Legal Assistant for Criminal Defense Attorney in Philadelphia

Job Summary
We are seeking a dedicated legal assistant to support a criminal defense attorney in managing a busy law practice in Philadelphia. The ideal candidate will possess strong interpersonal and administrative skills, with experience working as a legal assistant in the past. This role involves answering phones, completing telephone client intake forms, scheduling new and existing client appointments, drafting letters and motions to judges and other other parties, e-filing legal documents in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties, drafting and filing expungement petitions, responding to professional emails from judges, attorneys and other professionals, assisting with case preparation, document management, and more. The legal assistant will play a vital role in supporting the attorney’s efforts to provide effective legal representation to clients in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties.

Duties

• Answer calls from clients on bail and in custody, family members, court staff, and legal professionals, including prosecutors, attorneys, judges, and their staff.
• Gather background information from prospective new clients or their family members so the attorney is prepared to discuss their case once the phone is handed off to the attorney.
• Manage attorney's calendar using MyCase CRM (which you will be trained on) and uploading relevant information regarding the case to MyCase to keep the firm's practice organized.
• Use a dictation machine through the computer, listen to and draft letters, motions, petitions, and other legal documents that can be reviewed by the attorney and correct all edits in Word.
• Create invoices and document payments received and other financial information in Quickbooks (can be trained if candidate has not used Quickbooks).
• Work in a fast paced environment where phones are ringing, attorneys are texting from court, and multiple tasks need to be handled quickly.
• Keep track of and order office supplies as needed.
• Provide executive administrative support such as scheduling appointments, managing communication via professional phone etiquette, and organizing appointments.
• Assist with trial preparation by reviewing discovery, organizing exhibits, evidence, and other materials needed for court proceedings.
• This job will provide you with the opportunity to work with multiple attorneys in one suite and earn additional money from attorneys who need assistance with their practices.

Experience

• Paralegal or legal assistant experience in a law office setting is required; experience supporting criminal defense attorneys is highly preferred.
• Familiarity with legal case management software including MyCase is desirable.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple cases simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail.
• Excellent writing skills for drafting legal documents and correspondence.
• Experience with document review, proofreading, transcription, data entry, and file management systems.
• Basic knowledge of criminal law and understanding the importance of professionalism and handling private and privileged information.
• Effective communication skills including professional phone etiquette and client interaction experience. This position offers an opportunity to work in a dynamic legal environment while honing your skills in legal research and case management within a professional team dedicated to justice.

Pay: $45,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Paid sick time
• Paid time off
• Profit sharing
• Retirement plan

Work Location: In person