Legal Assistant, Government Relations and Ethics

fasken; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A law firm in Toronto is seeking a Legal Assistant to manage daily activities of a team of legal professionals. This role requires strong client service orientation, legal knowledge, and the ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment. Candidates should have a post-secondary legal education and at least 3 years of experience in a legal setting. The position is hybrid, requiring 3 days in the office weekly.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3+ years working experience in a law firm environment.
• In-depth understanding of business and legal terminology.
• Solid computer and typing skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee administrative duties such as email and calendar management.
• Prepare initial drafts of legal documents under supervision.
• Ensure all physical and electronic filing is organized.

Skills

Client service orientation

Interpersonal skills

Research and investigative skills

Adaptability

Communication skills

Education

Post-secondary Legal Assistant or Law Clerk program

Tools

MS Office 365

Adobe Pro

Elite 3E

Worksite DMS

iManage Work

Job description

Overview

Reporting jointly to the legal professionals in the share and the Manager, Legal Assistant Services in our Toronto office, the successful candidate will independently manage the daily activities of a team of legal professionals in the government relations and ethics practice area.

Hours of work are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. Occasional pre-authorized overtime may be required to meet client needs. This is a hybrid role requiring three (3) days in office.

At Fasken, success means :

• Having a strong client service approach – you are ready, willing, and able to put our clients first and exceed their expectations
• Caring about one another – you possess strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build harmonious working relationships within your immediate team, across other departments in the firm, and in the community
• Working collaboratively – you are a self-starter who values working in a collaborative team-based environment
• Possessing exceptional communication skills (both verbal and written) when dealing with lawyers, clients, staff and third parties
• Approaching your work with agility and the willingness to learn and utilize new technology
• Being adaptable to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment while being organized and maintaining accuracy with a high attention to detail
• Demonstrating strong research, investigative and problem-solving skills with the ability to exercise judgment to resolve issues
• Always treat sensitive and confidential matters with discretion and diplomacy

Primary Responsibilities

• Overseeing all administrative duties such as email and calendar management, coordinating meetings, making travel arrangements, booking meeting rooms, processing incoming and outgoing mail and preparing expense reports
• Preparing and maintaining a bring-forward system as well as providing appropriate reminders
• Under legal professional supervision, prepare initial drafts of legal documents and correspondence according to precedents and / or instructions
• Liaise with Billing Coordinators for the monthly production of accounts
• Providing administrative support to the team, as necessary
• Ensuring all physical and electronic filing is organized and up to date regularly
• Delegating tasks to, and coordinating with, other administrative departments
• Providing backup coverage in the absence of other assistants
• Other duties, as assigned

Required Knowledge and Experience

• Completion of a post-secondary Legal Assistant or Law Clerk program
• A minimum of 3+ years’ working experience in a law firm environment (large firm experience preferred)
• In-depth understanding of business and legal terminology
• Solid computer and typing skills; proficiency in MS Office 365, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe Pro.
• Experience working with Elite 3E, Worksite DMS, iManage Work, etc.
• Political acumen is an asset

Diversity and Inclusion

At Fasken we are committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive Firm. Our commitment includes ensuring equitable access to employment and equitable opportunities to advance and succeed at the Firm.

Accessibility and Accommodation

We always strive to provide an accessible candidate experience. Reasonable accommodations are available on request for eligible candidates.

Background and Reference Checks

Any offer of employment may be conditional upon full background checks including a criminal record check, a credit check, employment and educational verifications.