LAA/para – Litigation

As a full-service law firm with a history of over 150 years in Vancouver (including a busy Surrey (Guildford) office), Richards Buell Sutton LLP (RBS) is committed to providing the highest standard of service to our clients and strives to be one of the top employers in B.C.!

We are seeking an experienced hybrid LAA/para Litigation Legal Assistant for our Vancouver office to support a busy partner and associate in this department that practice in insurance, construction and general litigation. 

This position is ideal for a highly organized, detail oriented and proactive LA, experienced in managing files in a fast-paced environment.  There are both administrative and paralegal aspects to this role, including entering time on files for any substantive work performed.  There is also a strong billing component to this role.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible with initiating documentation and correspondence on files.
• Schedule trials, trial management conferences, case plan conferences, examinations for discovery, registrar hearings, and mediations, appointments.
• Organize files, document binders, and other file related materials on an ongoing basis.
• Attend to BC court filings.
• Maintain comprehensive “bring forward” and limitation systems in accordance with the firm's policy and BC courts requirements and follow-up on dates.
• Schedule trials, meetings, discoveries, court applications, other appearances.
• Maintain lawyers' calendars and updating the internal database.
• Book travel, including flights, cars and hotels as needed.
• Communicate with clients, claims adjusters/examiners insureds, courts, counsel and external parties.
• Prepare and draft correspondence including demand letters and settlement proposals, audit responses and closing documents (i.e. consent dismissal orders, notices of discontinuance and releases).
• Prepare and draft pleadings, Application Record Books and Books of Authorities.
• Retain non-experts and medical experts including drafting instruction letters, arranging independent medical examinations.
• Review client documents in order to determine relevance and legal privilege.
• Prepare and organize documents for document production including redactions.
• Prepare and follow up with requests for document productions and undertakings.
• Prepare matters for mediation including mediation summaries.
• Prepare Case Summary Proposals.
• Prepare trial briefs, exhibits, affidavits and other supporting documents.
• Provide trial support including prepare and organize documents and court filings, schedule witnesses, compile books of authorities/factums.
• Calculate judgement interest amounts.
• Prepare Bill of Costs.

Requirements:

• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Professional customer service experience with the ability to defuse challenging situations.
• Organized and meticulous with follow-up and detail.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
• Able to work independently with minimal direction and as part of a team.
• Resourceful, proactive and solutions focused.
• Ability to take the initiative, prioritize and multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work overtime on occasion.
• Basic knowledge of accounting principles, practices, and procedures an asset.
• Proficiency in using Adobe Acrobat Pro and MS Office applications like Outlook, Word and some Excel.
• Experience in using document management system like Filesite/iManage.
• Knowledge of the rules of civil procedure, court systems and legal terminology in BC.
• Maintain working knowledge of court procedures.
• Trial prep
• Enter time - demonstrates strong expertise in distinguishing billable versus non‑billable work, ensuring accurate team time entry and full compliance with client‑specific billing guidelines.
• Assist in vacation back up coverage relief for Litigation Group

Billing Responsibilities:

• prebills/proformas for lawyers for review & make revisions as per lawyer’s instructions
• Provide direct assistance to lawyers and practice group in the production of their client accounts
• Assist in adding disbursement fees to bills and process client and internal disbursements
• Finalize and ensure bills are sent out for regular billing and e-billing platforms (TyMetrix360, Quovant, Bottomline (Canada) and Bottomline (USA))
• Post-billing administrative processes
• Coordinate with clients regarding payments as required & respond to any billing inquiries
• Carry out accounts receivable tasks as required
• Billing and time related data entry to track payments or e-billing rejections
• Monitor e-billing clients’ platforms and manage rejections
• Liaise with e-billing client contacts for timekeeper approvals and other approval requests (i.e. outstanding accounts)

We thank all those that apply but only successful candidates will be notified.

Come join the RBS team!