Legal Support Specialist

Sidley Austin LLP; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 71,000 - 91,000; Full time

Job summary

Sidley Austin LLP in Charlotte, NC seeks a Legal Support Specialist to provide high-level administrative and practice-specific support to attorneys within the Global Finance Practice Group.

You will anticipate needs, manage competing priorities, and coordinate confidential communications while supporting onboarding, meetings, and cross-office coordination. This role requires 5+ years of legal support and proficiency with Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of legal support experience in a law firm or professional services environment.
• Experience supporting partners, senior attorneys, or senior-level professionals.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, and document management systems.
• Strong organizational, proofreading, formatting, and communication skills.
• Preferred Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• Experience supporting finance, banking, corporate, transactional, or related practices.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level administrative and operational support to partners and associates.
• Coordinate confidential communications, reports, presentations, and practice materials.
• Serve as a liaison among attorneys, clients, Firm leadership, and Business Services departments.
• Support attorney onboarding, practice initiatives, meetings, and cross-office coordination.
• Assist with administrative coordination of finance transactions and client matters.
• Organize transaction documents, correspondence, signature materials, and matter files.
• Manage complex calendars, meetings, conferences, and business development activities.
• Draft, edit, format, and proofread correspondence, presentations, and other materials.
• Support time entry, proforma review, invoice preparation, and billing follow-up.
• Coordinate with Accounting to address billing issues and client requirements.
• Coordinate complex domestic and international travel arrangements.

Skills

Legal support

Administrative support

Microsoft Office Suite

Adobe Acrobat

Document management systems

Organization

Communication

Client service

Discretion

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Adobe Acrobat

Document management systems

Job description

The Legal Support Specialist provides high-level administrative and practice-specific support to attorneys within the Global Finance Practice Group. This role serves as a trusted business partner who anticipates needs, independently manages competing priorities, exercises sound judgment, and delivers responsive client service in a fast-paced environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Attorney & Practice Support Provide high-level administrative and operational support to partners and associates. Anticipate attorney needs and independently manage priorities, deadlines, and workflow. Coordinate confidential communications, reports, presentations, and practice materials. Serve as a liaison among attorneys, clients, Firm leadership, and Business Services departments. Support attorney onboarding, practice initiatives, meetings, and cross-office coordination.
• Transaction & Matter Support Assist with administrative coordination of finance transactions and client matters. Organize transaction documents, correspondence, signature materials, and matter files. Assist with closings and post-closing administrative requirements, as appropriate. Track outstanding items and proactively follow up to facilitate timely completion. Assist with new matter intake, conflicts, and matter maintenance.
• Calendar & Communications Manage complex calendars, meetings, conferences, and business development activities. Independently prioritize competing scheduling requests based on attorney and business needs. Draft, edit, format, and proofread correspondence, presentations, and other materials. Coordinate meetings across offices and time zones.
• Billing & Financial Support Support time entry, proforma review, invoice preparation, and billing follow-up. Assist with budgets, accruals, client billing arrangements, and financial reports. Coordinate with Accounting to address billing issues and client requirements.
• Travel & Expenses Coordinate complex domestic and international travel arrangements. Prepare itineraries, registrations, and other travel-related materials. Prepare and process attorney expense reports. Resolve last-minute travel changes promptly and professionally.
• Practice & Business Development Support practice group meetings, retreats, client events, and leadership activities. Coordinate with Marketing/Business Development and other departments on practice initiatives. Assist with presentations, client meetings, and related materials.

Education and/or Experience

Required: 5+ years of legal support experience in a law firm or professional services environment. Experience supporting partners, senior attorneys, or senior-level professionals. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, and document management systems. Strong organizational, proofreading, formatting, and communication skills. Preferred Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Experience supporting finance, banking, corporate, transactional, or related practices. Experience supporting practice group leadership or attorneys with complex client responsibilities.

Other Skills and Abilities

• Judgment: Independently assesses priorities and determines appropriate next steps.
• Initiative: Anticipates needs and proactively identifies solutions.
• Ownership: Takes responsibility for assignments through completion and follows up as needed.
• Organization: Effectively manages multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders.
• Client Service: Demonstrates responsiveness, professionalism, and adaptability.
• Communication: Communicates effectively with attorneys, clients, and colleagues.
• Relationship Management: Builds trusted and productive working relationships.
• Discretion: Maintains confidentiality and handles sensitive information appropriately.
• Technology: Effectively uses Firm technology and adapts to new systems and tools.

#LI-EC1 The target salary range for this role is: $71,000 - $91,000 if located in North Carolina. Salaries vary by location and are based on numerous factors, including, but not limited to, the relevant market, skills, experience, and education of the selected candidate. Our compensation package also includes bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits program. Benefits information can be found at Sidley.com/Benefits.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the duties and responsibilities above satisfactorily and meet the requirements. The requirements listed above are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. If you need such an accommodation, please email [e-mail] (current employees should contact Human Resources). Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Sidley is an elite global law firm with a known reputation of deploying innovative strategies to achieve powerful results. Business professionals are essential to the firm’s ability to deliver the highest quality legal services to our clients. We are always looking for talented, motivated individuals who thrive in a performance-driven culture to join our team.

Sidley employs approximately 2,300 lawyers working with our clients in complex transactional, restructuring, crisis management, investigation, regulatory, and litigation matters. Our 160 years of perspective and reach are truly global, supported by 21 offices strategically situated in key commercial, regulatory, and financial centers across the world. Our lawyers and business professionals, fluent in more than 75 languages, possess the cultural awareness and cross-border legal acumen needed to bring clarity to a dynamic business landscape.