Legal Assistant

Way Finders•Springfield, MA

4d•$26 - $29•Hybrid

About The Position

Way Finders is a Top Workplaces for Nonprofit organization, named as an employer of choice because our employees said so! At Way Finders, we are passionately invested in lifting up the region’s people, places, and systems. Though our team performs a wide variety of functions, we are united by our shared mission: to build and advocate for a thriving region; to improve the stability and economic mobility of families and individuals; and to develop and manage a robust range of safe, affordable housing options. Interested in joining our team of dedicated professionals? Way Finders is currently seeking a Legal Assistant for our Legal department. The Legal Assistant supports our mission by providing legal administrative support to the Chief Legal Officer, Managing Attorney, and Attorneys, by filing legal documents, responding to inquiries, establishing and maintaining efficient processes, and taking ownership of myriad administrative functions.

Requirements

2 years’ equivalent experience with 1 year in the legal field; an Associate or relevant certification may substitute for some experience
Adept with technology including Office365 and databases; comfort learning new software systems
Familiarity with legal terminology and processes
Superior proficiency in working in databases and the Microsoft Suite (including Excel), with comfort learning new technologies
Excellent organizational skills with the ability to establish priorities and schedule activities as necessary to complete all tasks in a timely manner, achieve deadlines, and effectively multi-task
Proven ability to maintain confidentiality in legal matters
Attention to detail
Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Nice To Haves

Preference for experience in a law firm or in-house environment with a variety of civil litigation or real estate transaction matters
Preference for experience working in Filevine or a similar database

Responsibilities

Prepare draft legal documents and correspondence
File documents and pleadings with courts
Draft routine correspondence on behalf of attorneys; review, edit, and prepare signature documents as appropriate
Monitor all legal correspondence, reviewing inquiries and supporting materials and responding to internal clients and external stakeholders, including attorneys, landlords, clients, and court personnel
Use judgment in the receipt, response and/or referral of emails from internal and external stakeholders, seeking guidance and direction when appropriate to determine desired action to be taken
Track project deadlines and/or escalating issues to the Chief Legal Officer and/or Managing Attorney as needed
Prepare written office procedures for tasks given
Perform basic administrative, clerical, and office support tasks, to include: scheduling meetings; copying, scanning, assembling, retrieving, indexing, and purging files; maintaining spreadsheets and databases; and preparing and distributing mailings
Create and maintain spreadsheets and databases of records and other information
Identify and maintain new processes to improve efficiency within the legal team
Enter data on legal data points, including KPIs and deadlines, using established databases and other tracking systems
Maintain and organize legal team file system, both physically and electronically