Dykema
Legal Specialist - Taxation and Estates - Bloomfield Hills
Dykema, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, United States, 48302
Legal Specialist - Taxation and Estates - Bloomfield Hills
Dykema Gossett PLLC, a leading national law firm, is seeking to hire a Legal Specialist in our Bloomfield Hills office. Under the supervision of the Office Administrator, the Legal Specialist will provide comprehensive administrative and legal support to attorneys and paralegals, primarily within the Taxation and Estates Practice Group, in delivering high-quality legal services to clients. Responsibilities include preparing correspondence, legal documents, and court filings; maintaining calendars and case files; scheduling meetings; and submitting accurate timekeeping data. The position also involves creating reports, assisting with data tracking and analysis to identify trends, and proactively anticipating the needs of the attorneys and practice group. All work is performed in accordance with established firm procedures and with a commitment to exceptional client service.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
Exercises judgment to prioritize daily work subject to the needs of the attorneys, ensuring high-priority items are completed accurately and on time.
Manages electronic and non-electronic filings with state and federal courts and various tribunals.
Processes conflict clearance and new business intake through the conflict system, including conflict checks, new matter requests, and drafting engagement letters.
Maintains and coordinates attorney calendars, schedules meetings, assembles materials, and makes travel arrangements and itineraries.
Establishes, maintains, and organizes client, attorney, and section files (electronic and hard copy), ensuring proper order, confidentiality, and timely closing; coordinates with Records Department or support staff as needed.
Gathers and organizes materials from internal files, databases, internet sources, and court filings, saving them to the firm’s document management system.
Reviews and routes incoming mail, prepares outgoing mail, ensures attachments/exhibits are included, and coordinates with Office Services as needed.
Answers and screens telephone calls, exercising judgment regarding when to contact attorneys or others for urgent matters.
Provides support to timekeepers with billing and e-billing, maintains billing numbers for assigned timekeepers, and is responsible for entering and releasing their own billable time, as well as submitting invoices and expense reports.
Attends client meetings to witness and notarize documents, assists other administrative assistants with workload overflow, and provides coverage for other workgroups as needed.
Assists attorneys by entering, analyzing, and charting data, preparing reports, reviewing financial information and calculations, tracking case statuses, and maintaining accurate, confidential records.
Knowledge, Skills And Abilities Required
High school diploma or GED required; post-high school education or legal training preferred.
Minimum of 3–5 years of experience providing comprehensive administrative and legal support within a probate litigation practice, and experience with trust and estate administration, including preparing legal documents, court filings, managing client matters, and supporting attorneys in day-to-day operations.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word (styles and tables), Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook; familiarity with legal and business management systems such as NetDocuments, InTapp, FileTrail, Chrome River, Adobe, or Visio is helpful. Ability to use redlining tools.
Proficient in state and federal court electronic filing procedures, including MiFile (MI) and PACER; knowledge of court rules regarding discovery, motion practice, and general procedures is helpful.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including grammar, spelling, proofreading, and professional email correspondence.
Strong organizational, time‑management, and multitasking skills, with acute attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple assignments or large amounts of data independently.
Ability to exercise independent judgment in prioritizing assignments and ensuring high-priority tasks are completed in a timely manner.
Self‑motivated, resourceful, and professional; able to work independently and as part of a team, and effectively collaborate with individuals at all levels of the firm and externally.
Customer‑service oriented with a positive attitude and ability to deliver superior professional services to internal and external clients.
Ability to maintain a high degree of discretion and confidentiality regarding client information, documents, and conversations.
Flexible and available to work overtime when required
Typing speed of 55 WPM or greater
Great Benefits For Great People Dykema offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well‑being and success of our employees both personally and professionally. This includes competitive health, dental, and vision insurance plans, along with flexible paid time off (PTO), holiday leave, and a retirement savings plan with profit sharing for eligible employees. Other benefits include flexible spending programs, health savings account, commuter benefits, and personal and parental leave programs. We prioritize work‑life balance and offer wellness programs, and access to mental health support. Additionally, employees enjoy access to professional development programs, a supportive and inclusive workplace culture, and various employee discounts and perks. We are committed to providing a benefits package that helps our team thrive and feel valued.
