Legal Secretary

Baker McKenzie International; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 35,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Baker McKenzie International in Riyadh is seeking a proactive Legal Secretary to support Partners and lawyers with document production, diary and travel management, and coordination of client activities in an international setting.

The role includes Arabic document production, client communications, bids and submissions, and work involving Saudi government portals. You will collaborate across teams, prioritising tasks with high attention to detail.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent; secretarial/business administration qualification desirable.
• Significant legal secretarial experience in an international law firm or similar environment.
• Fluency in Arabic and English, with strong written and verbal skills in both languages.
• Strong proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, including formatting and proofreading.
• Experience with legal practice management systems such as Intapp Time/Open is desirable.
• Experience with Saudi government portals and Arabic-language documents is advantageous.
• Ability to manage competing priorities with sound judgement and deadlines.
• Excellent organisation, analytical and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Deliver proactive secretarial and administrative support to partners, lawyers and practice groups.
• Produce, format and proofread legal documents, correspondence, presentations and reports.
• Draft routine correspondence on behalf of lawyers with discretion and accuracy.
• Manage complex calendars, meetings, travel and business activities.
• Coordinate communications and deadlines to ensure timely client work delivery.
• Provide Arabic-language support for documents, bids, submissions and client communications.
• Assist with processes requiring access to Saudi government portals.
• Build relationships across colleagues and offices and support during peak periods.
• Share knowledge and contribute to continuous improvement and service excellence.

Skills

Bilingual Arabic/English

Calendar management

Document production

Microsoft Office

Education

High school diploma

Secretarial qualification (desirable)

Tools

Intapp Time

Intapp Open

MS Word

Job description

The Legal Secretary will provide proactive, high-quality support to Partners and lawyers in Riyadh, including document production, diary and travel management, and the coordination of client and business activities.

The role will also support Arabic document production, client communications, bids and submissions, and activities involving Saudi government portals. Working collaboratively across teams, the successful candidate will demonstrate sound judgement, excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced international environment.

Main responsibilities:

• Deliver proactive and high-quality secretarial and administrative support to partners, lawyers and practice groups.
• Produce, format and proofread legal documents, correspondence, presentations, reports and other materials with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Draft routine correspondence and communications on behalf of lawyers, using discretion and sound judgement.
• Manage complex calendars, meetings, travel and business activities, anticipating requirements and resolving scheduling issues.
• Coordinate and prioritise communications, requests and deadlines to support the efficient delivery of client work.
• Provide accurate and timely Arabic-language support for documents, submissions, bids and client communications.
• Assist with processes requiring access to Saudi government portals and other relevant systems.
• Build effective working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders across the Firm.
• Provide flexible support across practice groups, particularly during periods of competing deadlines, leave or absence.
• Share knowledge and contribute to continuous improvement, collaboration and service excellence.

Skills and experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent qualification; a secretarial, business administration or related qualification is desirable.
• Significant legal secretarial experience gained within an international law firm, professional services organisation or similarly demanding environment.
• Fluency in Arabic and English, with excellent written and verbal communication skills in both languages.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, including document formatting, proofreading and presentation preparation.
• Experience using legal practice management and office systems, such as Intapp Time and Intapp Open, is desirable.
• Experience using relevant Saudi government portals and supporting Arabic-language documents, bids, submissions and client communications is advantageous.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgement and manage competing priorities within agreed deadlines.
• Strong organisational, analytical and problem-solving skills, with excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to build effective working relationships and collaborate with colleagues at all levels across practices and offices.
• A proactive and flexible approach, with a commitment to delivering high-quality service and supporting colleagues during periods of increased demand.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning, knowledge sharing and professional development.
• Ability to identify opportunities to improve administrative processes, working practices and service delivery.
• An understanding of marketing and business development materials within a legal or professional services environment is advantageous.

Reports to:Office Manager

Position type: In Market

Development framework: Business Support

About us

At Baker McKenzie we are different in the way we think, work and behave. With our team of 13,000 people, including over 6,500 locally admitted lawyers, in over 70 offices worldwide, we have a passionately collaborative community of 60 nationalities and are committed to world-class career development to everyone in every job at every level. Baker McKenzie can offer you both the uncompromising commitment to excellence expected of a top firm paired with a passionately global and genuinely collaborative working environment.

Additional Information

Baker McKenzie is a truly global law Firm. Founded in 1949, we advise many of the world’s most dynamic and successful business organisations through our 13,000 people in 77 offices across 47 countries. Yet big does not mean impersonal. We work hard to ensure that everyone knows their role and has the support they need to perform it to the highest standard. Our culture encourages this - how we work, think and behave in a collaborative and fulfilling way.

In the Gulf region Baker McKenzie has been active for more than three decades and our practice now boasts over 100 lawyers based in our seven offices in the Middle East – Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Cairo, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, and Riyadh. As a pioneering Firm, we were most notably the first to enter both the Saudi and Egyptian markets.

The Firm has built an established and substantial presence in the Middle East & Africa region, with all offices working in close collaboration to service clients’ needs on a range of matters, including banking and finance, project finance, Islamic finance, corporate/M&A and dispute resolution. We work closely with key local players — including governmental and regulatory entities, financial institutions, family-owned conglomerates and corporates across all industry sectors — as well with global investors and corporations establishing and consolidating their presence in the region.

Baker McKenzie has a culture of diversity and inclusion in its DNA – since our beginning, the differences of our people have helped us to work fluently across borders, cultures and practices. This is intrinsic to everything we do and underpins Baker McKenzie's vision to be the global law Firm of choice. We understand that organisations work best when people with different backgrounds and points of view are brought together. We also know people perform at their best when they can be themselves at work. Baker McKenzie is committed to serving our clients with innovative solutions brought about by a diverse talent pool and an inclusive community.

Baker McKenzie is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion for all. Our unique international culture is reflected in the drawing together of a worldwide family of individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds in all of our offices. We encourage the best people to fulfil their professional aspirations with us. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible experience for all candidates.