Personal Injury/Health Law Legal Assistant

About the Company

Our client is a well-established Ontario law firm offering a broad range of legal services. The firm is known for its collaborative, collegial culture, strong administrative support, modern technology, and commitment to exceptional client service.

They are seeking a Legal Assistant to support the Personal Injury (Civil Sexual Abuse) practice group (plaintiff-side) and Health Law practice group (defence-side) in their Toronto office. This is a 12-month contract with potential for extension.

The ideal candidate will have 3–5+ years of legal assistant experience, preferably within litigation, and be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. Responsibilities include client intake, file management, litigation support, administrative coordination, and supporting a busy partner.

The successful candidate will be proactive, highly organized, exercise sound judgment, anticipate needs, and manage competing priorities independently while working collaboratively with lawyers and law clerks.

Responsibility

• Serving as a first point of contact for prospective and existing clients, including gathering information and assisting with client intake processes
• Answering the phone, scheduling calls, meetings, and appointments
• Communicating with clients, experts, service providers, and the courts
• Opening and closing files and conducting conflict searches
• Maintaining lawyers' calendars and an effective bring forward (BF) system
• Monitoring active files and ensuring compliance with applicable deadlines, court requirements, CMPA requirements, and practice-specific processes
• Preparing accounts, processing payments and deposits, reviewing accounts, and assisting with billing-related matters and collections
• Organizing and submitting expense reports
• Drafting correspondence, memoranda, and other documents from dictation, precedent materials, or lawyer instructions
• Compiling, serving, and filing motion records and other court documents
• Setting up teleconferences, mediations, case conferences, settlement conferences, discoveries, and other meetings
• Conducting internet and background research to support files and ongoing matters
• Assisting with the preparation and organization of briefs, summaries, and other litigation materials, both independently and in collaboration with law clerks
• Maintaining electronic and physical files, including scanning and uploading documents to the firm's document management system (iManage)
• Providing proactive file support by identifying action items, tracking next steps, and escalating matters requiring lawyer review
• Collaborating closely with lawyers, law clerks, clients, experts, and third-party service providers to advance files efficiently
• Other duties related to the administration of the practice

The Offer

• Health, Extended Health, Dental and Vision care
• LTD insurance
• Life insurance
• Parking/Transit reimbursement
• RRSP matching program
• Eligibility for salary adjustments and/or performance-based incentive bonuses
• Paid Volunteer Time
• Referral Bonus
• Employee Assistance Program
• Hybrid work arrangement eligibility (3 days per week in office)
• Kids and Company partnership
• Target Hiring Range: $58,600 - $65,900

What You Bring

• At least 3 to 5 years of experience, or more as a Legal Assistant, preferably in a litigation role
• Experience supporting a Personal Injury (Civil Sexual Abuse) and/or Health Law (Defence) practice is considered an asset
• Deep familiarity with the Rules of Civil Procedure, particularly as they relate to service requirements and litigation deadlines
• Strong organizational, time management, and file management skills
• Keen attention to detail and accuracy
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment and work independently in a busy litigation practice
• Demonstrated ability to take a leadership role within a legal team, including coordinating workflows, monitoring file progress, and providing guidance and support to other legal support staff
• Proven ability to anticipate needs, prioritize competing demands, and proactively advance matters
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to conduct research and synthesize information
• Strong client service skills and experience communicating with prospective and existing clients in a professional and empathetic manner
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to receive and incorporate feedback
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with lawyers, law clerks, and other members of a legal support team
• Strong work ethic and commitment to delivering high-quality work
• Experience managing files from intake through resolution is an asset
• Experience with technology and working in a hybrid environment
• Experience with ACL, Case Center, Justice Services Online (JSO), RelativityOne, iManage, OneDrive, and other legal technologies is an asset

Next Steps
If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please apply, in confidence. Thank you for your interest in the position and in Forge Recruitment.