Legal Assistant – Real Estate (Municipal Planning, Land Use, and Development)

Dentons Canada

Company Description

Dentons is designed to be different. Our firm leads the way in a rapidly changing legal marketplace. We challenge the status quo and deliver consistent results as well as uncompromising quality and value to our clients. Our global presence is renowned as a firm with over 21,000 individuals in more than 200 offices serving clients across 80+ countries.

Job Summary

The Legal Assistant role within our Real Estate department, supporting the Municipal Planning, Land Use, and Development law practice, requires a unique blend of skills and experience. You must demonstrate strong technical skills and knowledge to manage the production demands of the practice accurately and efficiently and possess proven abilities to proactively support the management of the practice, including client relationship management. The position will require a polished, confident, and reliable assistant who is able to manage multiple priorities. You are highly organized, discreet, driven and have a client first approach to work. You are professional and possess a high degree of business maturity. Generally, the hours of work are from Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., however due to the nature of this role, flexibility may be required at times. Pre-authorized overtime may be required.

Responsibilities

• Practice management, including proactively managing lawyers’ workflow, schedule, and billings oversight.
• Dealing with and responding to client inquiries and conducting follow up, as required.
• Assisting with opening, maintaining, and putting away files, in conjunction with administrative assistants in the group.
• Processing incoming and outgoing mail and managing bring forwards.
• Scheduling appointments and meetings, photocopying materials, booking meeting rooms, making travel arrangements, etc.
• Maintaining and organizing files with a robust follow up system.
• Preparing cheque requisitions and expense reports.
• Updating and maintaining client/matter lists.
• Demonstrating a team attitude with an accountability and confidentiality to both internal and external clients to achieve goals of the Firm.
• Actively supporting the Legal Support Team in accordance with the firm’s standards and best practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Post-secondary education in business or related discipline. Legal Administration and/or Law Clerk Diploma preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years solid work experience in a legal environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (both verbal and written).
• Excellent technical proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Minimum 50 wpm typing speed.
• Knowledge of accounting/docketing systems and document management systems (Elite and iManage).
• Seasoned organizational/follow up skills; attention to detail, proofreading and accuracy are required.
• Professional client and telephone manner and a proven track record of working with confidential information.
• Able to work independently in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Must have seasoned problem-solving skills, the ability to work with little instruction or supervision and be highly motivated.
• Able to meet deadlines, work well under pressure and take initiative using sound judgment.
• Professionalism demonstrated with colleagues, clients both in person and conversing by phone.
• Strong grammatical skills, including punctuation and proofreading, attention to detail and accuracy are required.
• Able to work under pressure to meet deadlines, remain calm with a sense of urgency while maintaining a positive team driven work ethic and ability to approach colleagues and lawyers to solicit work.

Benefits

At Dentons we are committed to offering equitable and competitive pay, we achieve this by aligning internal salary ranges for specific roles to similar positions in the external market. Recognizing our exceptional talent means providing a comprehensive total rewards package beyond a competitive salary. We have curated our employee benefits portfolio to offer inclusive and comprehensive wellbeing and developmental programs for our people. With extended benefits and mental health plans, paid time off, savings plans, fitness subsidy, parental leave top up and more, our benefits are flexible, aligned to our core values and supports the various needs of our people. Additionally, our personal and professional development programs include people networks, mentorships, and leadership series programming to help people grow their career.

Location and Work Arrangement

Onsite, Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with flexibility and pre-authorized overtime as required.

Employment Type

Full-time