Legal Executive Assistant

DLA Piper is, at its core, bold, exceptional, collaborative and supportive.  Our people are the backbone, heart and soul of our firm.  Wherever you are in your professional journey, DLA Piper is a place you can engage in meaningful work and grow your career.  Let’s see what we can achieve. Together.

Summary

Supporting multiple lawyers, the Legal Executive Assistant (LEA) proactively filters and attends to the day-to-day functions of a partner's practice so that they can focus on building and maintaining their practice. This role serves as a consultant for the partner, connecting departments, projects, and critical business information to the partner, ensuring meetings and materials are efficient and effective, and serving as a trusted partner to help deliver against the priorities of the practice and clients.

Location

This position is located in our Palo Alto office and offers a hybrid work schedule.

Responsibilities

• Completes and carries out major assignments and a broad variety of tasks in support of the partner's practice.

• Exercises judgment and delegates administrative tasks and document work as appropriate to other Legal Support Services team members (Legal Support Assistants and Legal Administrative Assistants) and firm resources. When delegating, maintains responsibility for and tracks all activities/tasks/projects to successful completion. Collaborates with peers to provide team support and coverage.

• Performs work that substantively and positively impacts the success of the partner's financial viability with client matters.

• Exercises discretion and professional judgment with confidential and sensitive matters.

• Plans, coordinates, and ensures attorney Outlook calendars are maintained; identifies and resolves scheduling conflicts; coordinates complex travel itineraries.

• Works closely and proactively with attorneys to keep them well informed of upcoming commitments and responsibilities, preparing materials in advance, and following up appropriately.

• Successfully completes critical aspects of deliverables with a proactive, hands-on approach, including drafting letters or other correspondence, preparing reports, and other tasks that facilitate partner's ability to effectively build the practice.

• Handles extensive direct interaction with clients and outside business contacts.

• Prepares agendas, reports, and presentations; composes correspondence that is sometimes confidential.

• Develops and maintains professional relationships and ensures teams work together efficiently and effectively, providing clear direction and constructive feedback on projects and assignments.

• Coordinates department or practice group meetings. Takes lead in preparing logistics and engaging appropriate parties to ensure a successful meeting.

• Participates in practice group and client team meetings, as appropriate. Prepares meeting agendas, reviews meeting materials for accuracy and completeness and distributes to meeting attendees.

• Maintains paper and electronic filing systems, helping to ensure compliance with Information Governance policies and procedures.

• Oversees billing matters (prebilling tasks including all approval forms and collaboration correspondence, international billing, liaise with biller regarding questions/issues, liaise with collections team); monitors client budgets for reporting purposes.

Desired Skills

Advanced computer skills in Excel, Word and PowerPoint are required. Exhibits excellent communication and interpersonal skills required to interact with peers, lawyers, clients, business professionals, and various firm departments on a regular basis. Solid organizational skills required to manage multiple high priority projects at one time. Performs a broad range of assignments with efficiency and accuracy. Excellent time management skills necessary and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment. Demonstrates strong work ethic and a flexible, dependable and positive attitude. Must maintain confidentiality and demonstrate good professional judgment.

Minimum Education

• High School or GED

Preferred Education

• 4 Year / bachelor's degree

Minimum Years of Experience

• 5 years' experience as professional executive administrative experience supporting partners and/or executives.

Essential Job Expectations

While the specific job requirements of a DLA Piper position may vary depending upon scope of the job and area of specialty, there are certain universal requirements that are expected of all DLA Piper employees, which include but are not limited to:

• Effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, with clients, lawyers, business professionals, and third parties.

• Produce deliverables, answer phone calls, and reply to correspondence in an efficient and responsive manner.

• Provide timely, accurate, and quality work product.

• Successfully meet deadlines, expectations, and perform work duties as required.

• Foster positive work relationships.

• Comply with all firm policies and practices.

• Engage in both physical and sedentary activity, such as (a) working at a computer for extended periods of time, including on-screen reading and typing; (b) participating in digital/virtual conference calls; (c) participating in meetings as needed.

• Ability to work under pressure and manage competing demands in a fast-paced environment.

• Perform all other duties, tasks or projects as assigned.

Our employees are expected to embrace and uphold our firm values as a part of our DLA Piper culture. We are committed to excellence in how we represent our clients and develop our people.

Physical Demands
Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Work Environment

• Requires regular in-office presence, with some flexibility to work from home upon approval.

Disclaimer  

The purpose of this job description is to provide a concise statement of the work elements and to organize and present the information in a standardized way. It is not intended to describe all the elements of the work that may be performed by every individual in this classification, nor should it serve as the sole criteria for personnel decisions and actions. The job duties, requirements, and expectations for this position may be modified at the Firm’s discretion at any time. This job description does not change the at-will nature of employment. Reasonable accommodations may be made upon request to permit individuals with a disability to perform the essential functions and responsibilities of the position or to participate in the job selection process.  

Application Process

Applicants must apply directly online instead of sending application materials via email. If you have a request for an accommodation during the application process or have any questions about the process, please contact careers@us.dlapiper.com. Please add dlapiper@myworkday.com to your list of safe senders.  

Accommodation

Reasonable accommodations may be made upon request to permit individuals with a disability to perform the essential functions and responsibilities of the position or to participate in the job selection process. If you have a request for an accommodation during the application process, please contact careers@us.dlapiper.com.  

The firm’s expected hiring range for this position is $48.48 - $64.23 per hour depending on the candidate’s geographic market location. Non-exempt positions will be paid on an hourly basis and paid overtime in accordance with applicable laws.

The compensation offered for employment will also be dependent on other factors including the candidate’s experience, skills, educational and professional background, and overall qualifications. We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including medical/dental/vision insurance, and 401(k).

Agency applications will not be considered.

No immigration sponsorship is available for this position.

DLA Piper is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. Job applicant poster viewing center.