Legal Assistant

Job Description

Legal Assistant | Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC

The Tone:
This is a full-time role at Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC, located in Southfield, MI. With over 100 years of history, Foster Swift provides legal expertise to businesses, municipalities, families, and individuals. This role is essential for ensuring efficient document management, precise administrative functions, and effective use of legal technology, contributing to the firm’s commitment to legal excellence and outstanding client service.

The TL;DR
• Role: Full Time
• Type: Full-time
• Location: In-person, Southfield, MI

• Mission: This role ensures legal documents are accurate, organized, and client-ready while providing essential administrative and technological support to attorneys and clients.
• Tech Stack: Microsoft Office 365, Adobe Acrobat, Litera Compare, HotDocs, firm’s document management system, time and billing software

What You’ll Actually Do
• Document Production: Draft, revise, proofread, and format correspondence, legal documents, and client materials, resolving consistency issues and preparing redline comparisons.
• Binder & File Management: Create, organize, and maintain electronic and physical binders for attorneys and clients, ensuring accessibility and preparing presentation materials.
• Technology Utilization: Work extensively with Microsoft Office 365, Adobe Acrobat, and the firm’s document management system for document conversion, editing, and record keeping.
• Administrative Support: Manage attorney calendars, schedule appointments, coordinate meetings, and provide administrative support to attorneys, paralegals, and staff.
• Deadline Management: Manage multiple projects with competing deadlines, adapt to shifting priorities, and communicate key dates to attorneys for timely assignment completion.

The Must-Haves
• Background: High school diploma required; Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of two years of experience in a law firm or in-house legal department required; experience with legal document production, document formatting, or document management strongly preferred.
• Skills: Advanced Microsoft Word skills (styles, formatting, tables of contents, cross-referencing, document comparison tools); experience with Adobe Acrobat and electronic document management systems; strong proofreading, editing, and grammar skills.
• Bonus: Ability and willingness to learn and use legal technology applications, including HotDocs and Litera Compare.