Legal Assistant

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Bonus based on performance
• Opportunity for advancement
• Training & development
• Tuition assistance

Benefits/Perks

• Careers Advancement Opportunities
• Flexible Scheduling
• Competitive Compensation

Position Summary

Souder Law Group Spacemakers · Institution Builders · Change Agents Legal Assistant Job Description · Firmwide Newark, NJ · Full-Time

Practice Groups: Firmwide: Real Estate, Land Use & Redevelopment; Municipal; Litigation

Reports To: Managing Partner; day-to-day direction from assigned attorneys, the Head of Litigation on litigation matters, and the Senior Paralegal

Supervises: None

Location: Newark, NJ | 570 Broad Street, Suite 1400, Newark, NJ 07102

Employment Type: Full-time

Billable Target: Records time on client tasks as directed

Compensation: $50,000 to $85,000 based on experience + benefits and 401(k)

Who We Are

Souder Law Group is a Newark-based New Jersey firm built on a simple idea: lawyers create the rules of life, and those rules define space. We are Spacemakers, Institution Builders, and Change Agents. Our Inclusive Legal Solutions span real estate and economic development, government affairs, education and nonprofit, health and cannabis, and litigation, with a focus on urban communities across the Northeast. Our Real Estate Group pairs commercial and residential real estate skill with a deep understanding of community needs, guiding owners, developers, lenders, housing authorities, and municipalities through redevelopment agreements, PILOT and tax-exemption programs, land-use approvals, and complex legal disputes.

The Role

Our Legal Assistant is the connective tissue of the firm, keeping calendars tight, files clean, clients informed, and attorneys focused. You will work alongside paralegals and attorneys on redevelopment, real estate, municipal, and litigation matters, supported by a modern Clio-based workflow and clear systems. We are looking for someone organized, calm under deadline, and genuinely interested in becoming great at this work, not just completing tasks. There is real room to grow into a senior assistant or paralegal track over time.

Core Responsibilities

• Document support. Prepare, proofread, and file legal documents, including contracts, correspondence, and certifications.
• Calendars and deadlines. Manage attorney calendars, court dates, hearing dates, depositions, and client meetings, and confirm that filing and hearing deadlines are met.
• Client and court communication. Communicate professionally with clients, court personnel, municipal staff, lenders, and opposing counsel about status and documentation.
• File management. Maintain Clio matter files and document management systems, digital and, where needed, hard copy.
• Closing and lender support. Help assemble real estate closing packets, lender documentation, and exhibits.
• Land-use support. Draft notices, publication requests, transmittals, and follow-up communications.
• Intake and onboarding. Support new client intake and document collection.
• Billing. Help process client billing, track billable time, and assist with invoicing.
• General office support. Handle phones, email triage, and mail, maintain Clio existing and new contacts, and support paralegals with application assembly and file management.

Litigation Practice Support

This position supports Souder Law Group's litigation practice in addition to its transactional and land-use work. Litigation assignments are directed by the Head of Litigation and the supervising attorney on each matter.

• Litigation documents. Format, proofread, and finalize pleadings, motions, discovery, subpoenas, and certifications, and submit filings through eCourts at attorney direction.
• Court calendar. Calendar court dates, case management conferences, motion return dates, and discovery deadlines in Clio, and send reminders to the litigation team.
• Scheduling and logistics. Schedule depositions and coordinate court reporters, interpreters, process servers, and conference rooms.
• Binders and exhibits. Assemble hearing, deposition, and trial binders and prepare exhibit copies.
• Litigation file control. Maintain correspondence files, pleadings indexes, and service records for each case.

Qualifications

REQUIRED

• 2 to 4 years of experience as a Legal Assistant, Legal Secretary, or similar role in a law firm.
• Familiarity with legal terminology, documents, and court and municipal procedures.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Excellent organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication, and a calm, professional client manner.
• Ability to prioritize across multiple attorneys and deadlines, with discretion in handling confidential and privileged information.

PREFERRED

• New Jersey court and municipal experience, including eCourts.
• Experience with Clio or similar case management software.
• Associate's degree or certificate in Legal Studies, Paralegal Studies, or a related field.

Core Competencies

• Organization. Calendars and files stay accurate and current.
• Composure. Calm and effective under deadline pressure.
• Service. Professional and helpful with clients, courts, and colleagues.
• Discretion. Protects confidential and privileged information.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary: $50,000 to $85,000 based on experience.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) with employer contribution.
• Paid time off and paid holidays.
• A modern technology stack of Clio, automation, and AI tools that take the busywork out of the job.
• A growth path into senior legal assistant or paralegal roles for the right person.

Compensation is disclosed in accordance with the New Jersey Pay Transparency law (effective June 1, 2025), which requires each posting for a new job or transfer opportunity to state the wage or salary, or its range, and a general description of benefits.

Our Values — In Our Own Words

Every SLG team member is hired, coached, and evaluated against the firm's nine core values.

• 1. Community “We are of the community, working together for our collective betterment.”
• 2. Empathy “We ensure our interactions are guided by understanding and compassion.”
• 3. Comradery “We draw strength from our collective expertise and dedication.”
• 4. Integrity “We embody honesty and transparency.”
• 5. Persistent “We find solutions and navigate challenges with resilience until we achieve the outcomes our clients need and deserve.”
• 6. Respect “We lead by example, embracing our role as catalysts for positive change.”
• 7. Assessable “We ensure our clients have the support they need.”
• 8. Courageous “We stand up for what is right with unwavering resolve.”
• 9. Accountability “We are committed to excellence without excuses.”

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Souder Law Group is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals. We strongly encourage applicants from historically underrepresented backgrounds to apply. This job description summarizes the principal duties of the position; it is not an employment contract, and the firm may modify duties and assignments to meet client and firm needs.