Legal Executive Assistant - Disputes

DLA Piper•San Francisco, CA

2d•$49 - $66•Hybrid

About The Position

The Legal Executive Assistant (LEA) – Disputes supports lawyers by managing the daily functions of an attorney’s practice, allowing them to focus on developing and sustaining their practice. The role serves as an executive-level assistant and trusted business partner, creating connections, delivering critical information, ensuring meetings and materials are accurate, and helping advance the priorities of the practice and its clients. The LEA works collaboratively with Legal Administrative Assistants (LAAs) and Legal Support Assistants (LSAs) who support the attorney’s legal team. The position requires administrative competence and a thorough understanding of legal practice procedures, business context, terminology, and documents. The LEA helps ensure the smooth operation of the attorney’s practice and represents the Firm professionally. This position is based in DLA Piper’s San Francisco office and offers a hybrid work schedule, with the specific arrangement determined at hiring and subject to modification at the Firm’s discretion.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least 5 years of experience in an administrative role within a corporate or legal environment supporting upper-level leadership.
Ability to communicate effectively in the region’s native language by email and voice.
In-depth knowledge of processes, procedures, and document types needed to provide high-level administrative and legal support.
Professionalism, discretion, adaptability, initiative, and commitment to continual development, including careful handling of confidential information and sensitive legal matters.
Effective written and verbal communication, listening, interpersonal skills, and ability to convey complex information clearly and concisely.
Strong time management, attention to detail, planning, prioritization, and multitasking skills in a fast-paced, demanding environment; ability to work under pressure and maintain productivity.
Ability to identify solutions, respond to requests and challenges, and seek firm resources to ensure accurate and timely work product.
Expert experience with technology and firm software, including research tools, case management software, accounting software, and standard production applications such as Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
Ability to adapt to application upgrades and use AI-powered tools for document work.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in legal studies, business administration, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Manage attorney projects, coordinate with lawyers and administrative teams, and help ensure deadlines and project milestones are met.
Serve as a liaison between attorneys, clients, and internal departments; handle inquiries and relay messages accurately, using independent judgment when responding on the attorney’s behalf.
Develop professional relationships, provide direction and constructive feedback, resolve conflicts, and collaborate with people throughout the organization.
Delegate assignments to LSAs and AskLegalSupport, monitor progress, communicate with support teams, and recommend service improvements to firm management.
Collaborate with other LEAs and LAAs on complex projects and provide mentorship and support to LSAs.
Provide ongoing feedback and mentoring to LSAs to support their professional development.
Draft, proofread, finalize, and review legal documents, correspondence, and presentations for accuracy; provide feedback to internal support teams.
Support information governance and records management for client and matter work, including organizing content in approved repositories, following firm policies, supporting matter close-out, and liaising with IG/Records resources.
Conduct research for attorneys and practice groups, compile information for case preparation and executive briefings, and coordinate with internal support teams on presentations and other materials.
Plan meetings and coordinate logistics with internal and external parties; prepare agendas and materials and ensure meeting requests are managed accurately and promptly.
Oversee billing matters, including approval forms and correspondence; ensure prebills are processed accurately and promptly, address billing questions as an attorney proxy, and facilitate timely delivery and follow-up of final bills.
Manage the attorney’s calendar, schedule meetings, resolve conflicts, organize complex travel itineraries, communicate competing priorities and propose solutions, and ensure expenses and time entry are assigned to AskLegalSupport and processed correctly.