JOB TITLE: Legal Assistant

LOCATION: Houston, TX

OVERVIEW:  Duane Morris LLP, a law firm with more than 900 attorneys in offices across the United States and internationally, is asked by a broad array of clients to provide innovative solutions to today's legal and business challenges.

SUMMARY: The Legal Assistant will provide comprehensive administrative support to multiple Partners, as well as senior and junior members of the Legal Team. This role involves managing a variety of confidential and complex tasks, including calendar management, typing, editing and/or formatting legal documents and correspondence, filing documents with various courts, both electronically and via messenger, arranging for service of documents, meeting coordination, project assistance, and relationship management. The ideal candidate must excel in multitasking, managing changing priorities, and handling highly sensitive information with discretion. Maintains positive contact with clients, attorneys and staff while observing confidentiality of client and other firm matters.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Calendar Management: Track litigation deadlines, and confirm deadlines are docketed correctly. Coordinate attorney calendars, minimize conflicts, prevent double bookings, and proactively make decisions regarding appointment urgency and importance.
• Preparing draft court documents, including but not limited to complaints, answers, discovery, briefs, motions, motions for summary judgment, correspondence and memos.
• Heavy court filings at state, federal, and appellate.
• Research regulations, laws, and legal articles to assist with the preparation of reports, case files, and legal advice.
• Organizes and accurately maintains physical and electronic documents and files in a timely manner. Creates and maintains working files and binders as requested. Utilizes Firm provided software to accurately store email messages and maintain and retrieve files.
• Administrative duties include but not limited to opening new files, requests conflict of interest checks, coordinate travel arrangements with firm travel group, assist with client proformas and bills, and maintains on-line and hard-copy files. Conducts periodic reviews for possible storage of older files; prepares files to be closed.
• Provides backup support to other attorneys and timekeepers as needed. Volunteers for overflow work assignments when time permits and actively seeks to maximize productivity and promote teamwork. Possesses knowledge of key clients and contacts.
• Must be available to work in the office 3 days a week as scheduled by the office manager, and occasionally 4 days during periods of heavily scheduled hearings, trials, meetings, etc.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Excellent communication and time management skills.
• Possesses high level of technical competency on all Microsoft Office and various other job-related software packages and applications.
• Detail-oriented and highly organized.
• Ability to work independently, manage large workloads, and keep deadlines.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE :

Minimum of 5 years’ experience working in trial/commercial litigation law matters

Large law firm experience required.