Legal Assistant - Dispute Resolution & Advocacy - 5+ Years - Toronto (Hybrid)

Lerners LLP•Toronto, ON

24d•$68,500 - $77,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Lerners is seeking a Legal Assistant to support the Dispute Resolution & Advocacy practice group in the Toronto, Ontario office. The ideal candidate will have over five (5) to eight (8) years of experience working in a similar position. The primary duties will be managing administration for multiple busy litigation lawyers with practices covering such areas as commercial litigation and arbitration, employment law, professional negligence, administrative law, and estates litigation. This is a Hybrid position and requires a minimum of 3 (three) days per week in the office.

Requirements

Legal Assistant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
At least five (5) to eight (8) years of experience as a Legal Assistant in a legal environment; commercial and/or civil litigation experience is an asset.
Strong understanding of the Ontario Rules of Civil Procedure, including service requirements, deadlines, and court forms.
Highly organized, with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage competing deadlines and multitask effectively.
Strong work ethic, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
Self‑motivated, with the ability to anticipate needs and proactively take next steps.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a professional and client‑focused approach.
Strong interpersonal and problem‑solving skills, exercising sound judgment and critical thinking.
Ability to independently troubleshoot and resolve administrative and procedural issues.
Demonstrated commitment to high‑quality client service and professionalism.
Comfort working with technology in a remote or hybrid environment.
Strong Microsoft Office skills, with the ability to quickly learn firm‑specific systems.
Proven ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and professionalism.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Ontario estates law procedures and processes is an asset.
Experience with legal software such as ACL, Case Center, iManage, and/or OneDrive is an asset.
Experience with court filing platforms, such as the Ontario Courts Public Portal (OCPP) and/or Justice Services Online (JSO) platform, is preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as a key administrative and practice support resource, including scheduling calls, meetings, examinations, appointments, and maintaining ongoing client communications.
Request conflict checks and manage file openings and closures.
Maintain lawyer calendars, proactively track deadlines, and manage an effective bring‑forward (BF) system.
Draft, format, proofread, and process legal documents based on precedents, including correspondence, agreements, applications, submissions, and court or tribunal filings.
Prepare and manage documents for client meetings and ongoing file administration.
Maintain accurate electronic file organization, including uploading, filing, naming, and document management using the firm’s Document Management System (iManage).
Compile, serve, and file court or tribunal materials, such as pleadings, motion materials, and submissions, as required, including in collaboration with law clerks.
Communicate professionally with clients, courts, experts, service providers, and other external stakeholders.
Assist with billing, accounts receivable, and accounts payable, including requesting and sending invoices, coordinating processing of payments and deposits, coordinating billing correspondence, and liaising with accounting staff.
Organize and submit expense reports.
Organize and coordinate internal and external meetings, including preparing agendas, materials, and minutes, where required.
Coordinate with other support staff (law clerks, assistants, records, and mailroom) to ensure timely completion of tasks.
Handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
Perform other duties related to the efficient administration and operation of the practice.