Freelance Litigation Legal Assistant

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is seeking a Freelance Litigation Legal Assistant for its Seattle office. This temporary position lasts six to nine months and requires five days in‑office. The role provides litigation legal secretarial and administrative support to partners and associates, focusing on client billing, new matter intake, contract revisions, file maintenance, client contact, schedule coordination, travel arrangements, and other secretarial tasks.

Responsibilities

• Draft, proof, edit, and prepare correspondence, legal documents, and court filings within strict deadlines.
• Coordinate with docketing support teams and confirm accuracy of docketing deadlines.
• Schedule and arrange resources for depositions, mediations, arbitrations, and trial preparation.
• Effectively coordinate court filings with the West Coast Managing Clerk team.
• Enter attorney time, process and review monthly bills; serve as primary liaison between attorneys and the Accounting Department for client bills.
• Schedule appointments and maintain calendars; anticipate conflicts and proactively manage schedule changes.
• Make travel arrangements and set up conference calls.
• Maintain correspondence and other legal documents in both paper form and electronic format via NetDocs.
• Review and save e‑mail, delegating or escalating to attorneys as appropriate.
• Respond to attorney and client needs with urgency, ensuring resolution and appropriate follow‑up via telephone, e‑mail, or in person.
• Work with attorneys to prioritize, organize, and relieve them of administrative tasks.
• Schedule messenger, overnight delivery, or courier services as needed; assist other attorneys and staff on additional projects.
• Maintain regular and consistent attendance and punctuality; adhere to scheduled breaks, lunches, and meetings.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience as a legal secretary or executive assistant (required).
• Familiarity with law‑firm billing processes (a plus).
• High school diploma or GED (required).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite with strong word‑processing and computer skills; experience with MS 365 a plus.
• Proofreading, NetDocs, and PowerPoint skills desired.
• Ability to type at least 75 wpm with a high degree of accuracy.
• Exceptional organizational skills; ability to multitask, prioritize, work under pressure, and meet conflicting deadlines.
• Strong communication skills with tact, diplomacy, and discretion.
• Team‑oriented mindset; willingness to share firm and technical knowledge.
• High attention to detail and initiative to learn new skills.
• Strong time‑management abilities.
• Professional demeanor and appearance; adherence to dress code.
• Demonstrated expertise in department‑specific topics, procedures, and software (e.g., Aderant Billing, new‑matter intake, conflicts procedures).
• Flexibility to handle competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment.

Benefits

• First Stop Health Telemedicine – 24/7 physician and mental‑health counseling, firm‑covered.
• TELUS Health Employee Assistance Program – support for mental, financial, physical, and emotional wellbeing.
• Voluntary Pet Insurance.
• Milk Stork – virtual lactation consulting, breast‑milk shipping, and nutritional testing, firm‑covered.
• Wellness benefits: Peloton App and Headspace App.
• Paid sick leave accrued biweekly (1 hour per 30 hours worked).
• Health insurance (optional HSA), dental, vision, telemedicine, and virtual short‑term counseling for temporary employees working ≥30 hours/week.
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Employee assistance program.

Pay

The hourly range for this position in Washington is $41.54 to $51.28. Actual pay will be adjusted based on the candidate’s education, training, experience, and other job‑related factors permitted by law.

Schedule

This is a temporary, six‑to‑nine‑month assignment requiring five days per week in the Seattle office.