EEO STATEMENT It is the Firm’s policy to provide employment opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis without regard to the individual’s age, race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, marital status, domestic partner relationship, physical characteristics, disability, or other protected characteristics under applicable federal, state or local laws or ordinances. Dykema will make reasonable efforts to accommodate the known disabilities of employees who are otherwise qualified to perform the essential functions of the jobs involved. It is the responsibility of every individual concerned with personnel actions, including management, supervision, recruiting, compensation, benefits, promotions, work assignments, and training, to ensure that these activities are administered consistent with the Firm’s goal of furthering the principle of equal employment opportunity.
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Essential Duties And Responsibilities
Exercises judgment to prioritize daily work subject to the needs of the attorneys, ensuring high-priority items are completed accurately and on time.
Manages electronic and non-electronic filings with state and federal courts and various tribunals.
Processes conflict clearance and new business intake through the conflict system, including conflict checks, new matter requests, and drafting engagement letters.
Maintains and coordinates attorney calendars, schedules meetings, assembles materials, and makes travel arrangements and itineraries.
Establishes, maintains, and organizes client, attorney, and section files (electronic and hard copy), ensuring proper order, confidentiality, and timely closing; coordinates with Records Department or support staff as needed.
Gathers and organizes materials from internal files, databases, internet sources, and court filings, saving them to the firm’s document management system.
Reviews and routes incoming mail, prepares outgoing mail, ensures attachments/exhibits are included, and coordinates with Office Services as needed.
Answers and screens telephone calls, exercising judgment regarding when to contact attorneys or others for urgent matters.
Provides support to timekeepers with billing and e-billing, maintains billing numbers for assigned timekeepers, and is responsible for entering and releasing their own billable time, as well as submitting invoices and expense reports.
Attends client meetings to witness and notarize documents, assists other administrative assistants with workload overflow, and provides coverage for other workgroups as needed.
Assists attorneys by entering, analyzing, and charting data, preparing reports, reviewing financial information and calculations, tracking case statuses, and maintaining accurate, confidential records.
Knowledge, Skills And Abilities Required
High school diploma or GED required; post-high school education or legal training preferred.
Minimum of 3–5 years of experience providing comprehensive administrative and legal support within a probate litigation practice, and experience with trust and estate administration, including preparing legal documents, court filings, managing client matters, and supporting attorneys in day-to-day operations.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word (styles and tables), Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook; familiarity with legal and business management systems such as NetDocuments, InTapp, FileTrail, Chrome River, Adobe, or Visio is helpful. Ability to use redlining tools.
Proficient in state and federal court electronic filing procedures, including MiFile (MI) and PACER; knowledge of court rules regarding discovery, motion practice, and general procedures is helpful.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including grammar, spelling, proofreading, and professional email correspondence.
Strong organizational, time‑management, and multitasking skills, with acute attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple assignments or large amounts of data independently.
Ability to exercise independent judgment in prioritizing assignments and ensuring high-priority tasks are completed in a timely manner.
Self‑motivated, resourceful, and professional; able to work independently and as part of a team, and effectively collaborate with individuals at all levels of the firm and externally.
Customer‑service oriented with a positive attitude and ability to deliver superior professional services to internal and external clients.
Ability to maintain a high degree of discretion and confidentiality regarding client information, documents, and conversations.
Flexible and available to work overtime when required
Typing speed of 55 WPM or greater
Great Benefits For Great People Dykema offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well‑being and success of our employees both personally and professionally. This includes competitive health, dental, and vision insurance plans, along with flexible paid time off (PTO), holiday leave, and a retirement savings plan with profit sharing for eligible employees. Other benefits include flexible spending programs, health savings account, commuter benefits, and personal and parental leave programs. We prioritize work‑life balance and offer wellness programs, and access to mental health support. Additionally, employees enjoy access to professional development programs, a supportive and inclusive workplace culture, and various employee discounts and perks. We are committed to providing a benefits package that helps our team thrive and feel valued.
EEO STATEMENT It is the Firm’s policy to provide employment opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis without regard to the individual’s age, race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, marital status, domestic partner relationship, physical characteristics, disability, or other protected characteristics under applicable federal, state or local laws or ordinances. Dykema will make reasonable efforts to accommodate the known disabilities of employees who are otherwise qualified to perform the essential functions of the jobs involved. It is the responsibility of every individual concerned with personnel actions, including management, supervision, recruiting, compensation, benefits, promotions, work assignments, and training, to ensure that these activities are administered consistent with the Firm’s goal of furthering the principle of equal employment opportunity.
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