Legal Secretary Job at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in Washington

Legal Secretary – Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Location: Washington, DC

Schedule: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday‑Friday, unless otherwise approved; additional hours as required.

FLSA: Non‑Exempt

Position Type: Full‑Time/Regular

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices worldwide. We are currently seeking several Legal Secretaries to support a variety of practices including Communications, Litigation, International Trade, Regulatory, and Public Law & Policy. The role will reside in the Washington, DC office with hybrid work capabilities and will provide secretarial and administrative support to attorneys, advisors and other personnel as assigned.

Legal Secretaries are expected to perform all job duties with a commitment to superior client service, producing quality work products and maintaining an atmosphere of teamwork and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Type and edit legal and other documents, including correspondence, memoranda, bills, timesheets, and project work from handwritten or typed materials.
• Copy, distribute, send (electronically and/or via mail, courier or express service), file and otherwise handle completed work.
• Proofread and redline work for accuracy of copy, format, grammar, punctuation, and syntax.
• Receive, screen and transmit telephone calls, conference calls and messages to/from attorneys, clients and staff.
• Handle incoming and outgoing mail.
• Perform secretarial functions associated with firm administrative tasks, including processing new client/matter requests, client bills, time reports and expense reports.
• Set up and maintain files.
• Coordinate conferences, meetings and appointments.
• Coordinate travel arrangements, securing air and ground transportation and hotel accommodations.
• Coordinate work as needed with office, firm and third‑party service departments, including Document Support Services, IT, Office Services, Conference Services and Accounting.
• Provide secretarial assistance to visitors, summer associates and attorneys whose secretaries are absent.
• Accept overflow work from the Secretarial Manager, Secretarial Team Coordinators and other secretaries as needed.

Qualifications (Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities):

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum of five years of litigation secretarial experience supporting partner‑level attorneys.
• Specialized secretarial degree, associate and/or bachelor’s degree desirable but not required.
• Some paralegal experience desired but not required.
• Ability to type at least 70 words per minute with accuracy.
• Thorough knowledge of MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Proficiency in e‑Filing and all court procedures.
• Ability to produce TOCs and TOAs manually & accurately.
• Thorough knowledge of preparation of time records, expense reports, client bills and conflict‑checking forms.
• Shorthand or fast notes (if applicable).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including grammar, spelling and punctuation.
• Ability to read, comprehend and follow instructions.
• Familiarity with legal filing and record‑keeping practices.
• Calendar management and case tracking.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Proficiency with advanced telephone functions, including conference calling and voicemail.
• Excellent telephone manner.
• Ability to perform clerical tasks with a high degree of accuracy.
• Proficiency on office equipment used regularly (computers, printers, copy machines, fax machines and telephones).
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team, take initiative, set priorities and see projects through completion.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced environment, meet deadlines, handle multiple tasks and respond to changing priorities.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships within the office, firm and with clients, vendors and others outside the firm.
• Ability to perform mathematical functions – add, subtract, multiply, divide, work with percentages, etc.
• Strong service orientation.
• Commitment to professional growth.
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality of client and office information and adherence to the Firm’s Core Values.

The anticipated base salary range for this position in Washington, DC is $80,000 - $100,000. The actual salary offered will be based on relevant experience, qualifications, and other factors. Additional compensation may include a full range of health and other insurance benefits, financial and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility), discretionary bonus, and various paid time off benefits.