Legal Administrative Assistant

Paralegal & Legal Administrative Assistant – Litigation/Family Law Position Summary Fremstad Law is seeking a full-time legal support professional to assist primarily with litigation and family law matters. This is a blended role that includes both substantive paralegal work and legal administrative support. This is an in-office position based in Fargo, North Dakota. The person in this position will help keep cases moving by preparing and organizing legal documents, managing discovery, coordinating filings, tracking deadlines, communicating with clients, and supporting attorneys through hearings, mediations, depositions, and trial preparation. The role will also include important administrative responsibilities such as intake, phone coverage, scheduling, file organization, scanning, mail, and other office support. Some responsibilities may involve billable paralegal work, while others will be non-billable legal assistant or administrative work. The right candidate will be comfortable moving between both types of work and pitching in where needed. Our attorneys are highly self-sufficient; this role focuses on keeping cases moving, ensuring filings are accurate and timely, maintaining organized files, and serving as a reliable point of contact for clients. The person in this role will also be part of an experienced legal support team that works closely together, shares knowledge, and helps with learning, training, and day-to-day questions. We recognize that not every candidate will have experience in every listed area, and we are willing to train the right person who is organized, dependable, detail-oriented, and eager to learn. Essential Functions Client Intake & Frontline Support Answer incoming calls for litigation, family law, and other practice areas; triage, route, and document calls professionally. Conduct initial client intake, gather relevant information, and enter data into case management systems. Schedule consultations, manage attorney calendars, and provide clear, respectful communication to clients and prospective clients. Maintain confidentiality and discretion when handling sensitive client matters. Provide compassionate, professional communication with clients experiencing stressful or emotionally sensitive situations. Prepare and process correspondence and legal documents, including engagement letters, pleadings, motions, briefs, discovery materials, and related documents. Review legal documents for accuracy, completeness, proper formatting, and consistency. Assist attorneys with litigation and family law matters from case inception through discovery, deposition, hearing, mediation, trial, and post-trial proceedings. Organize and manage discovery, including document production, interrogatories, requests for admission, subpoenas, and related materials. Coordinate deposition scheduling and preparation. Compile factual information, records, and basic research materials relevant to case preparation as directed by attorneys. Prepare exhibits, hearing notebooks, trial notebooks, witness files, and supporting materials. Review and summarize records, discovery materials, correspondence, and other case-related documents. Electronic Filing & Case Management Perform high-volume electronic filing in North Dakota and Minnesota state and federal courts. Maintain case files, pleading indexes, and document organization systems. Track deadlines, court dates, discovery deadlines, filing requirements, and other case-related tasks. Assist with timekeeping, billing entries, expense documentation, and related administrative support. Manage physical and electronic files, incoming mail, scanning, OCR, and document organization. Draft letters, memos, and client communications. Proofread documents for grammar, spelling, punctuation, formatting, and consistency. Organize and maintain reference materials; locate citations or source materials upon request. Support attorneys across multiple practice areas during peak workloads or staff absences. Assist with Adobe Acrobat tasks and general office operations. Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Knowledge of court rules, legal procedures, and filing requirements. Strong command of English usage, spelling, punctuation, and legal terminology. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and Outlook. Experience with scanning, OCR, Adobe Acrobat, and electronic filing systems. Experience with legal case management software preferred. Strong attention to detail and organizational skills. Ability to prioritize competing deadlines and work independently. Professional judgment, discretion, diplomacy, and excellent interpersonal skills. Ability to balance both substantive legal support work and administrative responsibilities. Qualifications Prior experience in a law firm or legal support role preferred, including experience as a paralegal, legal assistant, legal secretary, legal administrative assistant, or similar position. A two- or four-year degree, paralegal certificate, or comparable legal work experience is preferred but not required. Prior experience supporting litigation, family law, or other civil practice areas preferred. Experience with discovery management, motion practice, electronic filing, deadline tracking, and trial preparation strongly preferred. Experience with North Dakota and Minnesota electronic filing systems strongly preferred. Ability to work independently while supporting multiple attorneys. Highly organized, proactive, and comfortable balancing both billable legal support work and non-billable administrative responsibilities. What Success Looks Like Court filings are accurate and timely. Discovery requests and responses are organized and completed on schedule. Litigation deadlines are proactively tracked and met. Attorneys are well-prepared for hearings, depositions, mediations, and trials. Attorneys have organized files and dependable support. Clients receive prompt, professional communication. The office operates smoothly during busy periods. Culture Fit Statement We are a grounded, collaborative team that values professionalism without ego. The right candidate enjoys variety, communicates clearly, and takes pride in keeping cases and clients moving forward. The person in this role will be part of a collaborative legal support team, with experienced paralegals and legal staff available to help with training, questions, and learning our systems and procedures. You will thrive here if you are adaptable, steady under pressure, and willing to pitch in wherever needed—whether preparing discovery, filing a motion, organizing exhibits for trial, answering phones during a busy hour, or helping a client feel heard on a difficult day. We appreciate people who are reliable, thoughtful, and committed to doing quality work with kindness and respect. Why You’ll Enjoy Working Here We believe that doing meaningful work and enjoying the people you work with should go hand in hand. While we take our clients and responsibilities seriously, we also make time to celebrate successes, build relationships, and have fun together. Team Traditions & Events Lawpalooza, our annual firm celebration and team-building event. Souper Wednesdays, where we gather to share lunch and connect with colleagues. Birthday celebrations that recognize each team member. Employee Appreciation Day activities and recognition. Team lunches and social gatherings throughout the year. Volunteer and community service opportunities that allow us to give back to the communities we serve. Compensation is $25.00 - $31.00 per hour dependent on experience, qualifications, and demonstrated skills. Employer-paid health insurance covering 100% of the employee-only premium. Employer contribution of $900 annually to an HSA-eligible health plan. Immediate eligibility for health insurance and HSA contributions. Paid Time Off (PTO) accrued at a rate equivalent to three weeks annually during the first five years of employment. Safe Harbor 401(k) contribution of 3% regardless of employee contribution after six months of employment. Eligibility for the firm's Cash Balance and Profit-Sharing Plans after six months of employment. Long-term disability coverage after 30 days of employment. Eight paid holidays annually, with two additional paid holidays after one year of service. Friday summer hours. Bonus opportunities. Equal Opportunity Employer Fremstad Law is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace. We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any protected status under applicable law. 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