Legal Assistant, Litigation

Goodmans LLP is internationally recognized as one of Canada’s leading and most innovative law firms. We offer market leading expertise in M&A, corporate, securities and finance, private equity, real estate, tax, restructuring, litigation and other business-related specialties.

What makes Goodmans a great place to work? It starts with our people. At Goodmans you will be part of a collaborative team where you will feel valued, connected and supported. We foster a dynamic and engaging culture that values diversity, equity and inclusion. If you are looking for a challenging and rewarding opportunity, then this is the place for you. Join us and put yourself in good company.

We are currently seeking a Legal Assistant to join our Litigation practice group. The primary purpose of this position is to provide high-quality, administrative and practice management support to lawyers within the group. The successful candidate will be highly organized, detailed-oriented, and proactive with strong communication and document production skills and experience supporting litigation matters in both federal and provincial courts.

Key Responsibilities:

• Prepare, edit, format, and manage legal documents, including agreements, correspondence, memoranda, presentations, organizational charts, and other litigation-related materials.
• Draft and prepare litigation documents including pleadings, preparing motion records, , books of authorities, and affidavits of service; as well as other court materials.
• Coordinate the preparation, service, and filing of court documents with the Federal Court, Federal Court of Appeal, and Ontario Superior Court of Justice including electronic filing requirements and procedures.
• Prepare document comparisons and blacklines and proofread documents against originals to ensure accuracy and consistency.
• Coordinate examinations for discovery, hearings, motion, meetings, and other litigation-related proceedings.
• Manage file opening and conflict searches, file organization, and document management.
• Maintain litigation and practice-specific databases and tracking systems.
• Manage lawyers’ calendar and bring-forward systems, ensuring lawyer’s are kept informed of upcoming commitments and outstanding matters.
• Coordinate meetings, including preparing all necessary materials, booking boardrooms, arranging for catering, audio visual equipment, and other meeting requirements.
• Enter dockets, prepare cheque requisitions, wire transfers and trust documentation (as applicable), and process related transactions as appropriate as well as assist with monthly billing process.
• Coordinate work with other legal assistants and support services to ensure timely completion of tasks and appropriate support is provided to the legal practices being serviced.
• Provide back-up assistance to other lawyers and assistants during absences as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• Post-secondary education with a focus on legal administration or equivalent
• Minimum two years of litigation legal assistant experience, preferably within a law firm or within a professional services environment
• Demonstrated experience with the Ontario and Federal Court litigation, including court procedures, document preparation, filing requirements, and management of court deadlines
• Excellent knowledge of the Ontario Court’s Case Center, the Ontario Court’s Public Portal, the Federal Court’s E-Filing Portal and eTrial Toolkit
• Excellent knowledge of MS Office Suite including: Outlook, Excel and Word
• Excellent knowledge of Adobe Acrobat
• Familiar with the Ontario Courts Public Portal, Case Center and Calendly
• Strong document management/processing skills
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to organize, multi-task, and prioritize appropriately
• Excellent client service and ability to anticipate client needs
• Strong problem-solving skills, flexibility, and possesses the ability to work effectively with others
• Knowledge of law firm monthly billing process
• Strong work ethic, demonstrates initiative, self-directed and holds an advanced capability for task completion with minimal supervision

We Offer:

We’re proud to offer a workplace that’s both supportive and rewarding. When you join our team, you can look forward to:

• Competitive compensation that recognizes the value you bring to our team. For this role, the anticipated annual salary range is $55,000 - $65,000 commensurate with skills, experience and qualifications;
• Comprehensive benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, retirement savings, vacation and additional perks; and
• Continuous learning and professional development opportunities to support with your growth and career goals.

This opportunity is in respect of an existing vacancy. We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist with certain aspects of our recruitment efforts. Final hiring decisions are made by the Human Resources team in collaboration with the relevant manager.

Goodmans LLP is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects different abilities, backgrounds, beliefs, experiences, identities and perspectives. Goodmans LLP invites applications from all qualified candidates. For applicants with disabilities requiring accommodation at any point in the recruitment process, please contact [email protected].