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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
The Legal Administrative Assistant (LAA), working in collaboration with and in
support of the firm’s strategic initiatives, provides a wide range of
administrative and clerical support to attorneys and legal teams. This role is
essential in ensuring the smooth operation of the firm’s administrative
functions and requires a high level of organization, attention to detail, and
the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. This position will
collaborate regularly with Legal Support Assistants (LSAs), Legal Executive
Assistants (LEAs), and attorneys on various tasks and assignments, ensuring work
is properly allocated and completed on time. The LAA role requires a high level
of flexibility and willingness to work in a fast-paced environment where
multiple projects may have to be prioritized for the firm’s attorneys. Projects
will often require high-level technical skills with Microsoft Office programs or
various types of legal software commonly seen in law firms.
Location
This position can be located in our Boston, Philadelphia, or Baltimore offices
and offers a hybrid work schedule.
Responsibilities
* Provides practice-specific support to multiple associates, partners, and
other attorneys, leveraging knowledge about unique practice tasks,
requirements, and functions and can prioritize work accordingly.
* Drafts, edits, and proofread legal documents, communications, files, or
presentations to ensure accuracy.
* Oversee the maintenance and organization of electronic and paper filing
systems within the firm’s DMS/repositories. Ensure all work products are
easily accessible and up to date.
* Collaborate with other LAAs or LEAs to complete more complex projects or
provide administrative support for any assigned attorneys. Provides
mentorship, guidance, and delegation to LSAs who assist with projects as
appropriate. Provides key status updates on projects to any assigned
attorneys, offering or delegating direct-action support in the event of
escalation.
* Organizes and monitors assignments within the firm’s workflow tool, ensuring
that administrative tasks are properly allocated and completed on time. These
projects can include but are not limited to time entry and expense
reimbursements.
* Oversee billing matters including all approval forms and collaboration
correspondence, ensures prebills are processed by the appropriate team
accurately and timely; serves as a proxy attorneys to address questions or
issues related to the billing process. Ensures final bills are delivered in a
timely manner and initiate follow-up at the attorney’s request.
* Serves as a trusted advisor for associates, partners, or other attorneys.
LAAs will be expected to handle confidential or sensitive matters using
discretion and to promote professionalism and exceptional service in all
interactions with attorneys, clients, and other DLA Piper business
professionals.
Desired Skills
The below job competencies and skills are required for the Legal Administrative
Assistant position in order to perform the job successfully.
The ability to communicate effectively in the native language of the region via
e-mail or via voice is essential. Takes initiative to enhance existing and learn
additional skills. Prior experience working with Microsoft Office products or
legal software such as iManage, Aderant, DocXTools, Innova, etc. Must have the
ability to adapt to application upgrades and the use of AI-Powered Tools for
document production, review, and case research. Must have ability to demonstrate
flexibility and willingness to learn new skills and adapt to evolving needs of
the attorney’s practice. Must have the ability to be flexible within a
fast-paced environment and ensure that all deliverables and work products adhere
to firm best practices, and a willingness to receive constructive feedback from
attorneys and managers. Open to collaborating with and supporting Legal Support
Assistants (LSAs) as appropriate. Works well under pressure and able to stay
positive and productive.
Must have a general familiarity with legal terminology, documentation, and best
practices for law firms or similar settings. Exhibits strong attention to detail
and excellent problem-solving skills that enable them to make quick decisions.
Possesses prior experience in workflow-management related roles. Demonstrates
proficiency in virtual firm collaboration tools such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams
to communicate with internal and external resources on behalf of the attorney’s
practice.
Minimum Education
* High School Diploma or GED.
Preferred Education
* Bachelor's Degree in legal studies, business administration, or a related
field.
Minimum Years of Experience
* 2 years’ experience working in a legal setting under the supervision of a
licensed attorney or office administrator, or within a similar role.
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
The individual selected for this position may have the opportunity for a hybrid
work arrangement comprised of remote and in-office work, the requirement for
which will be determined in coordination with the hiring manager or supervisor
and may be modified in the firm’s discretion in the future.
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.
Application Process
Applicants must apply directly online instead of sending application materials
via email.
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 [careers@us.dlapiper.com].
Agency applications will not be considered.
No immigration sponsorship is available for this position.
The firm’s expected hiring range for this position is $37.50 - $48.75 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).
Applicants who are not based in the jurisdiction in which this position is
posted and who apply for this role are doing so voluntarily and are not eligible
for relocation assistance. Any relocation benefits, if any, are provided only
where a relocation is required at the firm’s direction and in accordance with
applicable policy and law.
#LI-KP1
#LI-Hybrid
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
[https://mandatoryview.com/?LicenceId=09b17fa3-b781-4022-bfdd-ec61a570463c&ProductType=OnlineApplicant].