Summary
As a Legal Assistant, your responsibilities include communicating with clients & other law firms, intake, fact-checking, gathering and drafting documents. You will also participate in special assignments as needed. For all of these, you will use various electronic case management software and Microsoft Office suite products.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Handle incoming and outgoing phone calls and emails with law firm clients.
2. Organize, maintain, and obtain relevant documents as appropriate.
3. Fill out case-related confidential forms with accurate client information.
4. Keep an updated log of all client case files and interactions.
5. Complete any other task assigned by a supervisor.
Skills and Behaviors:
• The ability to read voluminous documents in a short amount of time;
• Great attention to detail and analytical skills;
• Compliance with all client confidentiality agreements according to Federal, State, and contract laws; as well as the ethical standards of the legal profession, as applicable;
• Information Technology literate (i.e. Microsoft Office Suite, Google Chrome, time tracking software, spell-check add-ons, etc.)
• Patient, adaptable, flexible, and able to improvise while remaining responsive to ongoing demands;
• Communicate clearly and effectively under pressure;
• Great interpersonal skills in legal and business English, with experience working alongside multicultural teams
Values
In addition to the skills outlined above, the following personality traits are necessary for success as a Legal Assistant :
1. Dependability - Legal Assistants who are trustworthy and reliable will yield the most return on investment for law firms and companies.
2. Efficiency – Client interaction can be a significantly time-consuming task; efficiency is a crucial trait for keeping costs in check.
3. Empathy – Talking to dozens of clients daily is an emotionally draining task and requires the Legal Assistant to pay close attention to what the client says, developing personal relationships with the people they interact with, as well as as maintaining an educated and compassionate tone and demeanor while talking to the client.
4. Positive attitude - An upbeat, "can do" attitude is helpful in an industry where morale may be low at times due to approaching deadlines.
5. Team-oriented - The ability to work with other team members is essential.
6. Strong work ethic - Since Legal Assistants are often monitored for speed and efficiency, it is necessary to have a strong work ethic and willingness to go the extra mile to help to keep costs down.
7. Flexibility - Legal Assistants who can accommodate last-minute, time-sensitive projects will be valued members of the team.
