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Built on a commitment to legal excellence and a personal commitment to each of our clients, Blethen Berens is proud to foster a culture of collaboration, healthy competition, and support.
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CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
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Blethen Berens, a full-service law firm, is currently hiring a Receptionist in our Mankato, MN office. The Receptionist is a key member of our team being the first impression of our firm to all clients. The ideal candidate must maintain a high degree of professionalism, have excellent communication skills, be highly organized, reliable, punctual and have a commitment to providing a high level of customer service in a fast-paced environment.
As first point of contact the ideal candidate must be able to take initiative amongst our team to oversee a multi-line phone system and monitor coverage of client first impressions with our backup support staff as needed. Job responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Answer and route all incoming calls. Take and deliver messages when necessary.
Ensure all clients feel welcome to our firm by greeting and helping them upon arrival.
Schedule appointments for legal staff and attorneys.
Manage conference room schedules and reserve as necessary.
Maintain a professional, clean, friendly and comfortable lobby.
Process conflict checks for new files.
Process client payments and prepare receipts.
Order office paper products, toner, notary stamps and all office supplies.
Assist Legal Assistants, Paralegals and Accountant with miscellaneous administrative work as needed.
Index CLE binders.
Respond to all incoming inquiries from the firm website.
Manage phone system greetings.
Miscellaneous drafting, copying and scanning of documents.
Follow all office policies and procedures as defined in the firm handbook.
Other duties as assigned.
Skills:
Administrative experience preferred, but not required.
Excellent computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft products.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Excellent oral and written communications.
Excellent problem-solving ability.
Effective and positive inter-personal communications with clients, attorneys and non-attorney staff.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
All applicants should send a resume to Lisa Jasperson, Director of Office Administration, at ljasperson@blethenberens.com.
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Blethen Berens is currently hiring a Legal Assistant for their New Ulm office. The right candidate will have administrative experience, be highly organized with an aptitude for detail, able to work under pressure with or without direct supervision, and able to manage work and calendars for two busy attorneys. It is preferred that that they have a minimum of two years of experience working as a legal assistant, however, candidates with other administrative experience or applicable training are encouraged to apply.
Candidates must be flexible, dependable, a team player and willing to work limited overtime. Job responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Conduct client intakes.
Organize and maintain calendars for two busy attorneys including managing deadlines.
Transcribe material from Dictaphone, handwritten notes or typed copy accurately.
Proofread handwritten or typed material and legal descriptions.
Maintain files and file correspondence, documents, billing statements, etc. accurately; retrieve files and information promptly.
Arrange for delivery of legal correspondence to clients.
Schedule and make appointments.
Make photocopies of correspondence, documents, and other printed material.
Skills/Requirements:
Excellent computer skills and technologically savvy, including proficiency in Microsoft products.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Excellent oral and written communications.
Excellent judgment, problem solving, decision-making and strategic thinking skills.
Able to maintain regular attendance during normal office hours, Monday thru Friday, 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Familiarity with legal terminology and basic legal process preferred
Regular lifting of up to 25 pounds, occasional lifting in excess of 25 pounds. Able to stand, sit, bend, lift, climb and squat.
Able to work independently to identify and analyze complex issues and problems.
Able to establish and manage priorities.
Effective and positive inter-personal communications with clients, attorneys and staff.
All applicants should send a resume to Lisa Jasperson, Director of Office Administration, at ljasperson@blethenberens.com.
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Blethen Berens, a full-service law firm in Mankato and New Ulm has an opening for a full time paralegal. This position will assist a variety of attorneys and legal areas including personal injury, insurance defense, family law, employment law, real estate and estate planning. The right candidate will have good legal research skills, understand the litigation cycle, be highly organized with an aptitude for detail, and able to work under pressure with or without direct supervision. Candidates must be flexible, reliable and be willing to work overtime if necessary. Last, but not least, the right candidate must have exceptional interpersonal skills, a strong attention to detail, a great team-oriented attitude, and a willingness to help. This position has a lot of autonomy for the right person. Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
Conduct investigation, discovery and thorough document review
Interview witnesses
Draft pleadings
Draft and respond to discovery
Summarize depositions
Maintain file calendars and organized files
Prepare and draft correspondence
Assist attorneys with trial preparation and assist with Trial Director software
Attend foreclosure sales
Conduct title examination review
Managing and billing time worked for clients
Accumulation and summarization of records
Communicate with several parties to schedule mediations
Skills/Requirements include:
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal
Ability to interact with all clients in a warm, friendly and respectful manner
Strong analytical and problem solving skills
Ability to work cohesively within a team environment
Excellent computer skills and a willingness to learn
In-depth knowledge of electronic research technology a plus
Must be detail oriented
Superior time management skills
Effectively multitask and prioritize tasks
Flexible and reliable
Paralegal certificate/degree preferred, but not required
Prior paralegal experience preferred
Must be able to use proper equipment to lift and carry bulky items over 25 pounds
Ability to work independently with little direct supervision
Blethen Berens offers a full benefits package including competitive salary, medical, dental, vision, 401(k) Profit Sharing, paid-time off, life insurance, and disability.
Blethen Berens provides unparalleled legal services to meet a full range of business and individual needs. Smart, experienced, and responsive, we serve clients throughout Minnesota with dedication, energy and a track record of success. Based in Mankato and New Ulm, we invest in our community and are committed to supporting the region’s health and vibrancy. Apply to join a firm that values relationships, work-life balance, and has a consistent focus on celebrating accomplishments and a positive workplace culture.
All applicants should send a resume to Lisa Jasperson, Director of Office Administration, at ljasperson@blethenberens.com.
