Legal Assistant

Veritas Law, PLLC Remote – Washington State Part\-Time \| Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Pacific $22\.00–$26\.00 per hour, depending on experience About Veritas Law Veritas Law, PLLC is a small Spokane\-based law firm serving clients throughout Washington. Our practice includes probate and estate administration, estate planning, civil litigation/torts, business and real estate matters, family law, and related legal services. Because we are a small, close\-knit firm, every member of our team plays an important role in the client experience and day\-to\-day operation of the practice. We are seeking an experienced Legal Assistant located in Washington State to join our team in a fully remote, part\-time position. This is not solely a receptionist position. The Legal Assistant will serve as a primary point of contact for clients and prospective clients while also providing ongoing legal administrative and practice\-management support. The ideal candidate is professional and personable on the telephone, highly organized, comfortable working independently, and experienced in a law\-office environment. Position Overview The Legal Assistant will work remotely Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time. During those hours, the Legal Assistant will be responsible for monitoring and handling incoming firm telephone calls, assisting current clients, conducting preliminary intake of prospective clients, coordinating scheduling, and completing legal administrative and practice\-support work when not actively handling calls. The position requires regular communication and coordination with the firm's attorney and senior paralegal throughout the workday. We are looking for someone who can become familiar with our clients, practice areas, procedures, and preferences and function as an integrated member of our team \- not simply take messages. Responsibilities Client Communications and Call Handling Answer incoming calls to the firm in a professional, friendly, and polished manner. Serve as a primary point of contact for existing clients, prospective clients, courts, opposing offices, vendors, and other callers. Identify the purpose and urgency of client calls and communicate with the appropriate team member regarding availability. Coordinate live call transfers when appropriate or obtain clear and complete messages when a team member is unavailable. Communicate with clients regarding scheduling, appointments, document requests, case\-related administrative matters, and other non\-legal issues as directed. Make routine outbound calls to clients and prospective clients when needed. Maintain appropriate confidentiality and professionalism in all client communications. Prospective Client Intake Respond professionally and compassionately to prospective clients contacting the firm. Gather preliminary information regarding the prospective client's legal matter using firm\-specific intake procedures. Obtain necessary information for conflict screening. Identify the applicable practice area and collect relevant background information regarding the potential matter. Communicate intake information to the attorney and/or senior paralegal for review when needed. Determine, based on firm protocols and instructions, whether a prospective client should be scheduled for a consultation, referred for additional review, or advised that the firm is unable to assist. Schedule consultations and send confirmation information and intake materials. Enter and maintain prospective\-client information within the firm's practice\-management system. Assist with follow\-up on prospective clients and consultations. Legal Administrative Support Prepare, edit, proofread, and format legal documents, correspondence, pleadings, declarations, and other materials. Prepare routine correspondence and client communications from templates or instructions. Assist with electronic filing and service of court documents as appropriate. Maintain organized electronic matter files. Save, upload, name, categorize, and organize documents within the firm's practice\-management and document\-storage systems. Assist with signature requests, document collection, and preparation of routine client materials. Perform data entry and update client, contact, and matter information. Assist with assembling exhibits, correspondence, and other case materials. Maintain professional formatting and consistency across firm documents. Calendaring and Scheduling Schedule client appointments, consultations, meetings, and other events. Maintain and update calendars and scheduling information. Assist with calendaring hearings, deadlines, appointments, and reminders as directed. Coordinate scheduling with clients, opposing counsel, courts, mediators, vendors, and other third parties. Monitor scheduling\-related communications and follow up as necessary. Practice Management and Operations Work regularly within the firm's practice\-management system to maintain accurate client and matter information. Assist with task management and follow\-up on outstanding administrative items. Monitor client intake and help ensure prospective clients do not fall through the cracks. Assist with maintaining firm forms, templates, procedures, and administrative systems. Help identify incomplete records, missing client materials, outstanding signatures, or administrative follow\-up needs. Provide general administrative and operational support to the attorney and senior paralegal. Perform other law\-office administrative duties as needed. Required Qualifications Minimum of two years of experience working as a legal assistant, legal secretary, paralegal, or in a substantially similar law\-office support role. Must reside in Washington State. Prior experience communicating directly with law\-firm clients. Exceptional verbal and written communication skills. Professional, confident, and personable telephone presence. Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with clients who may be stressed, emotional, confused, or unfamiliar with the legal process. Strong attention to detail, organization, and follow\-through. Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Outlook. Experience preparing, editing, proofreading, and formatting professional or legal documents. Ability to manage competing priorities and transition efficiently between telephone calls, client requests, scheduling, and administrative assignments. Ability to exercise sound judgment and recognize when a matter should be escalated to the attorney or senior paralegal. Ability to work independently while communicating regularly with other members of a remote team. Ability to learn and consistently follow firm\-specific procedures and intake protocols. Reliable high\-speed internet connection. Quiet, private, and professional remote workspace suitable for confidential client communications. Reliable availability during the scheduled working hours of 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Pacific, Monday through Friday. Additional hours up to 4:00 p.m. may be available on Monday through Thursday for the right individual. Preferred Qualifications The following experience is preferred but not required: Experience working in a Washington law firm. Familiarity with Washington Superior Court practice and procedures (Spokane familiarity beneficial but not required). Washington state\-court electronic filing experience. Experience with MyCase or another legal practice\-management platform. Experience with Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Teams. Experience with Zoom Phone or another cloud\-based business telephone system. Experience conducting legal intake or prospective\-client screening. Experience with probate, estate planning, civil litigation/torts, business law, real estate, or related practice areas. Who We Are Looking For The right person for this position will understand that excellent legal support involves more than completing assigned tasks. We are looking for someone who takes ownership of their responsibilities, follows through, communicates proactively, and genuinely cares about providing clients with a professional and positive experience. Our ideal Legal Assistant is someone who: Is warm and personable while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries. Is comfortable speaking with clients throughout the day and does not avoid telephone communication. Can listen carefully and determine what information is actually important. Understands the difference between providing excellent client service and providing legal advice. Is comfortable asking questions when necessary but can independently handle routine matters once procedures are established. Notices when something has not been completed and follows up without needing to be reminded. Can learn the personalities, preferences, clients, and workflows of a small law firm. Remains calm and professional with difficult or frustrated callers. Values accuracy and attention to detail. Is looking for a position in which they can become a consistent and trusted member of a small legal team. Schedule and Compensation This is a part\-time, fully remote position. Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. PST Expected hours: Approximately 20 hours per week; up to 36 hours per week possible Compensation: $22\.00–$26\.00 per hour, depending on qualifications and experience The employee must be located in Washington State and available consistently during the scheduled working hours. Application Please submit a resume describing your relevant legal\-assistant or law\-office experience. In your application or cover letter, please also briefly address: Your experience working directly with law\-firm clients; Your experience handling incoming telephone calls and/or prospective\-client intake; The types of legal matters or practice areas you have previously worked with; Any experience you have with MyCase or other legal practice\-management software; and Your current city or general location within Washington State. We are particularly interested in candidates seeking a stable, long\-term position. Pay: $22\.00 \- $26\.00 per hour Expected hours: No less than 20\.0 per week Benefits: Paid sick time Paid time off Work from home Experience: Law office: 2 years (Preferred) Location: * Washington State (Preferred) Work Location: Remote