Legal Secretary

Baker McKenzie; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Baker McKenzie in Abu Dhabi seeks a proactive Legal Secretary to support Partners, Senior Associates and equivalents with efficient administrative services.

You will coordinate meetings, manage diaries, handle client intake (AML), assist with billing, and ensure smooth document production and filing using iManage.

This role requires bilingual abilities (Arabic/English) and strong software skills across Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams.

Qualifications

• Experience in a legal sector or professional services environment.
• Proficiency in standard software packages (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, Teams).
• Strong diary/calendar management and excellent written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate meetings, events and travel arrangements.
• Client intake administration including AML and engagement letters.
• Provide billing support to attorneys.
• Manage in-box and filing (iManage and hard copy).
• Support client activities and liaise with clients and assistants.
• Build relationships with Center Services and other Baker McKenzie secretaries.

Skills

Legal sector experience

Diary/calendar management

Communication skills

MS Office proficiency

Arabic/English bilingual

Tools

Word

Excel

Outlook

PowerPoint

Access

Teams

Job description

The Legal Secretary will provide efficient and effective administrative services to fee earners assigned (Partners, Senior Associates and equivalents)

This role is based in Abu Dhabi exclusively.

Main responsibilities:

• Manage and coordinate all aspects of tasks assigned (e.g. meetings, events, travel, etc.)
• Client intake administration (e.g. Anti-Money Laundering (AML), engagement letters)
• Provide billing support to attorneys
• Handle complex diary management, call handling/gate-keeping and meeting organization for external meetings (utilize General Admin Services (GAS) for internal meetings
• Manage in-box, assist with email filing into iManage, as well as supporting on hard copy filing
• Support client activities and is in direct contact with clients and their assistants
• Build and co-ordinate relationships with Center Services, other Baker McKenzie secretaries and teams.
• Utilize and review materials from Service Centers to ensure efficiency and accuracy
• Document production for urgent jobs which are not suitable to be done by Document Services
• Provide administrative support at meetings, capturing outputs and following up as needed; may be assigned specific tasks / objectives for action as outputs of meeting
• Support junior members acting as buddy/mentor
• Undertake specific practice group tasks and requirements

Skills and experience:

• Strong experience working in a legal sector or other professional services environment
• Proficient, through job-related training and work experience
• Strong technical skills, including proficiency in all software packages (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, Teams)
• Able to manage complex diary and calendar management activities
• Able to problem solve based on standard ways of operating
• High-level organizational skills
• Proactively seek to upskill
• Able to establish and maintain effective working relationships; a team player
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• A ble to provide continual attention to detail in completing assignments
• Bilingual (Arabic / English) is preferred