Legal Practice Assistant – Entry Level

Overview

Mayer Brown is an international law firm positioned to represent the world’s major corporations, funds, and financial institutions in their most important and complex transactions and disputes. We are recognized by our clients as strategic partners with deep commercial instincts and a commitment to creatively anticipating their needs and delivering excellence in everything we do.

We are a collegial, collaborative firm where highly motivated individuals with an unwavering commitment to excellence receive the opportunity, support, and development they need to grow, thrive, and realize their greatest potential all while supporting the Firm’s client service principles of excellence, strategic partnership, commercial instinct, integrated strengths, innovation, and collaboration across our international firm.

If you thrive in a collaborative environment that values exceptional client service, initiative, professionalism, responsiveness, and adaptability, we invite you to consider joining our Secretarial department in our Chicago office as a Legal Practice Assistant. 

Collaborates directly with attorneys to provide word processing and administrative assistance.  Extends support to other attorney team members as needed to ensure a balanced workload among the secretarial team.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions:  

• Creates, formats, revises, and proofs correspondence, client bills, and documents for accuracy and grammar, handling varied degrees of complexity
• Provides phone support, interacting with both internal and external clients
• Manages calendars, schedules and coordinates meetings or conferences, including facilities, catering, invitations, agendas and details
• Organizes and maintains legal correspondence and document files according to Firm processes and systems
• Coordinates conflict checks and the opening of new matters
• Executes complex and confidential tasks, including maintaining client contacts, travel arrangements, compiling documents, assisting with new business presentations, entering attorney time, preparing expense reports and reconciling corporate credit card accounts.
• Handles and/or coordinates photocopying and scanning
• Continuing education by actively pursuing opportunities to enhance skills and knowledge
• Performs other tasks as assigned or required to meet the Firm’s goals and objectives

Qualifications, Experience and Personal Attributes

Education/Training/Certifications: 

• College degree required. An equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be considered in lieu of the degree when the experience has been directly related to the functions of the job

Professional Experience: 

• Minimum of 1+ years of experience in a legal or professional services environment required

Technical Skills: 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products; accurate typing, grammar and spelling skills required

Performance Traits: 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate effectively and in a professional manner with all levels of the Firm and outside vendors
• Ability to work in a diverse team environment and effectively support the demanding needs of the Firm
• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines with shifting priorities and collaborate with others
• Must be a self-starter with a high level of initiative
• Strong customer service skills, able to anticipate needs
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple projects and responsibilities
• Maintains confidentiality and exercises discretion
• Exercises solid strategic thinking and problem-solving skills

Physical Requirements:

• May require occasional lifting of up to 20 lbs.

The above is a general description of the essential duties associated with this position and does not represent an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties.

The Firm may modify and amend this job description at any time at its sole discretion. Nothing herein creates a contract of employment or otherwise modifies the at-will nature of employment.

We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including medical/dental/vision/life/and AD&D insurance, 401(k) savings plan, back-up childcare and eldercare, generous paid time off (PTO), as well as opportunities for professional development and growth.

We are committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities and disabled veterans. To request an accommodation related to the application process or interview, please email [email protected]. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

Mayer Brown works with select external search firms that have been vetted against our standards. Firms without a contract or agreement with Mayer Brown are not authorized to represent that they are working with the Firm, nor are they entitled to placement fees. Mayer Brown does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruiters. Submission of an unsolicited CV to Mayer Brown or any of its Partners or employees will not establish any right of priority for the submitting agency.

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Posted Pay Range

The typical pay scale for this position is between USD $55,000.00/Yr. and USD $75,000.00/Yr., although the actual wage or salary could be lower or higher if the candidate's education, experience, skills and internal pay alignment are different from those specified.