Legal Assistant / Law Clerk
We have a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Legal Assistant / Law Clerk to join our Public Law & Regulatory Compliance team in Melbourne.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
Legal Assistant Duties:
* Screen telephone calls - taking detailed and accurate messages and instructions as required.
* Preparation of legal documents, correspondence, memoranda, file notes, and briefs for hearings, advice or conferences, including dictation.
* Proactively maintaining lawyer appointments, hearings and reminders for court timetables ensuring deadlines are met.
* Assists lawyers in preparing and developing precedents for submission to the precedents team.
* Creates and maintains files – file management of substantial amounts of documents, including opening of files, preparation of documentation and initial letters as required. All documents, letters and file notes should be placed in digital files preferably at the conclusion of each day.
* Email and inbox management – review and file email correspondence.
* Assist with management of sub‐contractors, including Counsel, and obtain rates and availabilities.
* Deals with clients and client queries in a polite, friendly, and appropriate manner.
* Liaises with barristers, clients, witnesses, principals, lawyers and staff.
* Assists with financial management of files and compliance with estimates.
* Assists lawyers in preparing and maintaining spreadsheets and presentations.
* Assumes general office duties (filing, photocopying, faxing, binding etc.).
* Prepares detailed bills, cheque requisitions, write‐offs, expense claims and other related tasks.
* Enters timesheets as requested.
* Books travel arrangements and accommodation, where required.
* Liaise with the Accounts department in relation to file administration and accounts matters as requested.
* Updates cost estimates in the firm's practice management system.
* Assist other Legal Assistants where necessary and provides back‐up as a buddy.
* Preparation of RK Docs Connect templates, orders and business analysis reports (sales, enquiries, trends).
* Development of workflows liaising with authors of Russell Kennedy templates for development maintenance and response to enquiries.
* Manage WIP and invoicing of RK DC.
* Preparation of board reports.
* Monitor and maintain central inbox for RK Docs Connect enquiries and RK Aged Care Documents.
* Assist with responding to enquiries regarding RK and RK Docs Connect templates.
* Refer any legal questions coming through the central inboxes or enquiries to nominated lawyers.
* Assisting with the administrative requirements of the customer relationship management program for the Aged Care and Retirement Living sector group.
* Maintain a record of enquiries, conversions of sale and follow‐ups.
* Prepare minutes, draft agendas, action plans and correspondence.
* Co‐ordinate activities and follow‐ups.
* Liaise with legal and business services staff, clients and suppliers with a focus on engaging and enhancing relationships.
* Any other reasonable duties as requested.
* Maintains cyber security at all times. Cultivate an awareness of security risks, stay informed of latest cyber threats, instil best cybersecurity practises and take practical steps to protect the firm and client from cyberattacks.
Skills / Knowledge
* Strong attention to detail.
* Excellent literacy and communication skills.
* Professional and confident telephone manner.
* Polished secretarial skills and, most importantly, accurate typing, minimum 70 wpm.
* Excellent organisational and administrative ability.
* Advanced knowledge of MS Word for Windows, knowledge of PowerPoint and internet web skills.
* Knowledge of iManage 10 and Aderant.
Experience
* Legal administration background of at least 5+ years working in a commercial law firm.
* Experience working at a senior level.
Equal Opportunity and Accessibility Statement
Russell Kennedy is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is certified as a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality, as well as being certified as a gold employer in the Australian Workplace Equality Index for employers with 500 or less employees. We respect and celebrate the things that make each of us different. The firm supports and promotes a range of initiatives to create an environment that is characterised by equal access and respected participation of all groups and individuals. There is a particular focus and emphasis on gender equality, inclusion of First Nations peoples, accessibility for people with disability, LGBTIQ+ inclusion, and cultural diversity. Russell Kennedy is recognised by Australian Disability Network as a Disability Confident Recruiter employer.
Russell Kennedy Lawyers acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we meet and work. Our offices are situated on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri and Gadigal peoples. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, to their emerging leaders and to the resilience, creativity and vitality of their cultures including their laws and systems of governance.
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