Legal Assistant (Intermediate to Senior)

Dentons; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended health benefits

Mental health benefits

Retirement savings plan

Paid time off

Parental leave top-up

Fitness subsidy

Learning & development programs

Job summary

Dentons Canada is seeking a Legal Assistant to provide advanced legal administrative support across client matters and practice management initiatives. You will coordinate intake, draft and manage documents, maintain pleading materials, and support hearings with minimal supervision.

The role requires a proactive, organized professional with 4+ years in a litigation-focused law firm, strong communication, and excellent attention to detail in a demanding environment.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of law firm experience in a litigation legal assistant or legal administrative role.
• Advanced digital dexterity and proficiency with Microsoft Office and CRM platforms.
• Proficiency with common legal documents and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate new business intake and file opening with client information and conflict checks.
• Draft, finalize, distribute documents and correspondence from precedents.
• Prepare court forms and maintain pleadings as required.
• Provide word processing support and create client-ready materials.
• Support hearings, trials, and examinations for discovery with materials.
• Maintain document management and client matter systems with accuracy.
• Manage calendars, meetings, travel logistics, and boardroom bookings.
• Monitor deadlines and assist with schedule management for multiple lawyers.
• Assist with billing, invoices, WIP, AR, and financial processes.

Skills

Attention to detail

Time management

Communication

Client service

Team collaboration

Education

Paralegal diploma/certificate

Tools

Microsoft Office

CRM systems

Job description

Dentons is designed to be different. Our Firm leads the way in a rapidly changing legal marketplace. We challenge the status quo and deliver consistent results as well as uncompromising quality and value to our clients. Our global presence is renowned as a Firm with over 21,000 individuals in more than 200 offices serving clients across 80+ countries.

Dentons Canada is committed to its people and communities. We are consistently recognized as an employer of choice having received numerous awards including being selected as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers (2026). Canada’s Top Employers for Young People (2026), and Canada’s Best Diversity Employers (2026).

This role is an opportunity for you to join Canada’s Global Law Firm, a firm that offers opportunities to build your career while growing your skills and deepening your expertise.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Legal Assistant role requires a unique blend of advanced skills and experience in providing legal administrative support. This position calls for a confident, proactive, and business-minded professional who can manage complex tasks, prioritize effectively, and adapt to changing priorities with ease.

As a valued member of our team, you will play a critical role in coordinating client matters, supporting practice management initiatives, and ensuring compliance with firm standards. You bring a willingness to learn and grow while demonstrating sound judgment and independence in handling sophisticated administrative responsibilities. You are personable, organized, discreet, and detail-oriented, with a strong client-first approach to your work. In addition to these qualities, you are reliable, solution-oriented, and believe in frequent and open communication. You understand that successful teams are collaborative and that combining individual strengths leads to the best outcomes.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinate the new business intake and file opening process by gathering appropriate client information, conducting conflict searches, preparing and distributing engagement letters, and ensuring all required documents are completed, returned, and processed in accordance with firm procedures, with limited supervision.
• Coordinate document workflow including drafting documents from precedents, finalizing, receiving and distributing documents, correspondence and materials, as directed.
• Knowledge of and/or preparation of court forms (from precedents) and maintain pleadings (electronic and paper as required).
• Provide word processing support including editing, revising, formatting, and performing comparisons of documents, blacklines, (such as creating blacklines), to produce client-ready materials with limited supervision.
• Assist with preparation for hearings, trials, and examinations for discovery including preparation or assembly of materials for court proceedings and various document binders (physical and electronic as required).
• Maintain accurate document management in firm systems to ensure accuracy and organization.
• Maintain an efficient client and matter management system, including a bring-forward system to manage critical deadlines, manage client and matter lists as well as contact records, ensuring all information is accurate and compliant with firm standards.
• Update and maintain client information in the CRM system to ensure records are accurate, current, and complete.
• Manage calendars by proactively scheduling and tracking appointments, meetings, practice-related dates, and critical deadlines for multiple lawyers and team members; independently arrange and confirm meetings with clients and external parties; coordinate travel and meeting logistics, including booking transportation and accommodations; and organize boardroom reservations and catering services to ensure seamless and efficient daily operations.
• Support lawyers and clients by monitoring upcoming tasks and deadlines, assisting with schedule management to help keep legal matters organized and on track.
• Proactively support financial practice management and billing initiatives which may include entering/reviewing time entries for completeness and revising them in accordance with firm standards; manage the full billing cycle by meeting deadlines, reviewing and editing invoices, and collaborating with the billing coordinator and lawyers to ensure timely and accurate finalization of invoices, reviewing work-in-process (WIP) and accounts receivable (AR) and implementing other firm financial best practices related to client management.
• Process financial forms (including cheque requisitions, wire transfers, trust deposits) and expense reports.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for lawyers, handling client inquiries, communicating with opposing counsel, supporting internal collaboration, and assisting with cross-team coordination effort.
• Support cross-region matters, matter credit management, compliance initiatives, and audits.
• Coordinate all administrative tasks throughout the matter lifecycle, including transferring and closing files in alignment with firm protocols and standards.
• Contribute to internal collaboration and process improvement initiatives, and assist with team mentoring and training efforts.
• Familiarity with/experience in and/or working knowledge of performing litigation and other due diligence searches (corporate, land, insolvency, personal property, court, etc.) by using online platforms or by collaborating with an agent.

