Temporary Administrative Asst - Experiential Education

Job Summary

The University of Michigan Law School is seeking an experienced administrator, legal secretary, or paralegal for a 12-month, term-limited position. This year-long role will provide critical operational coverage for multiple administrators out on extended leaves of absence, while also offering vital backup support to other colleagues across the department.

In this role, you will manage clinical legal office workflows, support faculty, and work closely with student attorneys. Serving as a central liaison for clients, counsel, and courts, the ideal candidate brings a strong background in litigation and/or transactional law, combined with a highly collaborative, adaptable approach to cross-clinic coverage.

This temporary, term-limited 12-month hybrid role requires three days of in-office presence and two days of remote work per week and reports to the Business Administrator Senior and clinical faculty directors. Please note that to ensure a smooth onboarding process, you should expect to report to the office in-person five days per week during your first two to three weeks of training.

The Temporary Administrator will manage general office workflow, provide administrative oversight of a functioning law office, and deliver vital teaching support to assigned clinical faculty.

As a core member of a collaborative, dynamic team, the Administrator will provide extensive support and mentorship to legal students as they learn to navigate a professional legal setting, while providing cross-functional, wraparound support to colleagues across various clinics as needed.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Client & External Communication
• Client Management:
  Handle intake and ongoing communication with prospective and current clients, including managing acceptance, rejection, deferral, and status updates.
• Agency Liaison:
  Communicate effectively with various courts, administrative bodies, and legal agencies on behalf of the clinic.
• Correspondence:
  Manage all phone, email, and mail correspondence, responding independently or routing as appropriate.
• Legal & Case Support
• Document Preparation:
  Prepare, review, and proofread legal documents as requested by supervising attorneys.
• Filing Assistance:
  Assist supervising and student attorneys with the preparation and submission of legal filings.
• Information Management:
  Develop, organize, and maintain digital and physical client files; manage and update clinic conflict-check databases.
• Instructional & Student Support
• Student Training:
  Onboard and train incoming student attorneys on office procedures, file management systems, equipment, and resource materials.
• Teaching Assistance:
  Provide robust classroom support, including preparing instructional materials, maintaining Canvas sites, and updating clinic manuals.
• Student Tracking:
  Monitor and track student clinical hours and assist faculty with academic administrative needs.
• Operations & Financial Management
• Budgetary Oversight:
  Manage the clinic’s financial operations, including drafting annual budget projections, tracking expenses, handling financial reconciliations, and making approved purchases.
• Office Logistics:
  Coordinate schedules, organize meetings, manage conference calls, and oversee logistical arrangements (such as room and vehicle reservations).
• Cross-Clinic Coverage:
  Collaborate actively with the broader administrative team to provide seamless, wraparound coverage for other clinics during colleague absences.

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience; excellent computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, and Adobe Acrobat; demonstrated ability to handle highly confidential information and sensitive matters with tact, discretion, and sound judgment; ability to work independently in a flexible and highly dynamic work environment; excellent written and oral interpersonal communication skills; demonstrated accuracy and attention to detail;

ability to balance a diverse portfolio of responsibilities and multiple competing priorities; initiative to solve problems independently with minimal direction or oversight