Litigation Legal Assistant

Role Summary We are currently recruiting for a Litigation Legal Assistant to join our Municipal and Planning practice. This is an exciting opportunity for an individual who enjoys variety and working in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment. The successful candidate must have 3-6 years of relevant experience and be able to confidently utilize one’s litigation, technical knowledge and practice management skills. The candidate will be responsible for supporting three lawyers and will be responsible for a broad range of legal and administrative duties related to municipal and planning law and litigation. The role requires strong initiative, communication and organizational skills, and a desire to promote a client-focused culture. This is a full-time, permanent opportunity with core work hours of Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. We are currently operating under a hybrid work model, and the successful candidate will be required to work in the office a minimum of three (3) days per week.

Responsibilities

• Drafting and/or preparing various legal documents (pleadings, notices of motion, notices of application, affidavit, facta, etc.), presentations and correspondence, and ensuring that they are in proper format and accurate.
• Providing assistance to lawyer(s) with trial and hearing preparation including supporting with the compilation of records and briefs as and when required.
• Arranging for service and filing of legal documents and related instructions to process servers/agents and filing with the appropriate courts/ tribunals.
• Managing and tracking deadlines, conditional dates, and appointments, including managing the lawyers’ calendars and scheduling appointments and court dates as needed.
• Opening and closing files electronically, which also includes maintaining detailed matter/client list and maintaining the electronic filing system (iManage) for each client matter.
• Running monthly accounts; reviewing entries for accuracy and completeness.
• Entering dockets into accounting software (3E) as and when required.
• Managing internal and external communications, which includes incoming calls, mail, faxes and e-mail, responding when needed and as appropriate.
• Dealing with and responding to client inquiries and conducting follow-up as required.
• Entering and updating client contact lists in the CRM (InterAction) and working closely with the Marketing and BD department as and when required.
• General other administrative duties such as scheduling appointments and meetings, booking meeting rooms, making travel arrangements, etc.; working with other internal Departments to provide documents/other materials on time to meet client needs.
• Continually assessing and establishing work priorities as needed.
• Demonstrating a team approach; supporting and standing in for colleagues to cover absences.
• Other administrative duties as assigned.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Three to six years of relevant litigation work experience is required.
• Prior experience in Municipal and Planning Law would be advantageous.
• Post-secondary education with a Legal Assistant Diploma and/or Law Clerk certificate.
• Familiarity with the scheduling and filing processes with the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT), including the Toronto and Ontario courts and CaseLines would be an asset.
• Thorough understanding and knowledge of legal terminology, procedures and statutes.
• Strong working knowledge of the Rules of Civil Procedure , OLT Rules and the steps and stages that arise in litigation.
• Proficient with legal software and MS Office 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams).
• Proficient with PDF software (Kofax Power PDF/ Adobe), ACL (Automated Civil Litigation), including the preparation of Ontario court forms and litigation documents.
• Excellent time management, organizational and prioritization skills.
• Ability to work independently and within tight timelines.
• Eagerness to learn new technology/processes and further develop skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and diligent proofreading skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an excellent team player.
• Passionate about providing quality service and work product to lawyers, clients and the court.
• Good judgement and ability to exercise discretion when dealing with confidential and sensitive matters.

The target salary range for this position is $50,000 - $70,000, commensurate with the successful candidate’s skills, experience, and qualifications.