Legal Assistant - Business

Phelps Dunbar LLP is an AmLaw 200 full-service law firm. Phelps is offering an opportunity for a Legal Assistant supporting a group of attorneys in the Business practice group in the New Orleans office. The Legal Assistant is responsible for supporting a group of attorneys within the Business practice group through the performance of complex secretarial, administrative and substantive legal duties.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist attorneys in all stages of business and commercial real estate transactions (i.e. forming corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships and other legal entities); commercial financing transactions; utility/electric regulatory law and healthcare law.

• Leverage technology resources to ensure the group of attorneys is operating as efficiently and effectively as possible.
• Identify most efficient and effective manner to complete tasks.
• Prepare documents by transcribing, formatting, inputting, editing, retrieving, copying, printing and transmitting text, data and graphics using office software applications.
• A knowledge and appreciation of the legal processes that facilitate the accurate preparation of client documents and responding to filing or closing deadlines.
• Professional demeanor when engaging with attorneys, clients and firm personnel.
• Make travel arrangements.
• Handle incoming and outgoing mail, faxes and scan documents.
• Ensure that documents are saved and filed into the appropriate workspaces/folders in FileSite.
• Maintain the daily calendar of each attorney including, but not limited to, scheduling appointments, meetings and travel arrangements.
• Maintain Outlook contacts for each attorney as appropriate.
• Maintain updated correspondence and pleadings files. Handle personally or oversee a records clerk as to filing, indexing, and creating sub-files. (this should be electronic for most part)
• Maintain a master list for each file and update the list as new files or matters are opened. Maintain a master physical file location list.
• Open files, close files and assist with conflicts checks.
• Requests reimbursement for attorneys through Chrome River and for client costs through Accounts Payable.
• Maintain a good working rapport with clients which requires discretion and judgment.
• Regular and predictable attendance is an essential function of the job.