Administrative Assistant - Litigation

Dykema Gossett PLLC, a leading national law firm, is recruiting for an experienced Litigation Administrative Assistant for our Detroit and Bloomfield Hills offices. The core duties and responsibilities of this position revolve around supporting others and delivering exceptional customer service. Under the supervision of the Office Administrator, the Administrative Assistant is responsible for providing legal administrative support to meet the daily needs of the attorneys and office location. Responsibilities include supporting various litigation attorneys in the Detroit office, assisting a national litigation team for the assigned products liability practice group and providing clerical support to other professional personnel. Responsibilities can vary widely from day to day.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Exercises independent judgment in determining priority levels of all work assigned on a daily basis. Assures that high priority items are completed in a timely manner.
• Provides comprehensive administrative support to attorneys, including assisting the assigned products liability team with national discovery management for designated client.
• Prepares and proofreads legal documents, correspondence, and reports, ensuring accuracy and adherence to formatting guidelines. Files pleadings and maintains client files. Responsible for all electronic and non-electronic filings with various courts (state and federal) and tribunals.
• Maintains attorney calendars, schedules appointments, coordinates travel, schedules and assembles materials for meetings.
• Assists with new business intake processes and data entry tasks for high volume caseload; performs conflicts checks; saves client/attorney emails, correspondence and other legal documents in the firm’s document management system.
• Reviews and routes incoming mail not marked personal and confidential, if requested to do so. Prepares and processes outgoing mail, arranging for specialized mail or messenger services as required. Ensures all attachments, exhibits, and enclosures are included. Coordinates activities with Office Services, as needed.
• Maintains and organizes electronic and physical files, ensuring proper document management and confidentiality; closes files.
• Maintains case docketing schedule with discovery deadlines, trial and other legal hearing dates; stays up-to-date with changing docket, updates the docket with new dates and continuances, and communicates with attorneys on scheduling-related issues.
• Trains and oversees work of Administrative Support Assistants (ASA) for product liability and litigation team; assists ASAs with intake processes.
• Creates, types, modifies and saves correspondence, memoranda, notes and legal documents, whether from drafts, originals or dictation; copies and scans documents; creates/updates binders.
• Answers and screens telephone calls. Assists callers independently on a  regular basis. Exhibits the discretion to know when to contact the attorney concerning urgent or emergency calls and when to refer to another party.
• Enters attorney’s time from logs, diary notes, correspondence for review utilizing time entry software as needed. Maintains list of all current billing numbers.
• Prepares and submits invoices and expense reports.
• Works closely with other administrative assistants and legal support professionals, provides coverage/assists with work overflow to ensure deadlines are met or exceeded.
• Coordinates internal and external support services for attorneys including vendors, interpreters/translators and logistics, as requested.
• Performs other administrative duties as assigned.

 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

• High school diploma required; Post high school degree or equivalent legal educational training preferred.
• Minimum of three to five years related work experience in a legal services environment; law firm experience is a plus.
• Self-motivated, amiable and resourceful; ability to work successfully with individuals at all levels of the firm and externally.
• Acute time-management, keen attention to detail, superior organizational skills, ability to multitask and take initiative.
• Ability to effectively track and advance multiple smaller details as part of larger projects firm-wide. Ability to manage large amounts of data and utilize new technologies for data tracking, reporting and management.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and high degree of professionalism.
• Team player who also works well independently and is self-directed.
• Proficient in state and federal court electronic filing procedures, including MiFile (MI) and PACER. Knowledge of state and federal court rules regarding discovery, motion practice, and general procedures helpful.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word (styles and tables), Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint. Knowledge of NetDocuments, Elegrity, File Trail, BigHand and Chrome River helpful. Ability to use a redlining tool.
• Ability to deliver superior, professional services to all internal and external clients.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of discretion and confidentiality regarding client information, documents and conversations.
• Flexibility to work overtime when required.
• Typing speed of 55 WPM or greater.

 

WHY YOU SHOULD APPLY 

Dykema offers an excellent salary and benefit package, including transportation assistance.  Dykema provides a professional, diverse and collaborative workplace where all employees can thrive.  Dykema has achieved, and continues to participate in, Mansfield Certification.  Our work environment is business casual. 

EEO STATEMENT 

It is the Firm’s policy to provide employment opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis without regard to the individual’s age, race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, marital status, domestic partner relationship, physical characteristics, disability, or other protected characteristics under applicable federal, state or local laws or ordinances.