Litigation Legal Assistant

The Legal Secretary is responsible for providing direct administrative/secretarial support for four litigation attorneys. Duties include typing business and legal documents; screening calls; scheduling and coordinating conferences, meetings, depositions, etc.; e-filing documents in various courts; maintaining attorneys’ calendars; telephone contact with the courts and clients; organizing and maintaining filing system for the attorneys, providing general clerical assistance on various office projects. Legal Secretaries assist in “troubleshooting” as needed. Maintains positive contact with attorneys, support staff and clients; and observes confidentiality of firm matters.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide legal secretarial and administrative support to four litigation attorneys as needed.
• Utilizes a computer, word processor or typewriter to type correspondence, pleadings, memoranda, reports and other documents; filing documents; e-filing documents with the courts; maintaining attorneys’ calendars; etc.
• Schedule and coordinate depositions, conferences, meetings, etc.
• Occasional light phone coverage at switchboard.
• Make travel arrangements for attorneys.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Approximately three to five years on-the-job litigation secretarial experience necessary in order to perform complex administrative duties in a legal office setting.
• Ability to handle multiple duties simultaneously.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as interpersonal skills. Position requires independent drafting of various forms of communication and requires dealing with all levels of employees on a daily basis. Experience with Windows-based word processing system - Working knowledge of Microsoft Word.
• Ability to type standard memoranda and correspondence and the like from rough draft at a level of 60 wpm as normally acquired through completion of the course work in touch typing which can be obtained in high school or an equivalent setting.
• Ability to read and write in order to perform routine office correspondence and forms, perform non-complex arithmetic calculations when verifying calculations on forms and documents and when maintaining records and files at a level normally acquired through high school or the equivalent.
• Work occasionally requires more than 35 hours per week to perform the essential duties of the position.
• Ability to organize and prioritize numerous tasks and complete them under time constraints. Due to the constant interruptions that are inherent with the position, prioritizing and re-prioritizing is required on a daily basis.
• Ability to proofread typed material for grammatical, typographical and spelling errors.
• Interpersonal skills necessary in order to communicate and follow instructions effectively from a diverse group of clients, attorneys and staff and provide information with ordinary courtesy and tact.
• Work occasionally requires a high level of mental effort and strain when performing a high volume of clerical tasks and performing other essential duties.
• Ability to retrieve and distribute files, written documents or office supplies weighing up to 12 pounds