Job Preview:
Our client is offering an opportunity for an experienced Legal Assistant supporting a group of attorneys in the Fort Worth office through the performance of complex secretarial, administrative and substantive legal duties. Principal practice areas will include litigation, labor and employment, and business transactions.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Leverage technology resources to ensure the group of attorneys is operating as
efficiently and effectively as possible.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously and efficiently and prioritize tasks effectively.
• Prepare documents by formatting, inputting, editing, retrieving, copying, printing and transmitting text, data and graphics using office software applications.
• A knowledge and appreciation of the legal processes that facilitate the accurate
preparation of client documents and responding to filing or closing deadlines.
• Ability to anticipate needs and take initiative, as appropriate,
• Prepare and coordinate e-filings in state and federal courts, including tracking of file-stamped copies of e-filings
• Calculate and calendar court and other deadlines
• Handle incoming and outgoing mail, faxes and scan documents.
• Ensure that documents are saved and filed into the appropriate workspaces/folders in FileSite, and paper files, as necessary and in compliance with document retention
policies as appropriate.
• Maintain the daily calendar of each attorney including, but not limited to, scheduling appointments, deadlines, meetings, and travel arrangements.
• Maintain Outlook and other contacts for each attorney as appropriate.
• Maintain updated correspondence and pleadings files. Handle filing, indexing, and
creating sub-files.
• Maintain a master list for each file and update the list as new files or matters are opened. Maintain a master physical file location list.
• Open files, close files and assist with conflicts checks.
• Provide support to the attorneys with timesheets and regular billing matters.
• Requests reimbursement for attorneys through ChromeRiver .
• Maintain a good working rapport with clients and court personnel which requires
discretion and judgment.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and maintain client confidentiality.
• Regular and dependable attendance is an essential function of the job. Flexibility to work OT as driven by practice needs.
• Provide guidance and training to less experienced legal assistants or administrative staff as needed
• Work collaboratively with team members and contribute to a positive work environment.
• Willingness to adapt to changing priorities and work environment
Qualifications and Skills Required:
• A high school diploma or equivalency is required; an associate degree, business school certificate or related education is desirable.
• Eight+ years’ litigation assistant experience in a law firm environment.
• Strong knowledge of and ability to apply office software applications including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF.
• Working knowledge of legal practices, terminology, documents and court procedures.
• Working knowledge of the firm’s litigation and transactional support tools.
• Ability to interact and communicate effectively in a business environment.
• Flexible, solutions-oriented approach and the ability to work under pressure and handle multiple priorities from multiple sources.
• Excellent typing, spelling, grammar, proofreading, transcription and general clerical
skills.
• Ability to coordinate work activities; prepare legal correspondence and documents;
organize and maintain files and records.
• Ability to follow detailed naming and formatting protocols of attorneys.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment, including personal computer, copier, multi-function printers, telephone and facsimile.
Performance Measures:
The Legal Assistant will be evaluated by the attorneys in the work group and the Office Manager based upon, but not limited to, the following performance criteria:
• Ability to perform responsibilities as outlined above, both in terms of the quality and
quantity of work.
• Expertise with available software and technology tools and understanding of secretarial
and office procedures, equipment, and legal terminology.
• Attention to detail.
• Dependability and cooperation with attorneys, support staff, clients, and court personnel.
• Adherence to office policies and procedures.
• Professionalism and ability to communicate effectively and handle multiple priorities.