ensuring alignment with applicable laws, regulatory expectations, and internal risk standards 

• Provide legal guidance to the Business and Sourcing in the onboarding and ongoing management of suppliers, including high-level contract review and negotiation support.

• Provide practical, authoritative guidance on closing and funding support, escrow, title, vesting matters, Consolidation, Extension and Modification Agreements (CEMAs), Texas 50(a)(6) home equity transactions, and other state-specific closing requirements.

• Support the development and launch of new mortgage products – partnering with Product, Servicing, Capital Markets, Risk, and Compliance on legal structure, disclosures, and investor requirements.

• Advise Product and Technology teams on the legal implications of the digital origination website and self-service closing tools, translating federal and state law and investor requirements into scalable product rules.

• Counsel the business on TCPA, state consumer-protection, and marketing and communications issues that intersect with the originations lifecycle, partnering with our Legal marketing and TCPA teams.

• Partner with Fraud, Operations, and Compliance on escalated matters involving suspected fraud, identity, and document irregularities arising at or near closing.

• Monitor and interpret federal and state legal developments, GSE and investor guidelines, and industry policy – translating change into clear, consistent, firm-wide guidance. Assist in the assessment of operational impact and advise stakeholders on required process, document, and control enhancements to maintain compliance.

Required Qualifications, Capabilities, and Skills

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) and active membership in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdictional bar. Attorney candidates must be in compliance with all relevant licensing requirements, including those of the jurisdiction where the role will be located, prior to commencement of employment.

• 3+ years of legal experience with a mortgage lender, bank, title company, or law firm, with meaningful exposure to residential mortgage originations.

• Working knowledge of mortgage closing and title support.

• Strong analytical, organizational, time-management, and written and oral communication skills, with the ability to deliver clear guidance to non-lawyer business partners.

• Proven legal research skills and sound judgment under time pressure.

• A collaborative, practical, and intellectually curious approach to problem-solving, with the ability to adapt to change and work effectively with a diverse group of stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications, Capabilities, and Skills

• Strong familiarity with federal and state mortgage regulatory frameworks (RESPA, TILA/Reg Z, RESPA/Reg X, ECOA, SAFE Act, TCPA) and GSE/investor requirements.

• Deep expertise in one or more of:  mortgage title insurance, real property law, Texas 50(a)(6) home equity lending; New York CEMAs; co-ops; condominiums and HOAs; trust and LLC vesting; powers of attorney; and marital/estate title issues.

• Experience leveraging AI tools to enhance workflow efficiency is a plus.

  All candidates for roles in the Legal Department must successfully complete a conflicts-of-interest clearance review prior to commencement of employment.

Base Pay/Salary: Washington,DC $199,500.00-$275,000.00