Legal Services Paralegal

Legal AssistantHarter Secrest & Emery is a full-service law firm founded in 1894, with offices in Rochester, Buffalo, Albany, Corning, and New York City. With over 125 lawyers, we offer the depth and breadth of legal talent and experience necessary to achieve exceptional results for our local, regional, and national clients.We are seeking a legal assistant to fill a position in our Intellectual Property Practice Group in our Buffalo office. This position will be part of a team that provides assistance to the attorneys who manage U.S. and foreign patent and trademark portfolios, including conflict matters and litigation.Job Responsibilities:Assist with preparation of legal documents, USPTO forms, patent applications, supplemental materials and correspondence for attorney review; attend to electronic filings in Patent Center and interfaces with foreign associatesMonitor attorneys' dockets and takes action as needed; follow-up with attorneys to determine the status on docket action itemsAssist with the preparation of client correspondence and documents (i.e., proofreading, editing and formatting); responsible for drafting engagement letters, creating new matter intake forms and preparing check requestsInterface with clients through various forms of communication; respond to client inquiries when appropriateMonitor convention deadlines, work with clients to obtain foreign filing instructions, assist with foreign filing estimates and prepare letters to foreign associates with appropriate filing instructions; andPerform general administrative tasks including calendar management, entering time, file and document organization and billingEducation / Experience Requirements:Two years of legal assistant experience preferred; Associate's degree (Administrative Studies, Business or related field) is desirableAbility to work effectively with a variety of clients and staff; proven ability to provide exceptional client serviceStrong organizational skills: ability to respond to multiple priorities and take initiative to meet varying deadlinesKnowledge of the Intellectual Property practice area; familiarity with electronic filing and IP docketing software is an assetAbility to proofread and check typed material for grammatical, typographical, spelling, word usage and format errorsGood writing skills, including proper spelling and correct grammar, accuracy and attention to detailStrong administrative skills are essential, including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF; ability to manipulate and label patent illustrations an assetRecruiting Information:FLSA Classification: Non- Exempt (Hourly)Annual Salary Range: $25-$30 per hourHours per week: 37.5Excellent benefits packageThis description is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for performance in this position. It is not to be interpreted as an exhaustive description of essential functions, responsibilities, and requirements.