Legal Secretary Manager – Support Services Workgroup

POSITION: Legal Secretary Manager – Support Services Workgroup

LOCATION: Negotiable*

SALARY: $77,000k - $96,000k/ annually DOE, with excellent benefits

AVAILABILITY: Immediately

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Continuous until position is filled.

Are you interested in joining an organization dedicated to increasing access to justice while addressing systemic inequities among the most vulnerable members of the Greater Los Angeles area? If yes, LAFLA is the place for you!

The Organization: LAFLA is a nonprofit law firm that protects and advances the rights of the most underserved—leveling the playing field and ensuring that everyone can have access to the justice system. Celebrating 95 years of service to Los Angeles communities, LAFLA is the first and most experienced legal aid organization in Greater Los Angeles. LAFLA has more than 200 employees, including more than 100 attorneys, who provide free services and resources on a broad range of civil legal issues that impact healthy, safety, and self-sufficiency. Every year, LAFLA helps more than 100,000 people find their voice, regain control of their lives, and build a brighter future. Our unique combination of neighborhood offices, self-help centers at courthouses, and domestic violence clinics puts LAFLA on the frontlines in communities at the forefront of change. LAFLA also engages in impact litigation to help enact long-term systemic change—actively collaborating with a network of public and private partners to expand access to justice, identify needs in the communities we serve, and change laws and policies that adversely affect the underserved. For more information, please visit www.lafla.org.

LAFLA is currently accepting applications for the position of Legal Secretary Manager.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of three (3) years of management experience required with the ability to motivate and inspire teams remotely and in person.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience as a legal secretary or its equivalent within a legal setting.
• Extremely strong interpersonal skills and the ability to maintain a positive and resourceful attitude when working with diverse populations.
• Ability to meet deadlines and perform multiple tasks while maintaining extreme attention to detail in a fast-paced work environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to LAFLA’s mission and previous non-profit or government experience preferred.
• Willingness to work beyond a minimum 7.0-hour workday, and workweeks over 35 hours when obligations so necessitate.
• Ability to travel to LAFLA’s five community offices required.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish strongly preferred.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

1. Supervise a team of 14 legal secretary staff who provide legal and administrative support to attorneys and paralegals. Responsibilities include hiring and onboarding of staff; coaching and mentoring to ensure meaningful professional development and compliance with LAFLA’s priorities, policies, and procedures; performing regular 1:1 check-ins inside each of LAFLA’s community offices; completing annual evaluations and professional development plans; and reviewing staff timekeeping and leave requests to ensure adequate coverage.
2. Manage secretarial assignments for attorneys and paralegals, coordinate secretarial workflows, and delegate work effectively to ensure that objectives are met timely and accurately.
3. Oversee the prompt handling of correspondence (mail, fax, email), as well as the proper maintenance of client case files and calendaring systems.
4. Maintain user accounts with LAFLA’s correspondence and litigation service vendors and approve vendor invoicing.
5. Cultivate effective relationships with a broad team that includes LAFLA’s management, attorneys, paralegals, support staff, and external vendors.
6. Perform other duties as assigned.
7. Contribute to the organization’s DEI plan and goals (via surveys, interviews, etc), supporting all DEI initiatives and helping to promote inclusion in a thoughtful way;

To view LAFLA’s Commitment to DEI, please go to https://lafla.org/who-we-are/diversity-equity-inclusion-justice-at-lafla/

HOW TO APPLY - Please submit a cover letter and resume online to sswgjobs@lafla.org. Include “Legal Secretary Manager” in the subject line.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD – A one year probationary period will be required.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: Selection will be based solely on merit and will be without discrimination because of race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, creed, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, age, religion, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military or veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, marital or registered domestic partners status, or any other legally protected status.

The organization is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates and employees pursuant to applicable law. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. If you require reasonable accommodation as part of the application process or expect to require an accommodation if hired, please contact humanresources@lafla.org.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION – LAFLA offers a diverse environment with competitive compensation based on comparable public interest salaries. We also offer a generous benefits package for full-time employees including medical, dental, and vision for employees and dependents, life insurance, long-term disability and long-term care insurance, and 403(b) retirement plan. Eligible employees may also qualify for bilingual supplements, law student loan reimbursements, and a cell phone stipend. Please visit https://lafla.org/get-involved/careers/ for our salary scale for union, non-management staff.

HYBRID WORK SCHEDULE - Depending on job classifications, some LAFLA staff are working on a manager approved hybrid work schedule, with the ability to work remotely up to half the week, if preferred, after the probationary period. The successful candidate must be local and willing to work from the assigned LAFLA office.