REQUIREMENTS

• Completion of a recognized legal support program (Legal Assistant, Law Clerk, Paralegal) preferred or equivalent.
• 4+ years of law firm experience in a litigation legal assistant or legal administrative role.
• Advanced digital dexterity and proficiency with legal technology applications such as in Microsoft Office Suite, secure file sharing and CRM platforms.
• Proficient understanding of common legal documents and legal procedures (related to the area of practice).
• Proficiency with legal software and platforms related to the area of practice.
• Proficiency with document management systems and law firm financial systems.
• Effectively manages a deadline-driven workflow with limited supervision, maintaining a strong level of accuracy and attention to detail. Demonstrates solid organizational skills by prioritizing tasks and ensuring timely completion of assignments in a fast-paced legal environment.
• Excellent grammar, proofreading, and detail orientation; takes full ownership of the accuracy and professionalism of work product.
• Proactive, professional courteous and effective communication (both verbal and written) with clients and colleagues.
• Demonstrates reliability, confidentiality, service excellence, adaptability, and sound judgment under pressure, while upholding privacy and ethical standards.
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently.
• Is self-driven, forward-thinking, and proactive.

This role is a new role.

The target salary range for this position is $60,000 – $80,000, commensurate with the successful candidate’s skills, experience, and qualifications. Dentons is committed to equitable and competitive compensation. This target range falls within our internal salary ranges, which are based on comparable roles in the external market. We strive to hire, promote, and transfer individuals at the entry point of the range, with consideration given to prior experience, relevant skills, and market conditions.

We recognize that rewarding exceptional talent goes beyond salary. Our comprehensive total rewards package includes inclusive and flexible benefits that support the wellbeing and development of our people. This includes extended health and mental health benefits, paid time off, retirement savings plans, a fitness subsidy, parental leave top-up, and more.

In addition, our learning and development programs—such as mentorship opportunities, employee networks, and leadership development initiatives—are designed to support personal and professional growth.

At Dentons, all candidate screening, assessment, and hiring decisions are made by people. From time to time, we use AI-enabled tools to assist in enhancing our recruitment process and materials; however, these tools do not screen candidates or make hiring decisions.

Note: Availability of benefits and programs may vary depending on your location and employment type and may be subject to eligibility criteria. Dentons reserves the right to modify or discontinue offerings, in whole or in part, at its discretion and without prior notice.