Senior Legal Assistant

Portland General Electric Company • Portland, OR

26d • $31 - $57 • Hybrid

About The Position

At PGE, our work involves dreaming about, planning for, and realizing a smarter, cleaner, more enduring Oregon neighborhood. Its core to our DNA and we haven’t stopped since we started in 1888. We energize lives, strengthen communities and drive advancements in energy that promote social, economic and environmental progress. We’re always on the lookout for people passionate about leading and being a part of teams that are advancing innovative clean energy solutions that are also affordable and accessible to all. As a Senior Legal Assistant, you will have the unique opportunity to provide critical support to PGE's legal department by managing complex legal projects, conducting advanced research, and serving as a subject matter expert for the legal team. You will collaborate with attorneys, company clients, outside counsel, and staff across all PGE departments to lead research efforts, prepare legal documents, draft correspondence, and manage attorney calendars while ensuring compliance with government agencies and court rules. A successful candidate will have advanced knowledge of legal processes and court procedures, exceptional research skills for governmental rulings and federal law, and the ability to recognize and handle highly confidential information, combined with advanced written/oral communication skills and superior organization and prioritization abilities. This role offers the exciting opportunity to be at the intersection of energy law and sustainability initiatives, contributing directly to PGE's clean energy transition through your legal support work. You'll gain unique insights into the evolving regulatory landscape of renewable energy while developing specialized expertise in utility law.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Typically five or more years of administrative experience with at least three years of experience in direct support of one or more attorneys or regulatory personnel.
• Advanced knowledge of processes, procedures, practices and terminology to support legal activities, including administrative systems and court rules and procedures
• Advanced skill in carrying out legal research for governmental rulings and federal law, including cite- checking
• Advanced ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment and prioritize diverse and conflicting deadlines
• Advanced ability to recognize and handle highly confidential information
• Advanced computer skills using Word, Excel, Outlook and Total Office
• Advanced attention-to-detail skills, including accurate keying of court documents, contracts, correspondence and other legal documents
• Advanced skills in proofreading, editing and typing
• Advanced written and/oral communication skills
• Advanced analytical thinking skills
• Advanced diplomacy skills
• Advanced problem-solving skills
• Advanced organization and prioritization skills
• Intermediate business acumen
• Ability to adhere to set response times, deadlines and time-sensitive tasks
• Ability to follow accuracy standards
• Ability to follow through on decision-making tasks
• Ability to interact effectively and collaboratively within a team environment
• Ability to communicate and problem solve when under stress
• Ability to respond and adapt to frequent change
• Ability to accept and demonstrate self-awareness when provided constructive feedback
• Ability to discern feedback and acknowledge ownership of areas of improvement
• Ability to avoid future mistakes by applying reasonable skills to new but similar work situations or tasks
• Ability to successfully collaborate with peers, managers and others within the organization
• Demonstrates sound memory
• Ability to process new information to be applied consistently to work tasks
• Ability to work long hours
• Ability to work a variable schedule
• Ability to report to work and perform work during periods of severe inclement weather
• Ability to consistently meet attendance standards for regular, reliable, predictable, full-time attendance

Responsibilities

• Attorney Support - Support assigned attorney(s) by providing administrative services. Collaborate with assigned attorney(s), company clients, outside counsel, company officers, department managers and staff across all PGE departments to lead research efforts, document preparation,, draft and transmit correspondence, legal documents and filings and manage calendars. Prioritize workload for assigned attorney(s) on daily basis. Train other legal assistants and serve as a subject matter expert to the team.
• Legal Projects Support - Lead efforts to analyze and compile data. Draft pleadings; review correspondence and documents for preliminary action; keep attorney(s) apprised of new developments on case matters; coordinate and review legal documents for completeness and compliance with government agencies and state and federal court rules. Establish and maintain organized procedures for maintaining case files/materials and client lists and for referencing cases, projects and contracts. Create information-retrieval systems. Provide subject matter expertise to other legal assistants.
• Research Information - Lead research efforts using PGE's online legal research programs, the Internet and other resources. Instruct other legal assistants on accomplishing research as needed. Seek and maintain knowledge of legal practice areas which pertain to the attorneys being supported, including keeping informed of new developments in legal matters, court procedures and statutory changes.
• General Administrative - Determine circulation of information within and outside the department. Prioritize mail, ensuring that incoming matters are handled appropriately and in a timely manner. Work with a budget coordinator on engagement letters and work orders for outside counsel. Ensure attorneys' Oregon State Bar re porting requirements meet state rules, requirements and time lines and file in a timely manner. Organize presentations, projects, meetings and depositions for department, company and/or outside counsel.
• Travel Arrangements - Plan and make travel arrangements for attorneys, including completing necessary travel authorizations and expense reports. Train and advise other legal assistants as needed.
• Continuous Improvement - Lead process improvements and participate in establishing department goals. Perform special projects and research studies. Participate in department committees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED