Legal Assistant

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.; Ridgedale Park (NJ); On-site; USD 41,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Barnes & Noble Education (BNED) is seeking a Legal Assistant to provide administrative and substantive support to the Legal Department in a hybrid Florham Park, NJ role. You will handle contracts, compliance, and governance tasks while coordinating intake, records, and documents with attorneys.

The position offers training toward broader responsibilities, including privacy, IP, and contract templates, with a focus on accuracy, confidentiality, and efficient workflows using AI tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience preferred.
• 1–3 years of experience in a legal, corporate, administrative, or similarly professional environment preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with professional interaction across the organization and external stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, including creating editable templates, forms, trackers, and presentations.
• Familiarity with document management, electronic signatures, contract lifecycle management, privacy management, or similar systems is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate day-to-day Legal Department administration, including invoice intake and coding, calendars, deadlines, and records.
• Support attorneys with contracts, claims, privacy, compliance, and governance matters.
• Assist with NDA preparation, template usage, and signature coordination.
• Maintain matter files, trackers, and corporate governance documents; prepare meeting materials.
• Leverage AI tools to enhance document preparation and workflows under attorney direction.
• Perform research, redaction, FOIA tasks, and assist with special projects as needed.

Skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

MS Word/Excel/PowerPoint

Familiarity with document management

Contract lifecycle management

AI tools proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

OneTrust

Electronic signatures

Job description

Education - It's in Our DNAAt Barnes & Noble Education (“BNED”) and across our family of brands, we are dedicated to making tomorrow a better, more inclusive, and smarter world by servicing all who work in education. As a leading solutions provider for the education industry, we are committed to driving affordability, accessibility, and achievement at hundreds of academic institutions nationwide by ensuring millions of students are equipped for success in the classroom and beyond. Together, our teams work to elevate lives through education.The Legal Assistant provides administrative, operational, and developing substantive support to the Legal Department. This role coordinates recurring legal processes, maintains department records and tracking systems, supports attorneys with contracts, claims, privacy, compliance, and corporate governance matters, and serves as a key point of coordination for internal and external legal requests. The position offers the opportunity to expand into more substantive legal responsibilities over time, including legal research, contract administration, privacy, intellectual property, corporate governance, and legal technology, with appropriate training and attorney guidance.How You'll Make an ImpactCoordinate day-to-day Legal Department administration, including legal invoice intake and coding, calendars and deadlines, department files and trackers, notarization, and organization of legal records and materials.Monitor designated Legal and privacy mailboxes, including general privacy and COPPA inquiries; manage initial intake, route requests to the appropriate attorney or business partner, track follow-up, and maintain organized records of requests and responses.Coordinate routine legal intake and response processes involving service of process, BBB complaints, subpoenas, garnishments, litigation holds, and threatened claims. Gather relevant information, maintain matter files and trackers, monitor deadlines, and escalate substantive issues to counsel as appropriate.Support recurring compliance and public records activities, including government contracting requirements, FOIA and other public records requests, related-party and insider information requests, and other Legal Department compliance matters.Assist with the preparation and administration of NDAs and other routine legal documents using approved templates. Support document formatting, contract intake, preparation of initial drafts from approved forms, signature coordination, electronic signatures, follow-up on outstanding documents, and maintenance of final executed agreements.Coordinate recurring Legal Department and cross-functional activities, including subsidiary quarterly meetings, preparation and organization of meeting materials, tracking of follow-up items, and maintenance of corporate governance documents, Company policies, legal forms, and templates.Conduct defined legal and factual research and assist with information gathering, document review, FOIA research, and redaction projects under attorney direction.As knowledge and experience develop, support additional Legal Department initiatives, including privacy compliance, trademark and copyright maintenance, contract review projects, and development of legal templates, forms, and workflows.Leverage approved AI and other technology tools to enhance document preparation, research support, contract and workflow administration, and process efficiency, while exercising appropriate judgment and adhering to Company policies and attorney directionAdditional responsibilities as requiredWhat You'll Need to SucceedBachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience preferred.One to three years of experience in a legal, corporate, administrative, or similarly professional environment preferred.Familiarity with legal terminology, document structures, and legal or business workflows preferred, with an interest in developing broader substantive legal support skills.Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally and effectively with employees across the organization and external stakeholders.Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain accurate records, monitor deadlines, and follow matters through completion.Ability to follow established processes, identify missing information or required follow-up, exercise sound judgment within the scope of the role, and escalate questions or substantive legal matters appropriately.Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, including the ability to create and maintain professional documents, editable templates, forms, trackers, and presentations.Familiarity with document management, electronic signature, contract lifecycle management, privacy management, or similar systems is a plus. Experience with OneTrust is also a plus.Demonstrated curiosity and ability to learn and leverage AI and other technology tools to improve efficiency, research, document preparation, and workflows, with an understanding of the importance of accuracy, confidentiality, and responsible use.Current New Jersey Notary Public commission is a plus, or willingness and ability to obtain and maintain a Notary Public commission following hire.Please Note: This is a hybrid role requiring in-office attendance three (3) days per week at our Florham Park, NJ headquarters. Applicants must be within a commutable distance, as relocation assistance will not be provided.How We Elevate Our EmployeesWe believe your success is our success, so our benefits package is designed specifically to support you in every aspect of your life. At BNED, we offer a variety of programs and resources to support the physical, mental, and financial well-being of our employees by offering a competitive total rewards package for full-time employees, which includes medical, dental, and vision plans, 401k with an annual discretionary match, life insurance, commuter benefits, paid time off with paid holidays, and a broad range of other benefits.The hiring range for this position is $30-35 per hour. This range represents the base salary only, in good faith at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as relevant experience, skills, and qualifications. This position is bonus-eligible, with bonus amounts determined at the company’s discretion based on individual qualifications and applicable program terms.Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & InclusionAt Barnes & Noble Education, we empower everyone. Our mission is to support students, faculty, and schools, serving as a catalyst to meet the evolving needs of the education system and a new generation of students. That starts with fostering an environment for our employees where diversity and individuality is celebrated.Barnes & Noble Education is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.Barnes & Noble Education provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and employment process. If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete an application or participate in the interview process, please contact [e-mail].