Legal Assistant

TD Bank; Calgary; On-site; CAD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A major Canadian financial institution is seeking a Legal Secretary to provide essential support to lawyers. This includes preparing legal documents, managing schedules, and providing training to less experienced staff. The ideal candidate has a college diploma in legal secretarial studies and at least 5 years of experience in litigation. Strong proofreading and communication skills are essential for success in this role.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of litigation experience required.
• Ability to proof and edit complex legal documents.
• Self-starter with capability to work productively under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Prepare complex legal documents through transcription.
• Draft standard legal documents for lawyer review.
• Manage lawyer's calendar and schedules.

Skills

Proofreading legal documents

Excellent communication skills

Client service skills

Strong organizational skills

Problem-solving skills

Education

College diploma in legal secretarial

Tools

MS Office

Job description

TD is committed to providing fair and equitable compensation opportunities to all colleagues. Growth opportunities and skill development are defining features of the colleague experience at TD. Our compensation policies and practices have been designed to allow colleagues to progress through the salary range over time as they progress in their role. The base pay actually offered may vary based upon the candidate's skills and experience, job-related knowledge, geographic location, and other specific business and organizational needs.

As a candidate, you are encouraged to ask compensation related questions and have an open dialogue with your recruiter who can provide you more specific details for this role.

Job Description:

TD Insurance is part of TD Bank Financial Group, one of Canada’s largest financial institutions. TD Insurance helps protect clients from the ‘accidents of life’ with a wide range of products including credit protection, life, health, travel, home and auto insurance. With more than three million clients, TD Insurance authorized products and services are available online, over the phone, and through a network of more than 1,000 TD Canada Trust branches.

In Canada, we have two lines of business, General Insurance and Life and Health. Our General Insurance business is one of the top home and auto insurance groups in Canada and the national leader in group insurance and affinity marketing. Our Life and Health business is the number one provider of critical illness insurance and direct life and health insurance in Canada.

This opportunity will provide legal secretarial support to one or more lawyers. Maintain a close and highly responsive relationship to the day-to-day activities of the Lawyer(s).

Main Responsibilities

• Prepares, through transcription of written or recorded documents, complex legal documents i.e. correspondence, factums, motions, summonses etc.
• Drafts standard legal documents, correspondence and pleadings for review by lawyer(s). Edits grammar, punctuation and spelling as needed.
• Exercises initiative and judgment in Lawyer’s absence, i.e., negotiates extensions of time. Prioritizes and responds to diverse incoming communications.
• Manages Lawyer's calendar i.e., schedules appointments, coordinates appearances. Resolves scheduling conflicts on own initiative.
• Answers a wide variety of telephone inquiries based on knowledge of case. Responds to inquiries exercising good judgment and discretion.
• Composes complex (non-technical) correspondance.
• Establishes, maintains, and when necessary, revises Lawyer's files.
• Performs research, reviews and prepares documents in accordance with project objectives and in consultation with Lawyer, Law Clerk or Legal Office Manager.
• Provides training to legal assistants and has the ability to answer technical questions. May also provide training to lawyers, law clerks and other office personnel.
• Exercises initiative to propose, develop and maintain standard office precedents and procedures.
• Performs additional duties as requested such as:
• Reception relief.
• Maintains lists of witnesses, Subpoenas, fees, etc.
• Requests fees for payment from Claims department.
• Participates in arranging lawyer’s files for easy access during trials.
• Informs witnesses of scheduled court appearances.
• And other miscellaneous duties as may be assigned from time to time.
• Responsible for answering questions and providing guidance and training for less experienced legal assistants. May serve as a group leader; coordinate workflow, review completed work of other legal assistants.

Qualifications

• College diploma in legal secretarial and 5+ years of litigation experience
• Ability to proof and edit legal documents
• You are a motivated self-starter with capability to work productively under pressure
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal and client service skills, professional and positive demeanour
• Superior organization and priority setting skills, strong work ethic and ability to multi-task
• Ability to be conceptual and a creative problem solving skills
• Intermediate MS Office skills; knowledge of standard office equipment and word processing