Legal Assistant

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Prepare and proofread legal documents and correspondence Edit documents for proper phrasing, and grammar. May reformat, spell check, and finalize attorney work product. Compose correspondence, memoranda, and drafts of routine documents for attorney’s review and signature as directed by the attorney and occasionally on own initiative. Effectively use various software applications, including MS Office 365, necessary to perform required job duties. Manage electronic documents for easy retrieval. Handle telephone inquiries independently, providing information to clients or other callers or routing them to the appropriate person; is able to assess the urgency of calls and respect the confidentially of each matter. Assist attorneys and paralegals with court filings (state/federal); prepare and edit Table of Contents and Table of Authorities. Sort, read, and annotate daily incoming mail, attaching appropriate file to facilitate action; determine routing and required signatures; prepare routine correspondence for attorney’s signature and maintains attorney’s docket; coordinate outgoing mail and/or deliveries; maintain records pertaining to all aspects of attorney’s work. Schedule appointments and maintain attorney’s calendar; receive and assist clients and refer them to attorney or other appropriate person as circumstances warrant; arrange business itineraries and make travel arrangements as requested; independently prepare travel/entertainment expense reports based on attorney’s receipts and itinerary. Maintain client and administrative files in accordance with Firm procedures – maintain current lists of files, account numbers, client names/addresses and other information as required. Preserve and protect the confidences and privileged communications of all clients. Enter attorney timesheets on a timely basis. May prepare, edit, and revise client bills and arrange for timely mailing of invoices. Coordinate administrative support for trials, arbitrations or client meetings. Perform such other duties that may be assigned. SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES: Research and abstract information and supporting data as requested; perform basic cite checking and document review; may be required to do legal research at attorney’s request. Written and oral contacts as necessary to obtain information or to clarify, crosscheck, or verify the information needed. Independently take action during attorney’s absence and use initiative and judgment to see that matters requiring attention are referred to another attorney or handled in a manner so as to minimize the effect of the attorney’s absence. Provide backup coverage for other legal assistants and attorneys as needed. Duplicate correspondence and other printed material, send faxes or arrange for duplicating and/or faxing to be performed. QUALIFICATIONS: The successful candidate must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily and maintain a high standard of ethical conduct. Excellent interpersonal skills are required for interactions with all levels of Firm personnel, clients, and vendors. The successful legal assistant must be organized, detail-oriented and have the ability to multitask. Proven ability to maintain composure, high accuracy, and professionalism in a fast-paced, deadline-driven legal environment. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. EDUCATION AND /OR EXPERIENCE: Associate’s degree (A.A.) or equivalent from a two-year college or technical school and at least five years of legal secretarial experience, with at least three years of litigation experience. Preferably in a law firm. LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, documents containing legal terminology or governmental regulations. Ability to draft business correspondence, and reports as assigned, demonstrating excellent English language skills and attention to detail. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from lawyers, clients, and employees of the Firm. MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common factors, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs. TECHNICAL SKILLS: Proficiency with MS Word, ability to type 70 wpm. Basic knowledge of PC and Microsoft Office products such as PowerPoint and Excel; thorough knowledge of preparation and editing Table of Contents and Table of Authorities. Knowledge of Westlaw and Lexis helpful ; f amiliar with navigating NetDocs or a similar document management system; familiar with Chrome River or a similar expense management software used for expense reports; familiar with iTimeKeep or similar attorney timekeeping software. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and exhibit finger and hand dexterity. The employee frequently is required to talk or hear. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus. AVAILABILITY REQUIREMENTS: Must maintain regular and acceptable attendance at such level as is determined in the Firm’s sole discretion. Must be regularly available and willing to work at least 7.5 hours per day, 37.5 hours per week as the Firm determines are necessary or desirable to meet its business needs. c) Overtime Requirement Must be available and willing to work such overtime per day or per week as the Firm determines is necessary or desirable to meet its business needs. d) Weekend and Holiday Requirement Must be available and willing to work such weekends and holidays as the Firm determines are necessary or desirable to meet its business needs. e) Travel Requirement Must be available and willing to travel to such locations and with such frequency as the Firm determines is necessary or desirable to meet its business needs. Boies Schiller Flexner LLP is an equal opportunity employer, which does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin or ancestry, religion, age, sex, disability, medical condition, sexual preference or orientation, marital or familial status, veteran's status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal laws, rules or regulations. The Firm's policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment. It is the Firm’s policy to recruit, hire, train, promote and compensate the best qualified individuals based only upon relevant factors such as experience, work quality and professional attitude. #J-18808-Ljbffr