Legal Assistant

About the Role

The University of Michigan's Office of the Vice President and General Counsel (OGC) provides legal counsel throughout the University of Michigan, including all three campuses. This position supports the work of OGC attorneys, paralegals, and other support staff servicing the academic medical center component of the University ('Michigan Medicine') at the 777 E. Eisenhower location in Ann Arbor. The Legal Assistant will provide administrative and clerical support to the OGC's risk management and health law litigation team.

Responsibilities

• Provide confidential administrative support to multiple attorneys and paralegals and manage multiple calendars
• Work collaboratively with Michigan Medicine support staff and student temps to ensure consistent reception coverage
• Assist with litigation management for a variety of cases, including medical malpractice, personal injury, family law, criminal, and guardianships
• Coordinate with Michigan Medicine clinical staff, administrative assistants, outside attorneys, and other requesters to schedule depositions and meetings requiring OGC attorney assistance
• Answer telephone calls and respond to emails timely, accurately, and thoroughly, including participation in office-wide intake and triage of legal/risk concerns
• Draft and edit confidential and sensitive correspondence
• Maintain litigation and electronic files, including case chronologies
• Process expense reports
• Assist in coordinating workflow within the billing software program for all OGC and Michigan Medicine invoices
• Perform other administrative duties as assigned

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of professional legal assistant experience supporting attorneys in a law firm, corporate legal department, government legal office, or similar legal setting
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex legal and administrative matters, multiple attorney calendars, confidential information, and competing deadlines with minimal supervision
• Highly organized, responsible, and responsive, with strict adherence to deadlines
• Ability to manage many projects with competing priorities and deadlines; self-sufficient and able to work independently while knowing when to ask for assistance
• Computer proficiency in Outlook, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe, and willingness to learn new databases and software applications
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including strong telephone communication and ability to accurately document legal questions from callers
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal clients, university leadership, outside counsel, judicial system representatives, law enforcement, OGC attorneys, and other support staff
• Commitment to completing assignments in a timely fashion with strict attention to detail
• High degree of discretion when dealing with confidential information
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment with the ability to shift gears and remain focused on multiple demands

Qualifications

• Experience supporting attorneys in litigation, risk management, healthcare law, employment law, corporate law, higher education, government, or other complex legal practice areas (desired)
• Experience working in a healthcare setting or other highly regulated environment (preferred but not required)
• Familiarity with litigation support activities, subpoenas, depositions, and legal document management systems (preferred)
• Familiarity with document management/legal systems (e.g., NetDocuments, Westlaw, Service Now)

Schedule

Staff in the OGC are currently working a hybrid schedule of three days in the office and two days remotely.