Practice Team Assistant

Practice Team Assistant

Cooley is seeking a Practice Team Assistant to join our San Francisco Litigation Department.

About Cooley: Cooley is a global law firm with an expansive practice and more than 3,000 employees and partners worldwide. We value and celebrate diverse perspectives and strive to create a workplace where every individual can thrive. At the core of Cooley’s success is the exceptional talent and unwavering spirit of our people. We embrace individuality while fostering a ‘one-firm’ culture where collaboration and creativity thrive. Our people are the foundation of our success and the driving force behind everything we do.

Hybrid Schedule Philosophy: As part of the Cooley culture, we recognize and appreciate the value of being together, in person, to build comradery with others in the office and to be a contributing member of the Cooley office. However, we also appreciate the benefits and flexibility that come from remote working. As such, the default assumption for employees and partners is a hybrid schedule: some in-office presence and some work from home days absent certain essential in-office roles that require five (5) days/week in-office.

Position summary:   The Practice Team Assistant is responsible for providing administrative and clerical support for various administrative projects and duties in support of the timekeepers, Legal Support Assistants, Legal Support Specialists in the assigned practice group(s).  Specific duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

Position responsibilities:  

• Open and organize all interoffice mail for team members
• Answer timekeeper phones as necessary (will ring on assigned legal secretary desk, but calls may be auto forwarded to assistant when legal secretary is out)
• Assist with lunch orders, car service and other scheduling tasks, as needed
• Greet visitors; escort them to appropriate meeting rooms and provide them with amenities, as needed
• Provide administrative support by conducting research, preparing reports, handling information requests, and performing clerical functions such as preparing correspondence for signature, arranging conference calls, setting up web meetings, retrieving corporate documents and updating contact databases
• Review, proof all documents prepared for accuracy, completeness and grammar and syntax
• Handle confidential and sensitive information with the appropriate discretion; perform to earn supervisors’ full confidence and trust in all interactions
• As requested, schedule, coordinate and confirm meeting space and relevant attendees for team member meetings.
• As requested, coordinate travel arrangements
• Prepare and process expense reports, check requests, travel, health club reimbursement forms, etc. in accordance with accounting guidelines
• Track relevant travel and expense receipts for accurate accounting reconciliations.  File and track reimbursements, credits and refunds through to completion
• Prepare documents to support team members with overflow work which may include revisions, edits, and proofreading end product
• Assist with internal procedures for the preparation of audit letter responses when needed and where applicable
• On behalf of the timekeepers, enter and submit time entries.  As requested, maintain file copies of released time
• Create and maintain files, including chronological files and indexes not stored in Information Governance department
• Complete e-filing in the firm’s document management system, as requested
• Keep all files up-to-date and organized.  Ensure materials are forwarded to the Information Governance department, as necessary
• Complete all document processing and correspondence assignments accurately and within timekeepers’ stated timeframes
• Prepare and arrange messenger service, copy center and facsimile requests, as needed
• Copy documents that are not appropriate to send to the copy center
• Scan documents into PDF format
• Print large PDF documents and emails
• Burning and label CDs and DVDs
• Consistently use the CRM tool to support business development in the firm, including taking ownership of contact information for attorney’s contacts and updating, maintaining and resolving conflicts within the CRM tool
• Coordinate and assist with other special projects, as required
• Assist other team members and timekeepers with various administrative tasks
• All other duties as assigned or required

Skills and experience:

Required:

• After orientation at Cooley LLP, exhibit proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, iManage and other firm applications
• Available to work overtime, as required

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Previous general office experience
• Previous law firm or professional services industry experience

Competencies:

• Ability to complete tasks independently in a fast-paced environment for multiple assigned timekeepers while working as part of a team
• Pro-actively prioritize work assignments and consistently meet deadlines
• Demonstrate initiative, diplomacy, and tact
• Ability to consistently deliver high-quality work with attention to detail in proofreading, writing, and communication
• Engage in a professional and polite manner with clients, colleagues, and others
• Reliable, committed, organized, and punctual
• Strong administrative and secretarial skills
• Excellent verbal (both listening and speaking) and written communication skills
• Ability to function well as a team member

Cooley offers a competitive compensation and excellent benefits package and is committed to fair and equitable employment practices. EEO.

The expected hourly pay range for this position with a work schedule of 40 hours per week is $29.00 - $35.00 ($60,320.00 - $72,800.00 annually).

We offer a full range of elective benefits including medical, health savings account (with applicable medical plan), dental, vision, health and/or dependent care flexible spending accounts, pre-tax commuter benefits, life insurance, AD&D, long-term care coverage, backup care for children and/or adults and other parental support benefits. In addition to elective benefit options, benefited employees receive firm-paid life insurance, AD&D, LTD, short term medical benefits as well as 20 days of Paid Time Off (“PTO”) and 10 paid holidays each year. We provide generous parental leave and fertility benefits. New employees will attend a detailed benefit orientation to learn more about our many benefits and resources.