Floating Legal Assistant

Floating Legal Assistant

Sutin, Thayer & Browne is seeking a permanent Floating Legal Assistant to provide flexible support across the firm’s attorneys and practice groups. In this role, you will step in wherever help is needed, including covering for legal assistants who are out of the office, supporting teams during peak periods, and assisting attorneys with time-sensitive projects. You will also serve as the firm’s first point of contact for all incoming cold calls. A core part of this position is ongoing scheduling, docketing, and communication support for the firm’s writ of habeas corpus caseload in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico. Willing to receive on-the-job training for the habeas corpus caseload.

Who We Are & How We Can Grow Together:

We have been New Mexico’s trusted choice for legal services for over 80 years and we’re seeking to energize the traditional big law firm model. You’ll be part of a supportive team where excellence meets a vibrant workplace culture. Our teams handle everything from business transactions to litigation with a unique, client-focused approach and a collaborative spirit that sets us apart. Ready to grow with us? Let’s make it happen!

What You Will Do:

We’re looking for a detail-oriented, highly organized, and proactive Legal Assistant to keep our attorneys running smoothly. As a floater, you will support attorneys and staff across multiple practice areas and adapt quickly to different matters, working styles, and priorities. Your assignments will shift based on the firm’s needs and may include covering desks during vacations and leaves, supporting filing and hearing deadlines, and handling overflow work. You will also work closely with the assigned attorneys to manage the intake, scheduling, and communication demands unique to the firm’s federal detainee habeas corpus practice, including coordination with courts, opposing counsel, and processing centers. You will need to remain calm under deadline pressure and be comfortable managing a high volume of time-sensitive matters at once.

This role is perfect for someone with strong writing, proofreading, and communication skills who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys variety. You’ll need to be flexible and efficient at multitasking, with great attention to detail—organization is key!

This position reports to multiple attorneys and to the Human Resources Manager.

Responsibilities:

Firm-Wide Floating Support

· Provide floating support to attorneys and legal assistants across practice groups, including coverage during absences, vacations, and periods of high workload.

· Prepare, format, proofread, and file pleadings, correspondence, and other documents in state and federal courts.

· Calendar and docket deadlines, hearings, and appointments for the attorneys you support.

· Communicate with clients, courts, opposing counsel, and vendors on behalf of supported attorneys.

· Create and organize files according to firm guidelines.

· Keep clear, current notes on assigned work so matters can be handed off smoothly between assignments.

· Perform other tasks as assigned.

Client Intake and Cold Calls

• Answer all incoming cold calls transferred from the front desk.
• Screen each prospective client's matter against the firm's intake guidelines to decide whether it is a good fit for the firm.
• Send qualified inquiries to the accounting team for a conflicts check.
• Once a matter clears conflicts, route it to the appropriate attorney or practice group.
• Provide courteous referrals for matters the firm declines.
• Document all intake calls accurately and track follow-up to ensure timely responses.

Habeas Corpus Support

· Open, organize, and maintain case files for incoming writ of habeas corpus matters, including intake documentation and client/petitioner information.

· Calendar and docket all habeas-related deadlines, including statutory and court-ordered response deadlines, hearing dates, and filing deadlines.

· Prepare, format, and file habeas corpus pleadings and related documents with the appropriate federal court.

· Track case status across the federal habeas caseload and provide attorneys and clients with regular status updates and deadline reminders.

Qualifications

· High school diploma or equivalent.

· 1-2 years of legal assistant experience in a litigation practice area.

· Experience supporting multiple attorneys or practice areas, preferred.

· Knowledge of Odyssey, PACER, and other court filing systems, preferred.

· Knowledge of ProLaw, preferred.

· Must have experience with office equipment and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.).

· Must be flexible and able to adapt quickly to changing assignments, priorities, and attorney preferences.

· Must have the ability to work independently, manage large workloads, and keep deadlines.

· Must be highly organized and detail-oriented.

· Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills.

· Must be able to proofread documents.

· Good typing skills.

· Good attendance and reliability are required.

· Must have a professional demeanor.

· Must have the ability to keep matters confidential.

No one person is likely to have all the qualities enumerated above. We strongly encourage you to apply if you are interested and feel you could be successful in this role.

Sutin, Thayer & Browne provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, spousal affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $22.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person