Legal Administrative Assistant

Summary

Legal Administrative Assistant (LAA) 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. The LAA collaborates 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 role requires a high level of flexibility and willingness to work in a fast‑paced environment where multiple projects may need to be prioritized for the firm’s attorneys. Projects often require high‑level technical skills with Microsoft Office programs or various types of legal software commonly seen in law firms.

This position can sit in our Dallas office and offers a hybrid work schedule, working at least three days in the office.

• Provides practice‑specific support to multiple associates, partners, and attorneys, leveraging knowledge about unique practice tasks, requirements, and functions and prioritizing work accordingly.
• Drafts, edits, and proofreads legal documents, communications, files, or presentations to ensure accuracy.
• Oversees maintenance and organization of electronic and paper filing systems within the firm’s DMS/repositories, ensuring all work product is easily accessible and up to date.
• Collaborates 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, and offers or delegates 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, including time entry and expense reimbursements.
• Oversees billing matters including all approval forms and collaboration correspondence, ensures prebills are processed accurately and timely, serves as a liaison between attorneys and the Billing Department, and initiates follow‑up at the attorney’s request.
• Act as a trusted advisor for associates, partners, or other attorneys, handling confidential or sensitive matters with discretion and promoting professionalism and exceptional service in all interactions with attorneys, clients, and DLA Piper business professionals.

• Ability to communicate effectively in the native language of the region via e‑mail or voice.

• Takes initiative to enhance existing skills and learn additional skills.

• Prior experience with Microsoft Office products or legal software such as iManage, Aderant, DocXTools, Innova, etc.

• Ability to adapt to application upgrades and use AI‑powered tools for document production, review, and case research.

• Demonstrated flexibility and willingness to learn new skills and adapt to evolving needs.

• Capability to operate within a fast‑paced environment and ensure all deliverables and work product adhere to firm best practices.

• Willingness to receive constructive feedback from attorneys and managers.

• Strong attention to detail and excellent problem‑solving skills that enable quick decisions.

• Prior experience in workflow‑management related roles.

• Proficiency in virtual collaboration tools such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

• High School or GED

• Bachelor’s Degree in Legal Studies, Business Administration, or a related field.

• 2 years experience working in a legal setting under the supervision of a licensed attorney or office administrator, or within a similar role.

• Business Acumen:
  Understand the firm’s business model, operations, and strategic goals; work with leadership to develop and implement strategies and initiatives aligned to the firm’s.
• Relationship Building:
  Build trust and rapport with leaders and employees at all levels.
• Problem Solving:
  Identify root causes of issues and develop pragmatic solutions.
• Influence &…