Legal Secretary, Litigation

Responsibilities

• Maintain strict confidentiality and discretion of firm and client matters
• Prepare, proofread, and edit pleadings, discovery, briefs, memoranda, and correspondence in draft and final form to incorporate revisions
• Submit court filings for State and Federal Courts
• Monitor and maintain compliance of State and Federal Court local rules and procedures
• Maintain timekeepers’ calendars and monitor docketing deadlines, review documents and correspondence for important deadlines and information
• Prepare scans, copies, printing, and other general office duties
• Handle heavy filing, organize and maintain extensive files, both paper and electronic
• Read and route incoming and internal mail; assemble large mailings
• Perform document comparisons using firm software (Litera)
• Organize and maintain electronic files in the Firm’s document management system (NetDocs)
• Accept responsibility and take directions for work assignments and tasks from both attorneys and staff
• Handle client communications (when appropriate) through telephone and email
• Maintain, report and track Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits
• Arrange travel and handle expense reports for attorneys, enter lawyers’ expenses for submission to Accounting through internal billing software
• Schedule conference calls, meetings, and professional organization events for attorneys
• Provide occasional coverage to office reception desk in rotation with existing office staff
• Assist with other tasks as assigned or necessary within the Litigation Department

Qualifications: Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge and proficiency in State and Federal Court local rules and procedures
• Advanced knowledge of e-file platforms both in State and Federal Courts
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office including the use of charts, Styles and Table of Contents, Word, and Excel
• Advanced knowledge in editing, combining, and assembling PDF documents
• Advanced knowledge of video conferencing platforms (Zoom, Teams)
• Knowledge and proficiency in document management systems
• Knowledge and understanding of mass tort or toxic tort litigation procedures and proceedings
• Excellent grammar, spelling, and proofreading skills with a keen eye for details
• Ability to work well under the pressures of deadlines, prioritize, multitask, and move from one project to another efficiently
• Excellent time management and organizational skills with the ability to work with practice groups in multiple time zones
• Ability and interest in learning new skills including software and technology
• Excellent interpersonal skills and adept at professional interactions with lawyers, clients, and staff

Qualifications: Education and Experience

• High School Diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor’s degrees preferred
• 3 + years of legal administrative support experience in a litigation practice required, experience in civil litigation, mass tort, or toxic tort practices preferred
• Experience with local, state, and federal court filing procedures as well as electronic court filing required

Position Information

• Status: Non-Exempt
• Salary Range: $70,000-$85,000 base salary per year, commensurate with education and experience.
• Work Arrangement: Hybrid 4:1, with manager approval after an initial introductory period. This position may sit in either the firm’s Irvine, CA or Los Angeles, CA office.