Trust & Estates Legal Assistant – Newark, NJ

McCarter & English, LLP is seeking a Legal Assistant for our Trusts and Estates Practice Group in our Newark, NJ office. The salary range for this position is $63,000 – $90,000 annually, depending on experience. If you have relevant experience, we would like you to consider joining our team. Candidates who receive an offer of employment will be processed through a background check which will be an individualized assessment based on the applicant’s or employee’s specific record and the duties and requirements of the specific job. Please send your resume and cover letter to Christine Lydon, Chief Human Resources Officer, at recruiting@mccarter.com.
Job responsibilities include performing responsible and confidential legal assistant work and routine administrative duties for attorneys.
Must be a team player, organized and able to multi-task in an extremely fast paced environment
Attend client meetings with attorneys (both on and off site) to witness client documents
Transcribe legal briefs, correspondence, letters, and confidential memorandum
Type a variety of legal documents from rough and oral drafts
Electronic filing of court documents
Answer telephone calls, transfer calls to the appropriate staff and take messages when necessary
Prepare, maintain and confirm daily work calendars and schedule meetings and appointments
Assist with travel arrangements, internal correspondence, reimbursements for attorneys and paralegals
Read, sort and ensure incoming mail is timely delivered; ensure outgoing mail is processed
Process bills; proofs billing sheets.
Review and and edit bills
Maintain confidential and administrative files
Related Duties
Assist other Attorneys and Legal Assistants within the Group and Office
Proactively manage contacts in Outlook and Interaction
Minimum Qualifications
Training and Experience
Three to five years of legal assistance experience.   Must type a minimum of 70 words per minute.  
Knowledge, Abilities and Skill
Comprehensive knowledge of modern legal office practices and procedures 
Considerable knowledge of legal document preparation, legal terminology and court procedures
Comprehensive knowledge of MS Word, MS Outlook, Excel, redline comparisons, BigHand (digital dictation)
Considerable knowledge of effective proofreading
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Benefits (if FTE requirements met):
Firm-Paid:  Basic life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance and short-term (ST) and long-term (LT) disability benefits.
Health & Wellness:  Comprehensive medical/prescription drug coverage (the Firm pays a share of the cost), including a high deductible health plan with an annual Firm health savings account (HSA) contribution.
Employee-Paid Voluntary Benefits:  Dental and vision coverage, supplemental health plans (accident, cancer and critical illness), flexible spending accounts, optional life and AD&D insurance (supplemental employee, spouse and child) and supplemental STD coverage.
Retirement: 401(k) plan offering three types of contributions:  pre-tax, Roth and after-tax contributions.
Time Off:  Paid Time Off (PTO), paid holidays, and leaves of absence to support work-life balance (e.g. parental leave)
Additional Benefits:
Free and confidential employee assistance program (EAP) and behavioral health services program
Firm-paid back-up child/elder care, academic support and pet care program
Tax-advantaged college savings 529 Plan
Employee discounts through Working Advantage
Other Compensation:
Eligibility for discretionary bonus.
McCarter & English, LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.