Freelance Administrative Legal Assistant

About the role

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is seeking a Freelance Administrative Legal Assistant for its Seattle office. This temporary position lasts six months and requires five days in‑office. The role provides administrative support to executive legal assistants and other staff on a task basis, with mandatory completion of all training programs. The firm offers challenging assignments, professional growth opportunities, community involvement, and a culture of inclusion and authenticity.

Responsibilities

• Assist executive legal assistants and other administrative staff with tasks such as entering attorney time, preparing and submitting expense reimbursement reports and check requests, making travel arrangements, preparing binders, organizing files, scheduling conference rooms using Resource Scheduler, and arranging food service and audio‑visual equipment as needed.
• Assign appropriate tasks to word‑processing, file‑room, and other support staff; follow up on project status to ensure timely completion.
• Attend required training classes and open new client and new matter files.
• Check in regularly with secretaries, paralegals, and attorneys to ensure all aspects of projects are under control, exercising judgment on when to seek guidance.
• Provide guidance and mentoring to Administrative Legal Assistant I positions, including participation in the training program.
• Cover absences as needed, directly supporting attorneys with duties such as docket reminders and deadline monitoring.
• Occasionally open and route mail, attaching appropriate files and documents.
• Interact with clients as an intermediary, responding to client requests.
• Regularly type, proofread, run comparisons, and edit correspondence, memoranda, agreements, and other legal and business documents from notes, templates, drafts, or dictated text under time‑sensitive deadlines.
• Communicate clearly with all appropriate team members regarding project status.
• Assist with transaction closings: organize documents for closing transcripts, produce and transmit closing transcripts, and distribute stock certificates as directed.
• Occasionally assist with editing and finalizing legal briefs, prepare and mark exhibits, set up Data Rooms, upload documents, and send service emails with corresponding Data Room links.
• Occasionally file pleadings with the court.
• Maintain attorney and client records, including email and electronic records.
• Schedule and coordinate appointments, meetings, conference calls, and maintain calendars.
• Answer, screen, and respond to phone calls.
• Assist fellow assistants and additional attorneys as needed.

Requirements

• 1+ year of experience in a professional office setting.
• GED or High School Diploma required.
• Self‑starter with a high degree of attention to detail.
• Ability to type accurately at 50+ wpm.
• General knowledge and proficiency with Microsoft Office products.
• Willingness to learn new programs and updates.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent grammar and proofreading abilities.
• Highly professional demeanor and appearance.
• Ability to work in a team‑oriented, service‑focused environment and handle stressful situations calmly.
• Strong prioritization and ability to complete projects with minimal supervision.
• Commitment to client confidentiality guidelines.
• Growth mindset with participation in innovation initiatives.
• Strong time‑management skills.

Benefits

• First Stop Health Telemedicine – 24/7 access to licensed physicians or mental‑health counselors.
• TELUS Health Employee Assistance Program – support for mental, financial, physical, and emotional wellbeing.
• Voluntary Pet Insurance.
• Milk Stork – virtual lactation consulting, breast‑milk shipping, and nutritional testing.
• Wellness benefits including Peloton App and Headspace App.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance (eligible for temporary employees working ≥30 hours/week), with optional HSA.
• Telemedicine and virtual short‑term counseling services.
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Paid sick leave accrued at 1 hour per 30 hours worked.
• Employee assistance program.

Pay

The hourly range for this position in Washington is $34.36 to $36.92, adjusted based on education, training, experience, and other job‑related factors permitted by law.

Schedule

This is a six‑month temporary role requiring five days per week in the Seattle office. Temporary employees working at least 30 hours per week may be eligible for the benefits listed above.