Legal Assistant - Litigation (Chicago)

At Taft, we work as one team, driven and committed to helping our clients succeed. A full-service law firm with more than 1,250 attorneys and over 2,000 on our team, we have the collaborative approach, advanced technological resources, and depth of services that make us a preeminent law firm.

Taft is currently seeking a Litigation Legal Assistant to join our team in our Chicago office.

We are seeking a Litigation Legal Assistant with 5 years’ experience to support our Chicago office. A Legal Assistant serves clients by providing administrative support to attorneys and paralegals. All Taft employees operate under a “Client First” philosophy—in all things, we seek to provide exceptional services to our clients.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Provides proactive administrative support for Litigation attorneys and paralegals. May assist in other practice areas, as needed.
• Displays strong attention to detail.
• Exhibits outstanding client service orientation in greeting guests, responding to work requests, scheduling meetings, and conducting telephone conferences.
• Maintains strict confidentiality of matters and information.
• Responds to requests with a sense of urgency and effectively prioritizes work.
• Interacts with court personnel, attorneys and staff in a professional manner to obtain and provide data, answer questions, and resolve problems.
• Prepares and reviews letters and memoranda according to Firm standards using word processing and document management systems.
• Proactively monitors deadlines and docket entries.
• Processes requests for payment and reimbursements.
• Creates, maintains and retires files in accordance with Taft’s Information Governance Policy.
• Assists in managing client contacts, emails, and print documents as well as processing mail.
• Clearly communicates in a concise, professional manner.
• Transcribes dictation.
• Files documents with courts electronically.
• Drafts documents and filings.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office programs is required.
• Proficiency with Kofax/Nuance, InTapp, LMS , iManage, or equivalent programs preferred.
• Knowledge of the litigation process and general court operations.
• Ability to read and identify pleadings and other documents related to a litigation matter.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to reason and apply common sense understanding to resolve problems and carry out instructions furnished verbally or in writing.
• Ability to occasionally work more than 40 hours per week.
• Organize a large volume of documents by saving to various document management systems.
• Prepare, edit, format and proofread a variety of documents (correspondence, pleadings, discovery).
• Maintain calendars to track deadlines and status of cases, coordinate and schedule meetings, depositions, conference calls and sends calendar invites and reminders.
• Experience in E-filing documents with various courts.
  
  

Education And Experience

• 5 years’ Litigation legal assisting experience in a law firm or other legal setting.
• Education beyond high school or coursework related to the legal industry preferred.
• Ability to read, understand and interpret complex documents such as pleadings and other documents related to a litigation matter.
  
  

Interested candidates should apply here.

Taft offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life, long-term disability, flexible spending, 401K, Paid Time Off, paid holidays, bonus, and more. The salary range for this position is $32.97/hr. – $45.05/hr. Actual compensation offer to candidate may vary from posted information based on work experience, education, and/or skill level.

Taft is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The information in this posting presents general duties, tasks, and responsibilities but is not intended to be an exhaustive listing. Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP participates in E-VERIFY.