Legal Assistant

Role Overview

Genus PLC has an exciting opportunity. We are looking for an In-House Legal Assistant to support our six-person commercial and intellectual property legal team. The position is located in DeForest, WI just outisde of Madison, with hybrid work options. The In-House Legal Assistant has primary accountability for providing administrative and clerical assistance to the legal department, helping manage documents, schedule meetings, and coordinate communication between the legal team and other departments. The successful candidate will have excellent multitasking skills, discretion, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

You Will

• Administrative Support: Handle general administrative duties including filing, photocopying, scanning, answering messages, and managing mail for the legal department. Manage monthly expense reports for attorneys, including collecting documentation and submitting reports on a timely basis through the appropriate channels.
• Calendar Management: Manage calendars and schedule meetings, ensuring participants' availability is appropriately coordinated and deadlines are met.
• Invoicing: Process and track legal department invoices and spend, including coding legal invoices and working with the accounting department to ensure timely payments.
• Travel: Book domestic and international travel for team members and occasionally visitors. Assist with travel for global legal team members as well.
• Filing and Organization: Manage the legal email inbox; maintain and organize electronic and paper legal files, ensuring compliance with document retention policies; manage legal records, including contracts, litigation files, and intellectual property documentation.
• Communication: Act as a liaison between the legal team and other departments, external counsel, and clients; handle routine communications and inquiries.
• Contract Management: Assist the contract specialist and lawyers with obtaining signatures, maintaining assigned records in the contract lifecycle platform, and updating the database of users as requested; ensure correct storage of updated templates, clause banks, and playbooks.
• Document Management and Support: Assist with editing, proofreading, and finalizing legal documents, contracts, correspondence, and reports, including tracking the status of contracts from initiation through execution.
• New Hire On-boarding: Liaise with Human Resources, IT, facilities, and other relevant parties to assist in onboarding new hires in the legal department, ensuring equipment, office space, and systems are set up prior to the new hire's start date.
• Special Projects: Assist with special projects as assigned by the legal team.

Requirements

• Education: Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in legal studies, business administration, or a related field preferred.
• Experience: 3-5 years of experience as a legal assistant (or in a similar field), preferably in an in-house corporate environment.
• Skills:
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills and strong attention to detail.
  • Strong organizational and time management skills.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint); experience with legal management software is a plus.
  • Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
  • Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to anticipate needs based on past experience.
  • Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
  • General understanding of legal terminology, procedures, and document formats.

Business Overview

 Genus is an agricultural biotechnology pioneer. We are a global FTSE 250 company, headquartered in the UK, and listed on the London Stock Exchange.  Genus PLC has a presence in over 70 countries and a global workforce of over 3,000 employees and growing.  We are a worldwide leader in porcine and bovine animal genetics, partnering with farmers to transform how we nourish the world – a mission that is important to a sustainable future. 

Our vision is clear: Pioneering animal genetic improvement to sustainably nourish the world.

Benefits Overview

At Genus, we offer a competitive salary. Benefits include health, dental, vision, FSA/HSA, long and short-term disability, 401K, tuition reimbursement, paid holidays and ETO (earned time off). This position will have opportunity for growth.  

Equal Employment Opportunities

Genus is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with anti-discrimination law, it is the purpose of this policy to effectuate these principles and mandates. Genus prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Genus conforms to the spirit as well as to the letter of all applicable laws and regulations. 

Recruitment Fraud Warning

Genus plc will never ask you to provide fees or payment for computer, software, or other equipment or supplies during the recruitment and/or onboarding process. If you have any questions about your individual application, please contact the Genus Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@genusplc.com.