The Legal Support Senior Assistant provides high-level administrative and practice-specific support to attorneys within the Global Finance Practice Group. This position requires a proactive, highly organized professional who can independently manage competing priorities, anticipate attorney needs, exercise sound judgment, and deliver exceptional client service in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Attorney & Administrative Support
- Provide high-level administrative support to partners, counsel, and associates.
- Independently manage competing priorities, anticipate attorney needs, and ensure timely completion of assignments.
- Prepare, edit, format, and proofread correspondence, presentations, and other legal and administrative documents.
- Manage complex calendars, coordinate meetings, and facilitate communications with clients and Firm personnel.
- Coordinate domestic and international travel arrangements and process attorney expense reports.
Billing & Financial Support
- Assist with attorney time entry, monthly billing, proforma review, and invoice preparation.
- Coordinate client billing arrangements, accruals, and financial reporting requirements.
- Monitor billing deadlines, resolve discrepancies, and collaborate with Accounting to ensure timely processing.
Practice Group and Team Support
- Coordinate practice group meetings, client events, business development activities, and special projects.
- Serve as a liaison among attorneys, clients, and Business Services departments.
- Collaborate with legal support colleagues to ensure continuity of service and effective workload coverage.
- Identify opportunities to streamline administrative processes and improve service delivery.
Education and/ or Experience:
Required:
- Minimum of three years of legal administrative support experience in a law firm or professional services environment.
- Experience supporting partners, senior attorneys, or senior-level professionals.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, and document management systems.
- Strong organizational, communication, proofreading, and time-management skills.
- Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and manage multiple priorities.
Preferred:
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
- Experience supporting finance, banking, corporate, or transactional practices.
- Familiarity with transaction closings, legal billing, and matter management.
Other Skills and Abilities:
The following will also be required of the successful candidate:
- Initiative and Judgment: Anticipates needs, independently prioritizes assignments, and proactively resolves administrative issues.
- Accountability: Takes ownership of responsibilities and follows assignments through completion.
- Client Service: Demonstrates professionalism, responsiveness, discretion, and adaptability.
- Organization: Effectively manages multiple deadlines and competing demands with accuracy.
- Collaboration: Builds productive relationships with attorneys, clients, and colleagues.
- Technical Proficiency: Effectively utilizes Firm systems and adapts to new technology and processes.
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The target salary range for this role is:
$60,000 - $77,000 if located in North CarolinaSalaries vary by location and are based on numerous factors, including, but not limited to, the relevant market, skills, experience, and education of the selected candidate. Our compensation package also includes bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits program. Benefits information can be found at Sidley.com/Benefits.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities above satisfactorily and meet the requirements. The requirements listed above 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 [email protected] (current employees should contact Human Resources).
Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Skills Required
- Minimum of three years of legal administrative support experience in a law firm or professional services environment
- Experience supporting partners, senior attorneys, or senior-level professionals
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, and document management systems
- Strong organizational, communication, proofreading, and time-management skills
- Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and manage multiple priorities
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
- Experience supporting finance, banking, corporate, or transactional practices
- Familiarity with transaction closings, legal billing, and matter management
Sidley Austin LLP Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Sidley Austin LLP and has not been reviewed or approved by Sidley Austin LLP.
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Healthcare Strength — Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage is paired with life and disability insurance and wellbeing resources. EAP access, wellness events, screenings, and mindfulness app subscriptions indicate a strong health emphasis.
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Parental & Family Support — Family-building support includes generous fertility coverage plus substantial adoption and surrogacy assistance, alongside backup childcare and eldercare. Paid parental leave is characterized as generous and supportive for eligible staff and attorneys.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) is available broadly, and eligible business professionals receive an employer-funded Retirement Plan with service and interest credits toward lifetime income options. London materials also reference pension coverage.
Sidley Austin LLP Insights
What We Do
Sidley is an elite global law firm with approximately 2,300 lawyers and 21 offices worldwide. It advises clients on complex transactional, restructuring, crisis management, investigation, regulatory, and litigation matters. Its lawyers and business professionals work across commercial, regulatory, and financial centers, using cross-border legal expertise and cultural awareness to deliver innovative strategies and clarity for clients navigating a dynamic global business environment.
