Legal Assistant

Legal Assistant — Healthcare Background Welcome WHO THRIVES HERE You’ve spent time in high-stakes environments where people are vulnerable. Maybe you’re a hospice nurse or social worker who’s sat with families facing end-of-life decisions. Maybe you’re a funeral director or mortician who knows how to be calm when people are falling apart. Maybe you worked in emergency medicine, mental health crisis response, or death care. You understand that competence and compassion aren’t separate things - they go together. You can listen without judgment, hold difficult conversations, and keep sensitive information confidential because you know how much it matters. Elder law is emotional work. Clients are navigating cognitive decline, family conflict, financial vulnerability, and sometimes exploitation. They call us scared. You won’t make the fear go away, but you can make them feel heard and safe. If that resonates with you, keep reading. The Reality of the Role You’ll work independently much of the time. The managing attorney is frequently in client meetings, court, depositions, or focused on drafting work. The rest of the team includes virtual assistants and a law clerk — but you may be the only person physically in the office for stretches of time. This isn’t isolation, but it does mean you need to be genuinely comfortable working alone, managing your own workflow, and making judgment calls without someone hovering. You’re not micromanaged because there’s no time to micromanage. You’re trusted to use good judgment, ask questions when you’re stuck, and own your work. The attorney is available for questions, and you’ll have regular check-ins — but the day-to-day rhythm of the role is independent. If you need constant feedback, frequent check-ins, or a busy office full of coworkers to feel engaged, this won’t be a good fit. If you’re energized by autonomy, trust, and the quiet focus of working independently — and you’ve done it before in a healthcare, caregiving, or death care setting — you’ll thrive here. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR • Background in nursing, hospice, social work, funeral services, mental health crisis work, death care, or similar high-stakes caregiving — or equivalent experience working with people in crisis • High emotional intelligence — you can read a room, de-escalate tension, and sit with someone else’s pain without absorbing it or shutting down • Comfort working independently for extended periods without supervision or coworkers present • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail • Tech-savvy and comfortable learning cloud-based systems (Clio, Dropbox, Adobe Sign, Microsoft Office) • Self-starter who solves problems before they become crises and asks clarifying questions rather than guessing • Reliable, trustworthy, and discreet with confidential information • Honest — you admit mistakes, you don’t make excuses, and you tell the truth even when it’s uncomfortable • Radical candor — you give and receive honest feedback constructively • A sense of humor — this work is heavy, and we need to be able to laugh Requirements • High school diploma or equivalent required; an associate degree is a plus • Experience in a high-stakes, high-emotion, confidentiality-driven environment • Ability to type at least 50 WPM • Must reside in the state of Minnesota within 50 miles of Eden Prairie, MN, or be willing to relocate (this is not a remote position) • Willing to submit to a background check • Experience with legal software or case management systems is a plus, but not required — willingness to learn is required WHAT YOU'LL GET • $22–$27 per hour, commensurate with experience • Four-day work week: Monday through Thursday, 8 AM to 6 PM • 401(k) with employer matching • Regular check-ins and structured feedback so you always know where you stand • A small team where your work directly impacts client outcomes (you’re not a cog in a machine) • Rare opportunity to learn elder law from one of only two certified elder law attorneys in Minnesota • A culture that values honesty, integrity, and taking care of each other • Soda, water, snacks, and firm lunches when the schedule allows The Honest Part This work is emotionally demanding. You will talk to families in crisis, people experiencing exploitation, and people dealing with cognitive decline and end-of-life decisions. Some calls will be heartbreaking. The pace is unpredictable — some days are routine, some days you switch gears five times because a new emergency comes in. People who thrive here find meaning in that intensity. People who need predictability and routine typically don’t last. If you’re burned out on direct care work and looking for something “easier,” this isn’t it. If you’re drawn to meaningful work and you know how to hold space for people in crisis, this might be exactly what you’re looking for. ABOUT SAUBER LEGAL SERVICES LLC We are a boutique elder law firm practicing in estate and tax planning, Medicaid and long-term care planning, probate, guardianship and conservatorship, special needs planning, financial exploitation, and litigation in those areas. Our managing attorney is one of only two Certified Elder Law Attorneys (CELA) in Minnesota. We are a small team that values integrity, continuous improvement, and direct client service. Our work is challenging, meaningful, and never routine. You’ll also be asked to complete a brief DISC personality assessment before your interview. We’re building this position with intention, not urgency. We’re looking for the right person, and that might take time. If you’re interested, apply. We will be reviewing applications over the coming weeks and scheduling interviews thoughtfully. We’re not trying to fill this seat in 2 weeks. We’re trying to find someone who’ll stay for years. At-will employment. We are an equal opportunity employer. Responsibilities: • Schedule meetings and appointments for the team, such as depositions, make travel arrangements, and coordinate with outside vendors for events • Manage office correspondence and administrative tasks such as answering phone calls, communicating with opposing attorney offices, taking dictation, responding to emails, and reminding the team of upcoming deadlines • Complete legal research as needed under the supervision of attorneys and paralegals • Accept other administrative tasks as needed to assist the team and ensure the firm runs smoothly WHAT YOU'LL DO Intake & Client Communication • Answer phones and respond to emails from prospective and existing clients, who are often people in emotional, sometimes emergency, situations • Listen carefully, take detailed messages, and capture the caller’s story accurately — you’re the first person they talk to • Send and review intake forms and questionnaires; collect documents, facts, and background information • Cross-check and validate client-provided information • Input contacts, clients, adverse parties, and professional relationships into Clio and