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Job Title Legal Secretary - Bilingual Arabic & English
Job Location Abu Dhabi
Job Category Legal Personal Assistant
Practice Group N/A
Support Department Secretarial
Description

Role Purpose

To provide efficient and effective administrative services to fee earners Assigned ( Partners, Senior Associates and equivalents).

Main Responsibilities

  • Proactively manages and coordinates all aspects of tasks assigned (e.g. meetings, events, travel, etc.)
  • Client intake administration (e.g. AML, engagement letters)
  • Provides billing support to attorneys
  • Call handling/gate-keeping
  • Proactive complex diary management, call handling and meeting organization for external meetings (utilises GAS for internal meetings
  • Manage in-box, assist with email filing into iManage. As well as supporting on hard copy filing
  • Supports client activities and is in direct contact with clients and their assistants
  • Proactively builds and co-ordinates relationships with E2E services, other BM secretaries and teams. Utilizes and reviews materials from Service Centers to ensure efficiency and accuracy
  • Document production for urgent jobs which are not suitable to be done by Document Services
  • Proactively manages competing deadlines
  • Provides administrative support at meetings, capturing outputs and following up as needed. May be assigned specific tasks / objectives for action as outputs of meeting
  • Supports junior members acting as buddy/mentor
  • Undertakes specific practice group tasks and requirements

About The Team

Function

Our Operations function supports and manages the day-to-day operations of the Firm, providing expert and in-market support regarding office management, office services and facilities, real estate management, risk management, and secretarial and administrative services.

This role will report to the Office Manager.

The key relationships of this role are with the Fee earners and business professionals within assigned practice area, finance, AML/NBI, DCS, GAS, Secretarial Services Function.

About The Candidate

Technical skills, qualifications and experience

  • Bilingual (Arabic / English) with at least 5 years of experience working in a legal sector or other professional services environment
  • Proficiency gained through job-related training and work experience
  • Strong technical capabilities across MSOffice Suite (e.g., Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, Teams)
  • Strong diary/calendar management skills
  • Strong document management skills
  • Ability to problem solve based on standard ways of operating
  • Ability to manage competing tasks and demands
  • Proactively seek to upskill
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships; a team player
  • Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
  • Work requires continual attention to detail in completing assignments

Personal qualities

These personal qualities represent the shared characteristics of high performers across Baker McKenzie, regardless of job level and location.

Know how

  • Keeps across key developments in all relevant areas and demonstrates the ability to develop substantive authority in relation to the Firm's specialist fields
  • Demonstrates the ability to identify the real issue, and to anticipate requirements and potential consequences; distils a range of possibilities by thinking in a considered, prudent manner
  • Able to move through a variety of tasks requiring different approaches, knowledge, and expertise, with agility of mind and capacity for analysis and synthesis

Dedication

  • Driven by a strong personal sense of integrity and upholds exemplary quality standards
  • Prepares thoroughly, takes responsibility, uses initiative and is self reliant to ensure work progresses to the fullest extent possible
  • Hardworking and diligent with a keen understanding of client demands
  • Demonstrates composure when dealing with difficult situations

Personal Impact

  • Creates a positive impression at all times; develops relationships through collaboration and reciprocity
  • Negotiates to achieve outcomes that are mutually satisfactory; shows good judgement on when to stand strong and when to compromise
  • Invests in, nurtures and builds a network of productive relationships

Humanity

  • Respectful to others, regardless of their position, and earns the respect of others by being transparent
  • Has care and concern for others and a genuine interest in others as people
  • Treats delicate or confidential issues with grace and discretion.

Why Join Us?

Baker McKenzie is a truly global law firm. Founded in 1949, we advise many of the world's most dynamic and successful business organisations through our 13,200 people in 74 offices in 45 countries. Yet big does not mean impersonal. We work hard to ensure that everyone knows their role and has the support they need to perform it to the highest standard. Our culture encourages this - how we work, think and behave in a collaborative and fulfilling way.

In the Gulf region Baker McKenzie has been active for more than three decades and our practice now boasts over 100 lawyers based in our seven offices in the Middle East - Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Cairo, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, and Riyadh. As a pioneering firm, we were most notably the first to enter both the Saudi and Egyptian markets.

The firm has built established and substantial presence in the Middle East & Africa region, with all offices working in close collaboration to service clients' needs on a range of matters, including banking and finance, project finance, Islamic finance, corporate/M&A and dispute resolution. We work closely with key local players — including governmental and regulatory entities, financial institutions, family-owned conglomerates and corporates across all industry sectors — as well with global investors and corporations establishing and consolidating their presence in the region.

Have a look at our YouTube channel to find out more about us!

To Apply

At Baker & McKenzie we welcome direct applications.

Please click on the Apply button on this advertisement to complete the application form.

For more information about this position or to discuss any adjustments you may require during the process please contact in confidence, David Roberts, Recruitment Manager, on david.roberts@bakermckenzie.com

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Please note Baker & McKenzie does not accept unsolicited CVs.

Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity & Equity

Baker McKenzie helps clients overcome the challenges of competing in the global economy. We solve complex legal problems across borders and practice areas. Our unique culture, developed over 65 years, enables our people to understand local markets and navigate multiple jurisdictions, working together as trusted colleagues and friends to instill confidence in our clients. This is an exciting time to join us as we invest in and further develop our Professional & Business Services organisation, providing rewarding and challenging career opportunities in all of our world-class business functions.

Baker McKenzie has a culture of diversity and inclusion in its DNA - since our beginning, the differences of our people have helped us to work fluently across borders, cultures and practices. This is intrinsic to everything we do and underpins Baker McKenzie's vision to be the global law firm of choice. We understand that organisations work best when people with different backgrounds and points of view are brought together. We also know people perform at their best when they can be themselves at work. Baker McKenzie is committed to serving our clients with innovative solutions brought about by a diverse talent pool and an inclusive community.