What are the responsibilities and job description for the Legal Secretary - Litigation position at Bodman PLC?
Department: Administrative Assistant
Location: Troy, MI
As a Legal Secretary at Bodman, you will work closely with administrative support staff (word processing, office services, and receptionists) to transcribe and type correspondence, memoranda and time records as well as perform a variety of secretarial duties for attorneys, according to established policies and procedures. Maintain positive contact with your team, clients, attorneys, and administrative professionals and observe confidentiality of client matters.
Key Responsibilities
· Transcribe and prepare correspondence, memoranda, and other legal documents from written and oral drafts. Assist in case management through mediation and/or trial, including preparation of discovery, correspondence, memoranda, Judicial Council forms, briefs, and other legal documents.
· Input attorney’s time and ensure that timesheets are delivered to appropriate person in a timely manner.
· Finalize, file, and prepare pleadings for service in State, Federal, and Appellate Courts (including e-filing and e-service).
· Contact clients, courts, counsel, experts, witnesses, etc. via phone, e-mail, and/or correspondence to act as a liaison in scheduling/coordinating meetings, depositions, etc.
· Update and maintain attorney calendars with all court hearings, meetings, depositions, mediations, and expert depositions.
· Set up and maintain client records and filing system.
· Request conflict of interest checks.
· Ability to draft and proof simple pleadings and correspondence, as directed.
· Review incoming mail to determine urgency and work with attorneys accordingly.
· Retain court reporters, videographers, and interpreters, as necessary.
· Coordinate projects that may be complex in nature.
· Maintain good public relations with clients and observe confidentiality of attorney‐client relationship.
· Work with junior and senior level attorneys on your team with unique practices.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
· A resourceful mindset, with a desire to explore and learn new skills and technology.
· 5 years of legal secretarial experience supporting senior level executives in practice areas such as litigation, corporate or labor/employment.
· Ability to transcribe legal documents, correspondence and reports from rough drafts or dictation proficiently and accurately.
· Possess excellent proofreading abilities for law office correspondence and legal case matters, and the ability to perform non‐complex arithmetic calculations when verifying calculations on forms and documents.
· Ability to organize and prioritize numerous tasks and complete them under time constraints.
· Possess excellent interpersonal skills – one who can communicate effectively in a courteous and diplomatic fashion as you will service and partner with a diverse group of clients, attorneys and administrative professionals.