LEGAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Inc., (SMRLS) is seeking to fill a full-time Legal Assistant position to support attorney and paralegal staff in the metro area from its downtown St. Paul, Minnesota office. 

SMRLS is a non-profit law firm that receives federal, state, public and private funding to provide free legal help to low-income and elderly people who reside in 33 counties in southern Minnesota.  As Minnesota’s oldest legal aid program (founded in 1909), SMRLS has established a tradition of partnership with the private bar, a bi-partisan legislature, the Minnesota Supreme Court, and other Minnesota Legal Services Coalition members in providing equal access to justice.  SMRLS has an experienced, dynamic staff of more than 60 attorneys, 40 additional staff and 750 volunteer attorneys who provide legal assistance to over 200,000 eligible people.

SMRLS is a client-centered organization committed to providing a full range of high-quality legal services in a respectful manner, which enable clients to enforce their legal rights, maintain freedom from hunger, homelessness, sickness and abuse; empower persons to ensure equal opportunity, thus, helping persons to help themselves and become economically self-reliant, to the extent their individual ability and circumstances permit.  SMRLS values, welcomes and promotes diversity in all aspects of its work.  SMRLS serves clients from a wide range of backgrounds.  We have adopted guiding principles and a Racial Justice Policy to guide the firm’s work toward racial equality. 

Responsibilities:

·       Legal support for attorneys and paralegals; preparing correspondence and a variety of legal pleadings using existing forms and document assembly programs; 

·       family law experience is a plus;

·       answer overflow incoming calls and main office calls;

·       transcribing electronic dictation or digital recordings;

·       prepare trial notebooks and exhibits;

·       monitor staff emails, snail-mail and voicemail as requested;

·       calendaring conference room and virtual courtroom;

·       process incoming e-filed documents;

·       schedule interpreters, translation of documents and process of service; 

·       oversee signing of legal papers by clients and notarize documents;

·       support the St. Paul Midway office when requested;

·       regular client contact and other agency contact;

·       set up remote courtroom for hearings and resolve connection issues;

·       sending requests by email and/or text for signatures via DocuSign;

·       process outgoing mail;

·       general office procedures and other miscellaneous tasks such as photocopying, filing, opening/closing files, ordering supplies, and a wide range of other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

·       Associate degree or successful completion of a two-year legal secretary program at a business school or vocational/technical institute; or

·       completion of one year business school or vo-tech secretarial certificate program and two years of legal secretary experience with satisfactory evaluations may substitute for the two-year educational requirement; or

·       three years of legal secretary experience may substitute for the one-year educational requirement.

·       The ideal candidate will possess a good working knowledge of correct spelling and grammar, and proper business format for correspondence and legal pleadings;

·       expertise in family law regarding complexities of pleadings and forms;

·       knowledge of legal terminology is required;

·       knowledge of LegalServer file management program is a plus;

·       knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite which includes Outlook, calendaring, Excel, DocuSign and other computer functions is required;

·       ability to perform sustained and accurate typing (minimum of 65 words per minute) of technical and legal material is required;

·       ability to set priorities and meet work deadlines, to work independently but have the wisdom to ask questions; be a self-starter;

·       demonstrate discretion in the handling of confidential legal information is required;  

·       establish and maintain effective working relationships with attorneys, other employees and clients is required.  Compassion, respect and a heart of service is valued;

·       the ability to understand and follow written and oral instructions;

·       experience transcribing legal dictation or digital recordings quickly and accurately;

·       ability to work under pressure and change gears quickly and cope with emergencies is required;

·       must be attentive to detail and be able to communicate effectively by phone, e-mail and in person.

·       This is an essential staff position and you will be required to be in the office on a full-time basis. 

*   SMRLS offers a salary bonus for proficient second language skills.

*   Salary: $46,518.00+ DOE, according to scale.  Excellent benefits provided.

To Apply: 

Please send a cover letter, resume and three references to: 

SMRLS, Attn: Mickey Roy, 55 East 5th St, Ste 400, St. Paul MN  55101, or online to smrls.org.

SMRLS is committed to diversity in the workplace.  Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.