Receptionist/Office Assistant – Patterson Law LLP (Halifax)

Nova Scotia Barristers' Society; Halifax; Hybrid; CAD 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Group insurance from day one

Pension plan after one year

Job summary

Patterson Law LLP in Halifax seeks an energetic Receptionist/Office Assistant to support the busy Halifax office at 2016 Quinn Street. You will handle calls, greet clients, manage meetings, and assist with basic accounting and clerical tasks.

Responsibilities include mail, couriers, inventory, filing, time entry, and coverage for staff during busy periods. Candidates with formal legal admin education and strong communication will excel in this role.

Qualifications

• Formal legal administrative assistant education and training are assets.
• Prior reception experience in a similar professional environment is an asset.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with ability to listen effectively and respond appropriately.
• Calm under pressure in a time-sensitive, and fast-paced setting.
• Highly organized with an affinity for technology and accuracy in reports.
• Strong spelling, grammar, and punctuation for quality control.

Responsibilities

• Handle incoming calls and walk-in clients, route calls to appropriate offices.
• Arrange couriers, manage mail, faxes, and payments with receipts.
• Keep reception area tidy and meeting rooms clean and ready.
• Order supplies and maintain office inventory.
• Assist with file openings, time entry, transcription, and document prep.
• Provide coverage for other staff during busy periods.

Skills

Excellent communication

Interpersonal skills

Multitasking

Calm under pressure

Attention to detail

Technology affinity

Education

Formal legal administrative assistant education (assets)

Tools

Time entry

Transcriptions

Filing and document management

Microsoft Office Suite

Scanning and photocopying

Job description

Receptionist/Office Assistant – Patterson Law LLP (Halifax)

• September 21, 2026

We have an immediate opening for an energetic RECEPTIONIST/OFFICE ASSISTANT to join our bustling Halifax office located at 2016 Quinn Street.

The Receptionist/Office Assistant has responsibility for day-to-day functions that keep our office running smoothly. This includes efficient handling of incoming calls and walk-in clients, contact with vendors, scheduling meetings, managing meeting room utilization, as well as basic accounting and general administrative tasks.

Standard work hours are 37.5 per week, Monday to Friday 8:30-5:00. These are hours are in-office and inflexible due to office opening/closing responsibilities.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

• Typical Reception duties, including greeting and servicing clients, directing calls as appropriate. As part of a firm-wide reception pool, assist with call-taking for other offices upon request. Our receptionists also take calls remotely during unexpected closures, such as inclement weather.
• Arranging couriers, sorting and distributing mail, managing incoming and outgoing faxes, taking payments in-person and over the phone and providing receipts
• Keeping the reception area tidy at all times, maintaining a clean kitchen area, and ensuring the meeting rooms are cleaned and reset after each meeting
• Assisting with ordering and maintaining inventory for the office, including ordering coffee, supplies, and putting away upon receipt
• Assisting with a variety of administrative work. This may include assistance with file openings (electronic & physical), time entry, transcriptions, compiling materials for clients or in advance of meetings, conflict checks, culling file materials, sorting documents in preparation for filing, scanning and filing, photocopying/collating/binding, etc.
• Assisting with coverage for other office staff during periods of absence or heavy workloads
• Completion of other administrative tasks and projects as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• Formal legal administrative assistant education and training are assets
• Prior reception experience in a similar professional work environment is an asset
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with ability to listen effectively, respond appropriately, and maintain mutual comfort level while relating to a diverse group of individuals
• Calm under pressure and able to remain productive within a time-sensitive and fast-paced environment
• Highly organized with an affinity for technology
• A strong knowledge of spelling, grammar, and punctuation to ensure quality control of reports and correspondence
• Proven problem-solving skills with the ability to visualize and deliver creative solutions
• Ability to multitask, establish priorities, work independently, and proceed with objectives under minimal supervision
• Energetic, flexible, and willing to pitch in wherever necessary

Patterson Law LLP is an established Nova Scotia law firm with offices in Truro, New Glasgow, Halifax, and Bridgewater and with clients whose interests range from global to purely local. Our more than 150 lawyers and staff are dedicated to meeting our clients’ diverse legal needs. We endeavour to maintain the highest standard of service to our clients. This can only be accomplished by employing qualified, educated, and motivated staff.

We are pleased to offer our staff a competitive salary, group insurance coverage from day one, and pension plan membership after a year.

Patterson Law LLP hires on the basis of merit. We are committed to employment equity and welcome diversity. Applications are encouraged from all interested and qualified individuals.