Legal Assistant (Real Property and Planning)

McCarthy Tétrault LLP; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent benefits

Wellness support

Volunteer day off

Birthday off

Hybrid work

Job summary

McCarthy Tétrault LLP in Vancouver is seeking a Legal Assistant in Real Property and Planning with a minimum of 3 years' experience to support lawyers with documents, travel, calendar management and client support. The role offers a hybrid work environment.

Responsibilities include document preparation, file management, coordinating travel and meetings, reception tasks, time entry for billing and collaboration with office services; ideal candidates have a Legal Assistant diploma and strong

Qualifications

• Legal Assistant diploma or college certificate in office administration or Information & Communications Technologies or equivalent.
• Minimum 3 years of experience as a legal assistant or in a professional services environment (Real Property & Planning preferred).
• In-depth knowledge of business and legal terminology.
• Strong attention to detail and superior word processing, spelling, proofreading and editing skills.
• Ability to handle deadlines with speed and accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, edit, format and revise correspondence, memoranda and large transaction documents.
• Open, maintain and organize files; manage calendars and client-related activities.
• Coordinate lawyer travel, meetings, and client communications; update client databases.
• Handle mail, faxes, calls and reception duties as directed by lawyers.
• Support billing processes with time entry and coordination with Finance.
• Participate in education opportunities and provide backup support as needed.

Skills

Attention to detail

Time management

Multi-tasking

Communication skills

Discretion & confidentiality

Education

Legal Assistant diploma or college certificate in office administration or ICT

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Job Description

McCarthy Tétrault is a leading Canadian law firm offering a full suite of legal and business solutions to clients in Canada and around the world. With offices in Toronto, Montréal, Québec City, Calgary and Vancouver, we provide challenging and rewarding career opportunities across the country. Recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for eleven consecutive years and one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for fourteen consecutive years, our culture is guided byThe McCarthy Way—our shared approach to working with clients and with each other.

The McCarthy Way is built on four core elements: Excellence, through attracting and developing top talent committed to delivering on our Client Commitment; Collaboration, through seamless, integrated teamwork; Inclusion, through eliminating barriers to belonging and success; and Innovation, through delivering maximum value by embracing leading-edge technologies and approaches. Together, these principles shape how we work, lead, and grow—every day.

We are recruiting for a Legal Assistant in Real Property and Planning to join our team in our Vancouveroffice. The successful candidate must have a minimum 3 years of relevant experience, and will be responsible for supporting lawyers with documents, travel and calendar management, and client support. McCarthy Tétrault employees benefit from a hybrid work environment.

Salary Range (Toronto Only): $60,000 - $70,000 annually

The offered salary may vary based on the candidate’s job-specific knowledge, skills, and experience.

As a Legal Assistant (Real Property and Planning), you will be responsible for:

Documents

• Preparing, editing, formatting, printing, scanning and revising correspondence, memoranda, large transaction documents, reports, forms, labels and other printed material through dictation, copy typing or other instructions, in accordance with the requirements set by the practice group.
• Coordinating and dispersing tasks to be performed by various resource groups such as the Document Specialists, Administrative Clerks, Billing Assistants, etc. where appropriate while ensuring tasks are completed in a timely manner.
• Proofreading documents and checking for appropriate formatting, spelling, grammar and clarity.

File and Time Management

• Managing files including: opening new files, maintaining large and complex files, developing, maintaining and utilizing an orderly filing and retrieval system to ensure ease of reference to historical paper or electronic records, organizing law and precedent files.
• Working with Records Management and Administrative Clerks to create, maintain and store client files as appropriate.
• Updating calendars for assigned lawyers, including their meetings, appointments, due dates and client-related activities.

Lawyer / Client Support

• Coordinating lawyer travel arrangements, including preparing itineraries and travel expense reports.Updating contact names and addresses in the client database on a regular basis.
• Coordinating client meetings, including scheduling rooms and arranging for needed catering or audio-visual equipment.

Mail, Fax and Phone Reception Functions

• Reviewing and routing incoming mail and fax communications; preparing and processing outgoing mail and faxes; and arranging for specialized mail or messenger services as required.
• Receiving, handling, screening and/or directing incoming calls as directed by lawyers; responding to routine inquiries and requests from clients; and taking messages as required.

Financial and Administrative Functions

• Assisting with the preparation and finalization of time entry on a daily basis according to firm standards in preparation for Billing Assistant to process.Working with Finance to coordinate new Client and Matter openings (KYC);
• Coordinating activities with functional area staff (Office Services, Marketing, etc.), as needed.Providing consistent backup support when assistants are absent; providing support to assistants who may be managing multiple tasks and/or difficult deadlines; and working proactively as a positive and productive member of the team.

Other

• Maintaining and updating job knowledge and technical skills by identifying and participating in education opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned.

As our ideal candidate, you will have:

• Legal Assistant diploma or college certificate in office administration or Information & Communications Technologies or equivalent.
• Minimum 3 years of experience as a legal assistant or as an assistant with experience ideally acquired in a professional services environment. Experience in Real Property & Planning would be an asset.
• In-depth knowledge of business and legal terminology.
• Strong attention to detail and superior word processing, spelling, proofreading and editing skills.
• Capacity to perform duties with speed and accuracy.
• Strong time management, organizational and multi-tasking skills and ability to work under pressure to meet important deadlines.
• Ability to follow-up on files and delays with minimal supervision.
• High level of discretion and confidentiality.
• Flexibility to occasionally work overtime.

Why Join McCarthy Tétrault – Key Benefits

As a member of the McCarthy Tétrault team, you will have access to a comprehensive and competitive rewards package designed to support your professional and personal well-being:

• Outstanding benefits from day one, including insurance premiums paid by the Firm and wellness and technology reimbursements.
• Comprehensive wellbeing support, including access to Dialogue for confidential mental health support, virtual healthcare assistance, and proactive wellness resources for you.
• Competitive compensation, paid overtime and generous time off, including a day off to volunteer and a day off for your birthday.
• Commitment to learning and growth, with ongoing professional development opportunities for people at all levels.
• Strong community involvement and a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• A supportive, collaborative culture that values contribution, accountability and shared success across legal and business teams.

We thank all applicants for their interest in McCarthy Tétrault; however, only chosen applicants will be contacted. We regret that we are unable to respond to individual inquiries about application status. McCarthy Tétrault is an equal opportunity employer that fosters an inclusive, equitable, and accessible environment. Please notify us if you require accommodation at any time during the recruitment process.