Legal Assistant, Litigation

Dentons•Ottawa, ON

4d•CA$65,000 - CA$75,000•Onsite

About The Position

Dentons Ottawa's Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group is seeking an experienced Legal Assistant with 3 to 4 years of relevant experience. This role is ideal for a confident, dependable, and business-minded professional who thrives in a collaborative environment, can effectively manage competing priorities, and adapts seamlessly to changing demands. The successful candidate will be highly organized, discreet, detail-oriented, and committed to delivering exceptional client service. With a proactive and client-focused mindset, they will take a genuine interest in understanding and anticipating the needs of both clients and legal professionals. In this role, they will contribute to maintaining the high standards of service and support that Dentons is known for, ensuring an outstanding experience for lawyers and clients alike.

Requirements

Post-secondary education in Business Administration or a related discipline; a Legal Administration or Law Clerk diploma is considered a strong asset.
3 to 4 years of experience in a legal assistant or comparable role, preferably within a litigation practice.
Solid understanding of civil litigation procedures, including the Ontario Rules of Civil Procedure, court forms, practice directions, and filing requirements.
Proficiency with legal accounting, docketing, and document management systems.
Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to deliver outstanding client service and interact professionally with a diverse range of stakeholders.
Superior organizational skills, strong attention to detail, and a commitment to producing accurate, high-quality work, including excellent proofreading and follow-up capabilities.
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, work effectively under pressure, and meet competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a positive, collaborative approach.
Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to exercise sound judgment and work independently with minimal supervision.
Demonstrated discretion, professionalism, and commitment to maintaining confidentiality, privacy, and the highest standards of ethical conduct.

Responsibilities

Draft, prepare, format, proofread, and revise correspondence, pleadings, briefs, court forms, and other litigation-related documents.
Coordinate the service and filing of court documents, including providing instructions to articling students, process servers, and external agents, and managing the acceptance of service as required.
Maintain an effective bring-forward system and monitor key dates, including filing deadlines, court appearances, examinations for discovery, meetings, and appointments.
Conduct basic legal and business intelligence research using online resources under the direction of legal professionals.
Manage and maintain electronic and physical client files in accordance with Firm policies, procedures, and records management standards, including maintaining precedent databases.
Prepare retainer agreements, open new client matters, and maintain accurate and up-to-date matter lists.
Respond to inquiries from clients, court staff, and other stakeholders in a professional and timely manner, following up as required.
Enter, track, and maintain lawyer dockets accurately and on a timely basis.
Coordinate communications on behalf of lawyers, including scheduling meetings and appointments, booking meeting rooms, and arranging travel and related logistics.
Provide proactive backup support to legal assistants and lawyers across the practice group, ensuring seamless service delivery and adherence to Firm standards and best practices.
Assist with additional administrative and practice support responsibilities as required to support the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group.