Legal Assistant

Interested in a career with both meaning and growth? Whether your abilities are in direct patient care or one of the many other areas of healthcare administration and support, everyone at Parkland works together to fulfill our mission: the health and well-being of individuals and communities entrusted to our care. By joining Parkland, you become part of a diverse healthcare legacy that’s served our community for more than 125 years. Put your skills to work with us, seek opportunities to learn and join a talented team where patient care is more than a job. It’s our passion.

Primary Purpose

Provides specialized support for in-house Legal Department for confidential matters, including preparation of various documents, maintenance of records and databases, research, and other administrative tasks.

Minimum Specifications

Education

• Associate or bachelor’s degree preferred.
  
  

Experience

• Must have three years' experience as an administrative assistant in a legal environment OR five years' experience as an administrative assistant in a general professional business environment.
  
  

Equivalent Education And/or Experience

• May have an equivalent combination of education and experience to substitute for the experience requirements.
  
  

Certification/Registration/Licensure

• Prefer certificate from a Legal Assistant/Secretary program.
  
  

Skills Or Special Abilities

• Must demonstrate knowledge of Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Office Suite software programs.
• Must be able to write effectively and compose routine legal and business correspondence independently.
• Must demonstrate excellent spelling, grammar, and vocabulary.
• Must be highly organized and detail oriented.
• Must have effective verbal and written communication skills with a diverse population of employees, outside counsel, and professionals.
• Must have excellent research and analysis skills.
• Must have excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to independently prioritize and manage a heavy workload and multiple concurrent projects.
• Must demonstrate ability to maintain confidentiality of many sensitive matters.
• Knowledge of legal terminology and procedures preferred.
  
  

Responsibilities

• Assists legal team in coordinating case information and in case preparation.
• Establishes, organizes, and maintains case and correspondence files, including computer files, letters, discovery documents, memoranda, and other communications/case developments, in accordance with internal procedures and under the supervision of an attorney.
• Inputs, retrieves, and updates information in the department’s matter management software.
• Composes routine to intermediate-level correspondence, memoranda and reports, or types from rough/revised drafts, to provide clear, timely communications.
• Answers, triages, prioritizes, and then routes telephone calls, and takes detailed messages. Responds to routine questions.
• Schedules and makes appointments, sets up web-conferences, maintains appointment calendars.
• Assembles and compiles data for reports and presentations. Assists in department projects, as needed.
• Takes notes and/or meeting minutes that are technical and/or confidential in nature and transcribes them into a final form, ensuring that information is documented accurately. Files with the appropriate matter.
• Assists in preparing and assembling materials for meetings, court appearances, and hearings.
• Maintains positive working relationship with management, other hospitals and opposing attorneys, outside counsel, current and former employees, medical staff, and other entities to ensure optimal cooperation and effective communication among all Parkland customers.
• Maintains knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws, and guidelines. Seeks advice and guidance as needed to ensure proper understanding.
• Stays abreast of the latest developments, advancements, and trends in the legal field. Integrates knowledge gained into current work practices.
• Identifies ways to improve work processes and improve customer satisfaction. Makes recommendations to supervisor, implements, and monitors results as appropriate in support of the overall goals of the Legal Affairs department and Parkland.
  
  

Job Accountabilities

• Identifies ways to improve work processes and improve customer satisfaction. Makes recommendations to supervisor, implements, and monitors results as appropriate in support of the overall goals of the department and Parkland.
• Stays abreast of the latest developments, advancements, and trends in the field by attending seminars/workshops, reading professional journals, actively participating in professional organizations, and/or maintaining certification or licensure. Integrates knowledge gained into current work practices.
• Maintains knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws, and guidelines that impact the area. Develops effective internal controls designed to promote adherence with applicable laws, accreditation agency requirements, and federal, state, and private health plans. Seeks advice and guidance as needed to ensure proper understanding.
  
  

Parkland Health and Hospital System prohibits discrimination based on age (40 or over), race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, disability, national origin, marital status, political belief, or veteran status. As part of our commitment to our patients and employees’ wellness, Parkland Health is a tobacco and smoke-free campus.