Senior Legal Secretary

BakerHostetler has an in-office opportunity for a Senior Legal Secretary in the Washington, DC office for the Financial & Innovative Markets Team. The position will support senior partners and practice leaders handling high-profile, sensitive matters in financial services, crypto/digital assets, corporate transactions, complex litigation, white collar defense, and regulatory investigations. This is a non-exempt position that reports to the Human Resources Manager. The ideal candidate will possess excellent people, organizational, and planning skills as well as the ability to adapt to fast-paced, ever-changing priorities. This role requires creativity and the ability to think innovatively and exercise independent judgment when necessary while handling sensitive and confidential information. This role demands discretion, speed, and sound judgment.

Responsibilities:

Confidential Executive & Matter Support

• Deliver elite, confidential administrative and legal support to practice leaders and attorneys across crypto, financial services, corporate, and litigation matters.
• Manage sensitive information with the highest level of judgment and security awareness.
• Serve as a core assistant to attorneys—anticipating needs, spotting gaps, and driving matters forward.

Matter Organization, File Tracking & Management 

• Review, organize, and maintain client files, investigation materials, regulatory correspondence, pleadings, transaction documents, and meeting notes.
• Convert raw meeting notes and attorney dictation into clear action lists, deadlines, matter summaries, and follow-up logs.
• Track open tasks across multiple active matters and ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
• Assist with opening new matters, conflicts checks, client intake, and related administrative processes.

Client Interaction & Communication / Administrative & Operational Excellence 

• Act as a polished, trusted liaison with clients, co-counsel, regulators, counterparties, and other external parties.
• Schedule meetings, calls, briefings, and multi-party coordination with precision and professionalism.
• Provide intelligent, client-facing support while maintaining strict confidentiality.
• Provide telephone support, manage calendars, schedule complex meetings across time zones, and coordinate travel.
• Prepare mailings, expense reports, courier requests, and other administrative paperwork.
• Deliver accurate document production, including redlines, TOCs, PowerPoint formatting, and document comparison.
• Support billing and time entry with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Assist senior attorneys with reminders and prioritizing time-sensitive items.

Research, Information Gathering & Briefing Support

• Conduct targeted basic research on financial services, crypto, corporate matters, litigation status, and regulatory issues.
• Summarize findings into clean briefing notes, chronology logs, or reference packets.
• Maintain internal databases for quick retrieval of information.

Professional & Ethical Standards

• Demonstrate strong working knowledge of firm policies and administrative procedures.
• Act as a steward of confidentiality, professionalism, and client trust.
• Provide notary services if licensed.

Requirements:

• Minimum 5+ years supporting multiple attorneys, with the preference being within a law firm.
• Familiarity with legal terminology and financial/crypto regulatory vocabulary.
• Experience providing administrative support for financial services, crypto/digital assets, corporate transactions, investigations, or litigation is a significant plus.
• Advanced skills in Word (styles, track changes, document comparison).
• Strong proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Adobe Acrobat, and document formatting and management platforms.
• Ability to quickly learn workflow tools and implement them efficiently.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to interact with attorneys, clients, regulators, and staff with professionalism, tact, and confidence.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage competing priorities under pressure.
• Strong judgment in handling confidential and high-profile matters.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and takes ownership of assigned tasks.
• Comfortable working independently or collaboratively depending on the situation.
• District of Columbia Notary (or willingness to obtain).

The expected annual salary for this position ranges from $68,000 - $96,000. The salary offered will be determined by a wide range of factors including but not limited to experience level, education/training, and relevant skills. The Firm does offer competitive benefits to include healthcare. More details are available at https://www.bakerlaw.com/careers/compensation-and-benefits/.