Legal Assistant

About the role

Drummond Woodsum is seeking a full-time legal assistant in our Portland, Maine office. This position entails carrying out administrative services, providing support to legal professionals by preparing various documents including correspondence, legal forms, and other documents to enhance attorney/timekeeper effectiveness, with a focus on special education, public finance, and general municipal law.

Responsibilities

• Complete administrative duties, such as making copies, answering and directing phone calls, and greeting clients
• Proficiency with processing edits and red‑lining in Word, and conversions and manipulations in PDF
• Draft, proofread, and format legal documents, including correspondence, memoranda, pleadings, hearing exhibits and student records related to special education due process hearing requests, complaint investigations and or administrative proceedings
• Handle incoming and outgoing mail
• Keep documentation and corresponding deadlines organized and identified by calendaring
• Provide litigation support, including preparation of pleading materials and case management
• Additional duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Be accurate, detail‑oriented, with strong attention to detail
• Take initiative and be proactive; anticipate needs; reach out to become more involved
• Strong writing and verbal communication skills; excellent spelling, punctuation, and grammar skills
• Motivated to learn and provide work of the highest quality
• Previous experience as a legal assistant preferred

Skills

• System proficiency: general knowledge and experience with common software applications, such as Microsoft Office Suite and PDF processing; strong Excel and MS Word skills in particular

Benefits

• Medical insurance: Choose from two plans, including an HSA‑eligible option
• Flexible Spending Account options, including dependent care
• Dental and vision insurance
• Group life insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage for yourself and eligible dependents
• Firm‑paid premiums for short‑term disability, long‑term disability, and paid family and medical leave coverage
• Traditional and Roth 401(k) options, with annual profit‑sharing contributions
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• 11 paid holidays
• Paid Time Off
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Paid volunteer opportunities during the firm’s annual community volunteer week