Litigation Practice Assistant (Legal Assistant​/Secretary

Prepare template/shell pleadings and other legal documents; revise and format basic pleadings and other legal documents; file and serve pleadings in federal, state and appellate courts, California Public Utility Commission (CPUC), Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA), Federal Regulatory Commission (FERC) agency proceedings, and federal administrative proceedings; prepare and track Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests; prepare land use applications for submission to city and county governments;

track land use process and prepare additional filings.

Enter, proofread, and close timekeepers’ time entries in billing software; review, proofread, distribute, and track proformas and client invoices; manage complex proformas, incorporate edits, and mail out client invoices as needed; research and resolve billing problems and questions from clients and accounting as needed; and process expense reports and invoice disbursement requests.

Communicate with clients and outside counsel via phone and email; work with clients to obtain signatures on legal documents; coordinate client travel for in-person meetings and hearings; and coordinate client holiday cards and gifts.

Work with and provide coverage for practice assistant team during times of need, such as heavy workload and unplanned or planned absences; delegate and coordinate projects with support departments; assist coworkers and timekeepers with questions related to technology or firm procedure; and participate in team meetings.

Scan, copy, fax, print, and organize documents; request and review conflicts reports; open new client/matters using firm’s electronic records system; maintain electronic and physical files; retrieve documents from document management system and hard copy files; prepare and maintain notebooks; and transmit voluminous electronic documents via secure file sharing website.

Maintain timekeepers’ calendars and monitor docketing deadlines; review documents and correspondence for important deadlines and information; maintain Outlook and Interaction contacts and working lists; prepare PowerPoint presentations; distribute internal and external mail electronically and/or by hard copy; schedule meetings and coordinate reservations for conference rooms and lunches;
Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit reporting; prepare and submit appropriate request form for business development or professional development expense approval; answer phone calls and relay phone messages; arrange travel; update and maintain practice group page on the firm’s intranet; and comply with firm policies, including confidentiality, insider trading issues, etc. Other duties as assigned.