The FAS Team Secretary provides lawyers and other legal personnel with administrative, secretarial and clerical assistance. The Team collaborates, coordinates, maintains effective and efficient work flow, follows policies and procedures set by the Firm; establishes and maintains harmonious working relationships with Team members, top level management, supervisors, coordinator, coworkers, and clients by performing the following:

Coordinates U.S. & Foreign travel arrangements by securing air, hotel, rail, and car reservations for lawyers and clients. Prepares travel expense reports and other business related expenses using the electronic Accounting system, and prepares itinerary for lawyers and colleagues.
• Handles reimbursement of other firm and client-related expenses, such as telephone calls, entertainment, recruiting, etc. using the electronic Accounting system.
• Maintains electronic calendar of meetings and appointments, and apprises lawyers of responsibilities in advance of commitment. Coordinates luncheons and schedules conference rooms for meetings using the electronic room scheduler.
• Maintains contacts in Outlook for assigned lawyers, pursuant to lawyers' preference.
• Maintains list of principal contacts or working group lists for each client and matter.
• Receives, screens, and transmits telephone calls to lawyers and takes messages as necessary, with recognition of and attention to the particular needs of clients. Schedules conference calls for lawyers.
• Creates, maintains, and updates all client litigation files on a daily basis in accordance with standards set by the Records Management Center using the electronic Records Management database and maintains other files as needed. Must have thorough knowledge of indexing litigation files. Maintains current files for all correspondence.
• Facilitates work with the Accounting Department to coordinate client bills, generates monthly internal utilization reports, provides monthly and/or quarterly estimate reporting data, analyzes billing data, and responds to miscellaneous client inquiries/requests. Processes new business forms, new client/matter reports, and conflict of interest checks.
• Inputs daily diaries for lawyers in electronic Time Billing System, and proofreads and edits time diaries for accuracy.
• Proofreads and revises all documents, including engagement letters, PowerPoint presentations, memoranda, audit letters, client deliverables, and other correspondence, etc., for accuracy, grammar, punctuation and syntax, and drafts correspondence.
• Coordinates work performed by Support Services for prompt production and delivery of documents.
• Prepares documents for transmittal via the Firm's electronic fax system and e-mail transfer.
• Processes incoming and outgoing mail and distributes promptly.
• Retrieves cases and other related legal documentation from the library and makes copies.
• Types and prepares legal papers and correspondence such as briefs, letters, memoranda, tables, charts/spreadsheets, complaints, and motions. Also generates Table of Contents, Table of Authorities, and redline documents.
• Performs other job-related duties such as compiling notebooks and exhibits, and preparing documents in connection with bar association activities. Also performs other administrative tasks as needed.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities (Duties) above satisfactorily and meet the requirements below. The requirements listed below are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. If you need such an accommodation, please email staffrecruiting@sidley.com (current employees should contact Human Resources).

Education and/or Experience:

Required:

• 3+ years of related work experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Proficiency in MS Office applications

Preferred:

• Degree from an accredited college or university
• Ability to type 55 wpm
• Law Firm experience
• Legal terminology and formats (legal documents)
• Bilingual

Other Skills and Abilities:

The following will also be required of the successful candidate:

• Strong organizational skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Good judgment
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Able to work harmoniously and effectively with others
• Able to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion
• Able to work under pressure
• Able to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities

Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer