Chicago Estate Planning/Corporate Legal Assistant

Roetzel & Andress; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Health savings account

Flexible spending accounts

401(k) / profit sharing

Job summary

Roetzel & Andress in Chicago seeks a legal assistant with strong estate planning experience and a corporate background. Tax experience is a plus. The role involves managing day-to-day administrative tasks for the practice and assisting attorneys with various document and filing duties.

The ideal candidate is highly motivated with excellent communication, organization, and computer skills, and will adapt to evolving firm technologies while upholding professional standards.

Qualifications

• Five years of prior legal assistant experience in estate planning required.
• Typing skills of 60+ wpm required.
• Proficiency in current and emerging technologies relevant to legal practice (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, iManage, e-filing).
• Ability to work under pressure with deadlines and changing priorities.
• Strong organization and time management with client-focused professionalism.

Responsibilities

• Deliver comprehensive administrative and clerical support to attorneys.
• Draft, edit, and prepare legal documents and correspondence.
• File documents electronically and coordinate court submissions.
• Maintain and organize client files in iManage.
• Manage attorney calendars and schedules; coordinate with Central Docketing.

Skills

Estate planning

Corporate law

Tax

Typing 60+wpm

Technology proficiency

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Tools

iManage

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

E-filing systems

Job description

The Chicago office of Roetzel & Andress is seeking a legal assistant with strong estate planning experience along with a corporate background. Tax experience in addition is a plus. The legal assistant will be responsible for managing day-to-day administrative and clerical needs of the practice. The ideal candidate is highly motivated, with excellent communication, organizational and computer skills.

Roetzel & Andress is a full-service law firm with offices located throughout Ohio, Florida, and Chicago. The firm provides comprehensive legal services to national and international corporations, closely held and family-run businesses, institutions, organizations, and individuals.

Primary Responsibilities

• Delivers comprehensive administrative and clerical assistance to attorneys, tailored to the unique needs and priorities of their specific practice group.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities Include (but not limited to)

• Demonstrate proficiency in current legal terminology and software used within the firm.
• Draft, edit, and prepare legal correspondence, court documents, and internal forms using document management systems and formatting tools.
• Electronically file and record documents in relevant jurisdictions, and coordinate delivery for courts or agencies not accepting digital submissions.
• Organize, update, and maintain digital client files in iManage, ensuring all documents and correspondence are promptly uploaded and accurately categorized.
• Process and profile all incoming, outgoing, and internal mail, digitally within the firm’s document management system, iManage.
• Effectively manage and update the calendars and schedules of assigned attorneys, leveraging digital scheduling tools and coordinating with the Central Docketing team for litigation deadlines.
• Communicate with clients, courts, and professional contacts on behalf of attorneys, utilizing secure email and virtual communication platforms.
• Keep attorneys informed of daily priorities, schedule changes, and key deadlines.
• Enter and process client disbursement and billing records using established electronic accounting procedures.
• Support colleagues during peak workload periods and assist with special projects using collaborative technology solutions.
• Arrange and coordinate travel using online booking platforms to streamline logistics for attorneys and legal teams.
• Adapt to evolving firm technologies, participating in ongoing training to continually enhance operational efficiency and uphold the firm’s standards.
• Interface with other departments as needed as it relates to supporting attorneys.
• Other duties or projects assigned consistent with the nature of the position and goals of the Firm.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• High School graduate or equivalency required; post-secondary related education or training preferred.
• Minimum five-year prior legal assistant experience in estate planning required.
• Typing skills of 60+ wpm required.
• Proficiency in current and emerging technologies relevant to legal practice (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, iManage, e-filing systems).
• Demonstrated ability to work well under pressure with deadlines and changing priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work and time.
• Flexible attitude towards daily tasks.
• Demonstrates a professional and client-focused approach in all interactions with clients, colleagues, and professional associates.
• Possesses strong knowledge of legal vocabulary and abbreviations, along with excellent grammar, spelling, and proofreading skills.
• Proficient in practice-specific technology platforms.

Measures of Performance

Job knowledge and efficiency

• Demonstrated job knowledge, efficiency, and sound judgment in all administrative tasks.
• Consistent quality and quantity of work, with a focus on organization, accuracy, and client service excellence.

Technology skills and usage of technology

• Adaptability to evolving firm technologies, including active participation in ongoing training to continually enhance operational efficiency and uphold firm standards.

Judgment and initiative

• Exercise discretion and sound decision-making in prioritizing tasks and resolving routine challenges independently.
• Proactively identify opportunities to improve workflows, anticipate potential issues, and suggest practical solutions to enhance team and firm operations.

Teamwork and client service

• Support for colleagues during periods of heavy workload and participation in special projects using collaborative technologies.

Administrative and firm citizenship

• Positive teamwork, firm citizenship, and a flexible, service-oriented approach to daily responsibilities and priorities.

Organization and accuracy of client files in iManage

• Timely and accurate organization, updating, and maintenance of client files in iManage, including prompt uploading and categorization of all documents and correspondence.

The candidate must also pass a background check as a condition for employment.

The starting salary range for this position is $80,000 and $95,000. The benefits available include medical, dental, health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, dependent care accounts, group term life, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, short term disability, voluntary long-term disability, 401(k)/profit sharing plan, transportation allowance, paid time off, paid holidays, employee assistance plan, and the Calm app.

Roetzel & Andress, LPA (Roetzel) is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Roetzel & Andress maintains a policy of non-discrimination and inclusion with respect to all employees and applicants for employment. All decisions as to employment with the Firm are governed solely on the basis of merit, competence, and qualifications, and are not influenced or informed in any manner by the employee’s or applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by statute.

Roetzel & Andress LPA participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.