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Blethen Berens, a mid-sized, full-service law firm, is seeking a transactional attorney for our New Ulm office. Our transactional attorneys represent clients in a wide range of business and personal matters throughout southern Minnesota. At Blethen Berens our attorneys have the opportunity to collaborate with other experienced attorneys and staff within our firm to best serve our clients.
This opportunity is ideal for a new graduate or an experienced attorney. Using our established mentorship program, new graduates will receive mentorship from our partners as well as access to other resources to help them succeed. At Blethen Berens, new graduates also get the opportunity to manage their own caseload and clients. Other relevant criteria for qualified candidates are the ability to counsel clients, build relationships, business development, possess a strong commitment to legal excellence, have a strong academic and/or professional background, and have the ability and desire to work efficiently within the firm’s team-based approach to confidently serve our clients.
Our New Ulm office has a firm foundation in the New Ulm community which we take pride in. New Ulm is in the heart of one of Minnesota’s fastest growing regions. The region offers a low cost of living, a sense of community, strong focus on health and wellness with a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, an abundant of opportunities to become connected, and a growing music and art scene. Southern Minnesota offers the best of small town living with access to everything you need and more, and a short drive to get a bustling fix if desired.
A full benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) Profit Sharing, and professional and business development opportunities. Compensation includes a competitive base salary plus bonus potential.
Blethen Berens provides unparalleled legal services to meet a full range of business and individual needs. Smart, experienced, and responsive, we serve clients throughout Minnesota with dedication, energy and a track record of success. Based in Mankato and New Ulm, we invest in our community and are committed to supporting the region’s health and vibrancy. Apply to join a firm that values relationships, work-life balance, and has a consistent focus on celebrating accomplishments and a positive workplace culture.
All applicants should send a resume, law school transcript, writing sample and cover letter to Lisa Jasperson, Director of Office Administration, at ljasperson@blethenberens.com.
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Blethen Berens, a mid-sized, full-service law firm, is seeking an attorney with at least five years of business and commercial law experience. This position will be located in our Mankato office. Our business and commercial law attorneys represent small to mid-market businesses in a wide variety of industries across Minnesota.
Qualified candidates must have significant experience not only in business and commercial law, but in counseling clients, relationship building and business development, will have a strong commitment to legal excellence, and will possess the ability and desire to work efficiently within the firm’s team based approach to confidently serve our clients.
Blethen Berens provides unparalleled legal services to meet a full range of business and individual needs. Smart, experienced and responsive, we serve clients throughout Minnesota with dedication, energy and a track record of success. Based in Mankato and New Ulm, we invest in our community and are committed to supporting the region’s health and vibrancy.
All applicants should send a resume and cover letter to Lisa Jasperson, Director of Office Administration, at ljasperson@blethenberens.com.
SUMMER ASSOCIATE PROGRAM
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The Summer Associate Program is 10-12 weeks in length and is designed to provide an encompassing look at what it means to be an attorney at Blethen Berens.
During the program, summer associates are given meaningful research and writing assignments, affording them the opportunity to work with many different lawyers in as many practice areas as possible. The program also incorporates many opportunities for summer associates to observe and participate in events such as trials, depositions, hearings, negotiations and closings. The firm also provides Summer Associates with a housing stipend.
While the summer associates gain a working knowledge of our law firm, our clients and our expectations for new attorneys, we get to know the summer associates, taking the opportunity to consider each for a position with our firm after they finish law school.
Our goal through this program is to find those individuals who have the potential for outstanding legal careers and that can deliver meaningful contributions to the firm, our clients and the community.
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Summer associates receive a variety of challenging assignments, ranging from client meetings and courtroom exposure, to revising agreements and composing memos. Each experience is designed to enhance reasoning, research, oral presentation and writing skills. Our experience is that varying the assignments enables both the summer associate and us to get a more complete picture upon which to comfortably base an employment decision.
The format for our program exposes our summer associates to a wide range of activities, including:
Contact with firm clients and occasional visits to client facilities;
Exposure to the court system;
Observation of closings, depositions, trials, arbitrations, mediations or oral arguments;
Opportunities to produce various legal documents that are reviewed and actually used for the benefit of clients;
Participation in a wide variety of research projects; and
Exposure to many of the practice areas within the firm.
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An integral part of our summer associate program is the support our participants receive from their Blethen Berens mentors.
Each associate is assigned two mentors – a partner from our litigation department and a partner from our transactional department – whose role it is to help guide the associate through the summer experience.
Each mentor takes a genuine interest in ensuring a well-rounded summer associate experience and helps ensure that our summer associates receive diverse, interesting and challenging assignments while at the firm.
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We believe that receiving feedback is an integral component of the growth process. Summer associates receive both informal and formal feedback from the attorneys in our office.
Informal feedback is delivered through direct, ongoing feedback to the summer associates as they work on current assignments.
When an assignment is completed, the assigning attorney submits a formal evaluation form. These are reviewed with the associate during formal monthly reviews with their mentors. Not only does this review process allow for a greater understanding of the expectations we have for our Blethen Berens associates but allows them the opportunity to get to know our attorneys better and experience each practice’s culture and day-to-day atmosphere.
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Beyond obtaining legal experience, training, mentoring, and building relationships with staff and the community, Blethen Berens Summer Associates earn a weekly salary that is competitive in the marketplace.
We also act as a resource assisting Summer Associates with securing housing in our community by utilizing our deep rooted connections and relationships we’ve built within the community.
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Our summer associate program includes many opportunities to meet and get to know our attorneys and staff in both professional and social settings. Networking opportunities are plentiful and include accompanying Blethen Berens attorneys to community group functions and meetings and attending Chamber functions and other professional networking events.
While we expect the summer associates to work hard and demonstrate their abilities, there is also a social component to the program that provides further opportunities to interact with our attorneys and staff and to see and experience what the Mankato and New Ulm communities have to offer.