Litigation Paralegal

Job Description

At K&L Gates, we are looking for smart, imaginative and hard-working people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and ideas to join us.  Perhaps our search for talented visionaries and your search for important and impactful work lead to the same place.

We are seeking a Litigation Paralegal to join the Orange County office.  The Litigation Paralegal assists lawyers and paralegals, performing a variety of information management functions and factual investigation.  The position is responsible for coordinating practice support for a designated client or group of clients.  This person has demonstrated the ability to manage all aspects of or case within his or her area of expertise and to work effectively and efficiently with other paralegals and project assistants across the platform.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Supervising partner(s),  lawyers, Paralegal Manager, paralegals, and project assistants.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Prepare, file, and serve documents electronically in California state and federal courts in compliance with all relevant procedural requirements
• Monitor litigation deadlines and assist in the timely submission of filings and responses to avoid delays and sanctions
• Tracks all relevant case deadlines
• Provides support for hearings, mediations, court appearances, and depositions
• Examines, organizes, analyzes, and summarizes information relating to particular questions and organizes communication into a logical and usable work product
• Investigates factual issues by using a variety of sources, including libraries, websites, client repositories, and other outside sources
• Maintains client-, matter-, or practice-group-specific resources in electronic format or hard copy
• Assists in all aspects of the case, including, but not limited to, drafting and proofreading documents and pleadings in accordance with court rules and deadlines, coordinating document productions, , and creating and maintaining spreadsheets
• Maintains all administrative standards set by the Firm, including the preparation and submittal of daily time entries, attendance at administrative meetings, legal keying all client relevant/Firm information, and other administrative tasks as assigned
• Communicates and enforces Firm policies as necessary
• Coordinates with vendors and service providers for outside services, if necessary, following the Firm’s procurement policies and client billing requirements
• Manages and trains project assistants and administrative staff as necessary
• Develops procedures and systems to provide effective legal services

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS REQUIRED

• 4 Year College Degree preferred
• At least 3-5 years of paralegal experience in the relevant subject area
• Extensive knowledge of California state and federal court rules, procedures, and filing requirements including e-filing systems
• Experience in specific litigation areas such as asbestos, mass tort, and product liability
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
• Ability to follow detailed instruction and handle complex work
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, data management systems and databases, and specific practice-group technology
• Must be able to produce accurate results and take complete ownership of all projects, tasks, and responsibilities delegated by the supervising lawyers or other paralegals
• Ability to anticipate, plan, and prioritize work while managing competing demands to meet deadlines
• Ability to work  both independently and collaboratively with team members across the country
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to meet obligations with confidentiality, integrity, and sensitivity
• High attention to detail and the ability to follow up on assignments with limited guidance from leadership
• Critical thinking skills sufficient to make independent decisions regarding daily work tasks
• Ability to bring problems, concerns, or discrepancies to the attention of the supervising lawyer or most appropriate case team member

ADDITIONAL ABILITIES REQUIRED

• In addition to the generic qualities and skills discussed above, candidates for practice area specific positions may require certain educational credentials and skills.  These candidates are expected to have academic expertise in the practice area of interest as well as the generic skills previously described.
• This job operates in an office setting and is largely sedentary, requiring the routine use of a computer and other standard office equipment.  The ability to open file cabinets, lift files and boxes, bend and stand on a stool may also be required.

Compensation Salary $87,000-$144,000/year

The compensation salary for this position will be determined during the interview process and will vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to prior experience, relevant expertise, current business needs, and market factors.

In accordance with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered.

ABOUT THE FIRM

K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located across five continents in more than 40 offices. We have experienced dramatic growth in the past decade and now rank among the largest U.S. based law firms in the world.  We take pride in constantly striving for innovation, imagination and an entrepreneurial spirit. We come up with big ideas and then roll up our sleeves to get the job done, guiding our clients through their most complex issues in a variety of industry sectors and across multiple regions of the world. 

The industry recognition the firm has garnered emanates from the foundation of a global community aligned on behalf of our clients. The people at K&L Gates are committed to working together to create a legacy for each other, the firm, our clients, and the communities in which we serve. We thrive in an inclusive and socially conscious environment that embraces diversity and takes a holistic approach to the career evolution of all our professionals.

For more information or to view other job opportunities, please click here to go back to our careers page.

Notice: We participate in E-Verify in certain Firm locations for purposes of verifying employment eligibility.

BENEFITS

K&L Gates offers our personnel a comprehensive suite of benefits to help meet your needs now and in the future. Depending on your eligibility, options for full-time personnel include:

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Firm is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the Firm that employment decisions shall be based on merit, qualifications and competence. Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by virtue of a person’s race (including traits associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles such as afros, braids, locks, and twists), religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, gender, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, familial status, domestic violence victim status, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This policy governs all aspects of employment including, without limitation, recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotion, assignment, and dismissal. In addition, it is the Firm’s policy to provide an environment that is free of prohibited harassment of any kind including, without limitation, that which is based on sex, race, age, disability, ethnic background, or any other category protected by law (including the categories listed above). The Firm complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact askHR@klgates.com.