Vedder Price's Chicago office is looking for a Legal Secretary. The Legal Secretary provides support to attorneys and paralegals resulting in a high level of client service; document processing and editing; preparing financial transaction documents; prepare and format legal documents for court filings; managing extensive and detailed travel arrangements; high volume processing of new business intake; preparing and submitting attorney expenses; inputting attorney time entries; handling extensive and intricate client billing; responding to client inquiries via phone and email; arranging meetings and conferences for internal groups and related to business development activities; coordinating calendars; monitoring incoming mail, faxes and e-mails; maintaining and updating client files and other tasks.
As a Legal Secretary, your duties will include but not be limited to:
- Prepare and revise, format and finalize a wide variety of legal documents
- Assist attorneys with frequent and voluminous new client applications and conflict checks
- Accurately enter attorney time into timekeeping system to meet daily/weekly deadlines
- Establish and maintain paper and electronic client and administrative files in compliance with current Firm policies
- Interact on a daily basis with departments within the Firm to facilitate highest possible legal support
- Prepare and submit expense reports
- Work closely with Accounting Department staff to prepare high volume of client billings and receivables to meet client billing format and reporting requirements
- Proficiency with making and managing travel arrangements with assistance of travel agency to ensure all aspects of travel are made accurately and communicated effectively for extensive travel both in the U.S. and abroad (i.e., air, hotel, car, train, meeting rooms, travel memberships accounts and the like)
- Answer, screen and place phone calls to clients and other business associates and respond to client inquiries
- Open, review and route mail as directed
- Provide assistance to other Legal Secretaries within Firm whenever necessary to meet Firm and client needs
Skills & Competencies:
- Strong legal billing experience.
- Knowledge of corporate transactional and closing processes
- Knowledge of legal terminology
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to deal courteously and effectively with others
- Ability to read, interpret and follow instructions
- Ability to work core business hours with flexibility for overtime, as required
- Personable, professional, detailed-oriented and a problem solver
- Able to prioritize tasks in a high-pressure environment
- Strong organizational skills combined with the ability to work independently and be resourceful with problem solving
Qualifications & Required Experience:
- Associate's degree preferred
- Minimum of three (3) years of legal secretarial experience in a law firm environment working with multiple attorneys.
- Position also requires the ability to work under pressure to meet strict deadlines.
Computer Skills:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be proficient in the following software:
- Proficient in Word
- Adobe
- Excel
Equal Employment Opportunity
Vedder Price P.C. is an equal opportunity employer. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability (where applicant is qualified to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations), medical condition, protected veteran status, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We participate in E-verify.
Applicants who are interested in applying for a position and require special assistance or an accommodation during the process due to a disability should contact the Vedder Price Recruiting Team at [email protected].
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)