Legal Practice Specialist

About the role

The Legal Practice Specialist is an integral member of McDermott’s legal team. This position supports the Transactions Practice Group by providing a high level of service and support for their assigned attorneys while consistently producing excellent work product. The role requires maintaining a general knowledge of business services policies and procedures, practice areas and clients of the Firm, and ensuring confidentiality regarding sensitive matters and materials related to clients and the Firm. A successful specialist takes ownership of their role, puts clients first, adapts to evolving team needs, and seeks creative ways to partner with attorneys to deliver the highest level of client service.

Responsibilities

• Build effective working relationships with clients, internal and external, through regular interactions in a friendly, helpful, and professional manner
• Provide exceptional support in document preparation, including editing, proofreading, and redlining documents for accuracy, grammar, and formatting
• Proactively manage attorney Outlook email (when requested) and calendar to include providing reminders of responses needed and impending deadlines and obligations
• Ensure accuracy of contact and other pertinent information within Outlook and the firmwide contact, billing, and marketing databases
• Coordinate travel arrangements for attorneys, including flights, hotels and local transportation
• Provide meticulous support in arranging and coordinating logistics for meetings, including video/audio conferencing, room assignments, hand‑outs and catering requests
• Input, review, edit, and update attorney time entries in conformance with Firm’s Billing Guidelines
• Proactively manage monthly client billings by reviewing and editing prebills; liaise with billing department to ensure client billings guidelines are followed and bills are sent timely
• Oversee attorney expense reports and vendor invoices through to completion, ensuring complete documentation is provided, prompt submission, and necessary follow‑up
• Establish and maintain paper and electronic files in compliance with current Firm policies utilizing the Firm’s Document Management System
• Manage client intake process, including generating client conflict inquiries, opening new matters and preparing engagement letters
• Maintain contact information and activities with clients and prospective clients in our CRM system
• Effectively leverage time by delegating administrative tasks to support team
• Perform complex tasks which may be highly confidential and sensitive, and require discretion and diplomacy

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, stoop, talk and hear. Employee must occasionally lift up to twenty (20) pounds.

Work Environment: Typical indoor office environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or related legal work experience
• At least five (5) years of legal experience
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Word)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; professional demeanor and presentation
• Strong client service skills with high-level standards of excellence in work product to meet or exceed client and Firm expectations
• Strong organizational skills, time management skills, and attention to detail
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and prioritize responsibilities
• Strong problem-solving skills with ability to take initiative and use good judgment and excellent follow-up skills
• Ability to maintain and handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion and diplomacy
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment

Benefits

Wellness program supporting physical, emotional, mental, and financial health with emphasis on work‑life balance.

Generous compensation packages that recognize hard work and excellence.