What are the responsibilities and job description for the Legal Assistant - Debt Finance position at White & Case LLP?
Firm Summary
White & Case is an elite global law firm serving leading companies, financial institutions and governments worldwide. Our long history as an international firm means we are perfectly placed to help our clients resolve their most complex legal challenges wherever they may be. With lawyers operating from more than 40 locations, working in virtually every country of the world, we have invested heavily in building a high-quality full-service practice competing at the top of the market. We are distinguished by our on-the-ground presence in the world's key financial markets and our strengths in handling complex cross-border work.
It's not just about our global network of offices; it's the global interconnectedness of the Firm that our people, and our clients, value most. We work well together across geographic and practice boundaries. It's one of the reasons we attract and retain cross-border work. And why we attract a diverse group of people. Our lawyers are globally minded, enterprising, collaborative and committed to excellence. Diversity is a core value of our Firm and it has been recognized with numerous awards and top rankings around the world. Our people represent 90 nationalities and speak 80 languages.
Position Summary
Debt Finance Legal Assistants work under the supervision of Debt Finance attorneys in providing legal services to clients. Their responsibilities vary depending upon the practice group to which they are assigned. They may also work with other personnel (e.g. other legal assistants, Practice Technology, Global Technology Services, librarians, Professional Support Lawyers, Marketing professionals, practice assistants, copy center, mailroom, etc.) at the Firm in delivering legal services to clients. Debt Finance Legal Assistants will be requested to perform other duties as required.
Duties and Accountabilities
In addition to the duties described in the Position Summary, Debt Finance legal assistants are required to assist Debt Finance legal teams on an as-needed basis. Legal assistants will acquire an understanding of the mechanics of corporate representation and transactional matters. This will be achieved by attending legal assistant training sessions, corporate practice group and section seminars, database training sessions and through general on-the-job experience. Such work may include:
Become familiar with the legal and factual issues of matters
Utilize a variety of resources including on line sources to perform factual and legal research
Organize, maintain and distribute files/documents as requested
Coordinate closings and post-closing aspects of transaction (coordinate logistics of on line and in person closings, prepare closing sets, and oversee E-Bible creation)
Liaise with corporate service providers for entity search requests
Draft standard closing documents (receipts, officer's certificates)
Prepare schedules and tables to agreements
Prepare initial drafts of closing checklists
Perform searches, prepare and track filings under the Uniform Commercial Code (using technology based resources and outside service bureaus)
Conduct definition checks, cross reference checks and editing of documents using applicable software
Contact clients, attorneys, service organizations and other professionals in connection with transactions, with the approval of the supervising attorney
Proofread and blackline documents, including familiarity with Workshare software
Develop knowledge of software programs to perform work, e.g. iManage, Legalkey, Excel, Bloomberg Law, Worksite, Intralinks, Lexis/Nexis, Securities Mosaic. Litera, Luminence
Create databases, charts, graphs, tables, etc. for analysis of data
Process invoices related to vendor services contracted on behalf of a client or attorney
Prepare daily time entries and submit weekly overtime reports for services performed.
Partner with legal assistant manager and/or director of legal assistants to formulate yearly goals.
Develop a plan of action to achieve yearly goals.
Utilize firm technology resources to enhance work product delivered to clients.
Qualifications
- Four year college degree with a minimum G.P.A. of 3.5
- Strong academic background
- Clear and concise writing skills
- Good verbal communication skills
- Related work and/or internship experience
- Excellent organizational skills
- Willingness and ability to work overtime and long hours
- Basic knowledge of and proficiency with Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat
- Familiarity and competency with technology
- Ability to follow through on projects
- Ability to work under pressure and with a variety of personalities
- Ability to work with and liaise with colleagues in other internal departments (e.g., Office Services, Practice Technology, Global Technology Services, Research & Information Services, Operations, Practice Assistants, Document Services, etc.)
- Excellent professional and personal references
- Excellent judgment
- High ethical standards
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Ability to travel as needed
- Foreign language skills a plus
Location and Reporting
- This role is based in the New York office.
- This role reports to the Manager of Corporate Legal Assistants
The Firm may modify and amend this job description at any time at its sole discretion.
1The above is a general description of the essential duties associated with this position and does not represent an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties.
Qualifications
- Four year college degree with a minimum G.P.A. of 3.5
- Strong academic background
- Clear and concise writing skills
- Good verbal communication skills
- Related work and/or internship experience
- Excellent organizational skills
- Willingness and ability to work overtime and long hours
- Basic knowledge of and proficiency with Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat
- Familiarity and competency with technology
- Ability to follow through on projects
- Ability to work under pressure and with a variety of personalities
- Ability to work with and liaise with colleagues in other internal departments (e.g., Office Services, Practice Technology, Global Technology Services, Research & Information Services, Operations, Practice Assistants, Document Services, etc.)
- Excellent professional and personal references
- Excellent judgment
- High ethical standards
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Ability to travel as needed
- Foreign language skills a plus (especially Spanish, Russian, Arabic, and Chinese-Mandarin)
Location and Reporting
- This role is based in New York office
- This role reports to the Manager of Corporate Legal Assistants
The Firm may modify and amend this job description at any time at its sole discretion.
1The above is a general description of the essential duties associated with this position and does not represent an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties.
White & Case is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and is committed to creating a fair workplace. It is our Firm’s policy to recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law.
Applicants who are interested in applying for a position and require an accommodation during the process should contact talent.acquisition@whitecase.com.