organize files in Dropbox • Schedule client meetings and signing appointments, coordinating witnesses as needed File Management & Organization • Open and close client files in Clio and Dropbox with proper naming conventions • Scan everything — documents in, documents out — and maintain our paperless filing system • Proof and edit documents and correspondence for accuracy • Ensure court dates are calendared and tickled with reminders • Send documents for electronic signature through Adobe Sign and manage the signature process • Manage database hygiene — duplicates, outdated records, clean systems • Create and manage physical red ropes for document storage; handle file closing procedures, including scanning, destruction, and follow-up ticklers Hospitality & Office Operations • Greet/seat in-person clients, offer refreshments - the client experience matters, and we all contribute to it! • Keep the office running: order supplies, clean conference rooms, stock the fridge, replace toner, and manage mail • Act as a signing witness for Wills and other documents • Everyone pitches in on day-to-day tasks because we’re a small team, including the attorney WHAT YOUR FIRST 90 DAYS WILL LOOK LIKE Elder law is complex. We do not expect you to understand most of what callers are talking about for the first 60 to 90 days (and that is completely normal). You’ll receive a detailed onboarding timeline that shows you what “normal” looks like at each stage so you always know you’re on track. Weeks 1–2: You’ll observe and listen. Shadow calls, attend meetings, learn the rhythm of the office. Your job is to capture client stories accurately. You won’t understand all the legal concepts yet (that’s expected). You’ll have daily check-ins with the managing attorney. Weeks 3–4: You’ll start taking calls with someone available for backup. You’ll learn to recognize different types of matters by the patterns in what people tell you. Your summaries will get sharper. Months 2–3: You’ll take calls more independently. You’ll start recognizing which practice area a caller’s situation falls under and flagging urgency. You’ll have a structured debrief time to learn from what you’ve encountered. Months 4–6: You’re functioning independently in most areas. You know our case types, our process, and you trust your own judgment. You’re problem-solving without constant oversight. You’re part of the team, not the new person. This is realistic. Most people take 3–6 months to feel genuinely comfortable in this role. That’s expected, not a failure. Qualifications: • Candidates should have strong organizational skills and communication skills • Able to meet demanding deadlines in a fast-paced environment • High school diploma or equivalent is required; associate’s degree is a plus • Comfortable working with all Microsoft Office products • Must be able to type at least 50 WPM • Candidates must have worked with legal software, case management, and docketing programs DETAILS. DETAILS. DETAILS. • You will support the attorney and be the face of the firm! Must be comfortable with client interaction, triaging tough calls from emotional clients, taking detailed messages for the attorney, and being reliable • You must be available to work on-site because you will act as a signing witness for Wills and other documents as needed. THIS IS NOT A REMOTE POSITION - if you live outside of a 50-mile radius from the firm, and do not indicate that you are willing to relocate, your application will be disqualified • You will be expected to do some of \the normal (shared) hospitality tasks such as greeting clients, seating them, offering refreshments, cleaning the conference room between meetings, ordering lunch for our staff lunches, emptying the dishwasher, refilling paper trays, replacing toner in the printers, etc. All of the normal "day-to-day" office tasks that we all share while in the office Compensation: $22 - $27 hourly

• WHAT YOU'LL DOIntake & Client Communication • Answer phones and respond to emails from prospective and existing clients, who are often people in emotional, sometimes emergency, situations • Listen carefully, take detailed messages, and capture the caller’s story accurately — you’re the first person they talk to • Send and review intake forms and questionnaires; collect documents, facts, and background information • Cross-check and validate client-provided information • Input contacts, clients, adverse parties, and professional relationships into Clio and organize files in Dropbox • Schedule client meetings and signing appointments, coordinating witnesses as neededFile Management & Organization • Open and close client files in Clio and Dropbox with proper naming conventions • Scan everything — documents in, documents out — and maintain our paperless filing system • Proof and edit documents and correspondence for accuracy • Ensure court dates are calendared and tickled with reminders • Send documents for electronic signature through Adobe Sign and manage the signature process • Manage database hygiene — duplicates, outdated records, clean systems • Create and manage physical red ropes for document storage; handle file closing procedures, including scanning, destruction, and follow-up ticklersHospitality & Office Operations • Greet/seat in-person clients, offer refreshments - the client experience matters, and we all contribute to it! • Keep the office running: order supplies, clean conference rooms, stock the fridge, replace toner, and manage mail • Act as a signing witness for Wills and other documents • Everyone pitches in on day-to-day tasks because we’re a small team, including the attorneyWHAT YOUR FIRST 90 DAYS WILL LOOK LIKEElder law is complex. We do not expect you to understand most of what callers are talking about for the first 60 to 90 days (and that is completely normal). You’ll receive a detailed onboarding timeline that shows you what “normal” looks like at each stage so you always know you’re on track.Weeks 1–2: You’ll observe and listen. Shadow calls, attend meetings, learn the rhythm of the office. Your job is to capture client stories accurately. You won’t understand all the legal concepts yet (that’s expected). You’ll have daily check-ins with the managing attorney.Weeks 3–4: You’ll start taking calls with someone available for backup. You’ll learn to recognize different types of matters by the patterns in what people tell you. Your summaries will get sharper.Months 2–3: You’ll take calls more independently. You’ll start recognizing which practice area a caller’s situation falls under and flagging urgency. You’ll have a structured debrief time to learn from what you’ve encountered.Months 4–6: You’re functioning independently in most areas. You know our case types, our process, and you trust your own judgment. You’re problem-solving without constant oversight. You’re part of the team, not the new person.This is realistic. Most people take 3–6 months to feel genuinely comfortable in this role. That’s expected, not a failure.