Legal Assistant/Secretary

Legal assistants at Wolcott Rivers Gates provide administrative and clerical support to ensure our attorneys have all of the resources they need in order to provide exceptional legal representation to our clients. We are looking for a legal assistant to support an attorney specializing in the practice areas of Estate Planning, Business Planning, Business Transaction, and Business Services.

What does someone in this role do?

They interact with attorneys, paralegals, administrative staff, courts, clients, and other parties through various forms of communication. They fulfill administrative tasks and clerical duties necessary to communicate with clients and other parties, meet deadlines, and keep the attorney well organized, prepared, and on time for all meetings. They stay on top of all upcoming deadlines and tasks for themselves and their attorneys, to ensure all are entered into a retrieval system and are completed on time. They assist with the managing of leads, marketing, and referrals. They are tech-savvy and assist their attorney with basic computing and navigation of legal software and systems. Some of the administrative and clerical duties they assist their attorneys with include: opening client matters; running conflict of interest reports; copying; scanning; filing; answering phone calls; greeting clients in the office; preparing legal documents and correspondence; organizing files; maintaining attorney calendars and schedules; organizing and updating electronic client records and paper files; typing/transcribing and formatting handwritten or dictated notes, letters, and other documents as requested by the attorney; mailing monthly invoices to clients; and other duties assigned to them by their attorneys or by firm management.

How do you know if you have what it takes to be successful in this position?

You have a service-minded attitude and take satisfaction in helping your team be successful.

You strive to understand the bigger picture of any task or request so you can act with foresight and anticipation. You plan ahead for the next step and curtail potential problems before they occur. You are resourceful and have grit; when things go wrong in time-sensitive and high-pressure situations you maintain your composure and use your creative problem-solving skills to effectively troubleshoot with speed and decisiveness. You bring good vibes to the team and can always see the silver lining; your positive outlook allows you to reflect on a past mistake or issue and value it for what you learned. You also understand the importance of acknowledging a mistake so it can be corrected as quickly as possible.

You are a super-star when it comes to customer service and communicating.

Clients love you, and your boss appreciates that he can tell you to call a client or write them a letter and you know exactly what to say and how to say it in the most polite and professional manner. Because you are an eloquent communicator and can spot an error from a mile away, you are often asked to proofread letters for errors and make suggestions to improve the content or style of the communication. You know how to handle yourself when dealing with difficult clients.

You hold yourself to the highest standards.

Some may have accused you of being a perfectionist because you are so well organized, your attention to detail is impressive, and you arrive at every event or meeting early, but you’re also adaptable. You understand how to prioritize and shift tasks on a moment’s notice because something else more time-sensitive has emerged. You maintain a meticulous calendar to keep yourself organized and on schedule at all times, so you know maintaining an attorney’s calendar and keeping him organized, on schedule, and prepared in advance of every meeting or event would be a breeze for you. You are also a trusted resource and keeper of confidential information because you understand the need for discretion and know how to handle delicate information appropriately.

You are tech-savvy. Learning new programs is exciting and almost effortless for you.

You not only know the basics of the programs you regularly work in, but you take the extra step to learn more advanced features. You are frequently asked to share your technological know-how or help solve a computer/tech related issue. You use technology to maximize efficiency in providing quality services to clients.

You have an interest in law and/or Estate Planning, Business Planning, Business Transaction, and Business Services.

You previously worked at a law firm and know that a career in the legal field is perfect for you, or you might not have any experience at a law firm, but you’ve been waiting for an opportunity to apply all that you learned from a paralegal or legal secretary program.

Qualified candidates must also have a strong working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Adobe, and Outlook, and be able to maintain a minimum typing speed of 45 words per minute. Candidates with executive assistant, administrative assistant, legal assistant, or legal secretary experience, along with a minimum of a two (2) year college degree preferred.

Wolcott Rivers Gates is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining top talent. Our continued success relies on our ability to provide a supportive, inclusive, and motivating environment where everyone has a role to play in delivering outstanding service to our clients.

To learn more about how you might become a part of our team, or to explore some of the benefits our firm provides to its employees, please visit our careers page at http://www.wolcottriversgates.com/about-the-firm/careers/.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Virginia Beach, VA 23452: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Application Question(s):

• What are your salary requirements or expectations?"
• Are you willing to undergo a background check, in accordance with local law/regulations?
• Please provide any other details about relevant experience or your resume that you think should be taken into consideration. Before continuing, please review your application to ensure you have provided a complete response to all questions and all responses and uploads (resumes and cover letters) have been proofed for typographical errors and grammar.

Education:

• Associate (Preferred)

Experience:

• Microsoft Word: 1 year (Preferred)
• Microsoft Excel: 1 year (Preferred)
• Microsoft Outlook: 1 year (Preferred)
• Adobe Acrobat: 1 year (Preferred)
• Legal Assistant or Legal Secretary: 2 years (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Paralegal Certificate (Preferred)
• Legal Assistant/Legal Secretary Certificate (Preferred)

Work Location: One location