Legal Receptionist

Job Title: Receptionist

Location: Falls Church

Job Type: Full-Time, Non-Exempt

About Us:

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston is a law firm focusing on corporate litigation, global and regulatory law for companies in a wide range of industries. With offices in Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Washington, and Virginia, our 170 lawyers help our clients grow their businesses in the mid-Atlantic and around the globe. At Whiteford we strive to provide the best in innovative and sophisticated legal services, and seek talented students, attorneys, and staff who share this goal. We also value an inclusive work environment where diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas are vital to a thriving workforce.

Job Summary:

The Receptionist, under the supervision of the Office Administrator, serves as the first point of contact for clients, guests, and firm employees, and is also responsible for providing a wide variety of administrative support to assigned attorney(s). This role ensures smooth operations and excellent customer service, maintaining good working relations and fulfilling business needs. The ideal candidate will be organized, professional, and capable of managing multiple tasks with a friendly and efficient demeanor.

Key Responsibilities:

Receptionist

• Greet clients and guests in a professional and courteous manner.
• Answer, screen, and route incoming calls.
• Respond to general inquiries directing the inquirer to the appropriate personnel.
• Manage the conference room calendar.
• Maintain public areas such as reception, conference rooms, lounge, and visiting attorney offices, ensuring that they remain neat and orderly.
• Assist in coordinating meetings and events as needed

Mail and Support Services

• Receive, sort, and distribute incoming mail
• Process outgoing mail, including certified mail, FedEx, UPS, and couriers

Hospitality & Client Services

• Set up and reset conference rooms for meetings, including AV technology
• Coordinate food and beverage service for internal and client meetings and events
• Maintain kitchen and pantry areas, ensuring cleanliness and stocked supplies
• Assist in planning and executing office events
• Provide white-glove customer service to internal and external clients

Skills and Abilities:

• Prior experience in a law firm or corporate environment preferred
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with a customer service mindset
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information.
• Possess advanced knowledge of and proficiently use Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Portable Document Format (PDF) applications including imaging and scanning functions.

Core Competencies

Communication

Speaks and writes clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations, listens and gets clarification, responds well to questions, and participates in meetings.

Attention to Detail

Monitors, proofreads, and takes ownership of work product for accuracy; ability to apply organizing strategies to ensure projects are appropriately prioritized and resources are used effectively and efficiently.

Technical Skills

Ability to quickly learn and integrate new technical skills and knowledge; seeks out avenues to enhance technical skills.

Customer Service

Ability to work in collaboration within a group to ensure that internal and external client needs are met; desires to understand concerns and build trust with same.

Problem Solving Abilities

Ability to troubleshoot issues, anticipate attorney/client needs, and proactively suggest solutions.

Time Management

Ability to plan and organize day to meet varied requests appropriately considering the priority and deadline of each task.

Ethics

Ability to always keep client and firm information confidential; understand and implement general rules of ethical behavior applicable to legal personnel.

Interpersonal Skills

Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with others working collaboratively to reach a common goal, work well under occasional periods of pressures and short deadlines, and providing information and assistance willingly.

Adaptability/Flexibility

Ability to change directions quickly as workflow needs change and respond with flexibility to a changing work environment.

What We Offer:

• A competitive salary and benefits package.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development within a dynamic and supportive environment.
• A collaborative culture that values innovation, integrity, and inclusivity.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.