Senior Paralegal - Civil Litigation

Senior Paralegal - Unlawful Detainer, Litigation

Salary: $75k+ (Based on experience) Location: Aliso Viejo, CA (Hybrid - future remote opps)

About the Role: We're seeking a highly experienced Paralegal to join a well-regarded real estate law firm in Orange County, CA. This is a key leadership role for someone deeply familiar with real estate law and unlawful detainer (UD) processes, who thrives in a fast-paced, client-facing environment.

You'll serve as the operational backbone of the firm — responding to inquiries, guiding junior staff, and ensuring day-to-day legal and administrative workflows run smoothly. We need someone who's onsite daily, accessible, confident, and capable of owning internal and client-facing legal operations. 80% in-person max as can be flexible to remote occasionally - we would love to offer the flexibility of remote but we have many clients, potential customers, and staff coming in daily that we need your assistance on to help with their needs and questions.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients on all UD-related matters
• Counsel clients directly on eviction law and real-time case strategy
• Draft, file, and manage UD complaints, notices, and other litigation materials
• Coordinate with process servers, courts, and opposing counsel
• Understand and communicate how different judges and courts interpret UD law
• Ensure compliance with California landlord-tenant regulations
• Oversee a high-volume caseload with precision and urgency
• Work cross-functionally with attorneys, assistants, and client stakeholders
• Track deadlines and manage updates through legal case management systems

Qualifications:

• 7+ years of experience in a law firm or legal department
• Strong knowledge of California real estate law, with hands-on experience in unlawful detainer
• Proven ability to strategize and execute complex UD case workflows
• Comfort navigating county-specific court rules and judge tendencies
• Experience communicating legal options and risk to landlords or property managers
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• 80% onsite availability required

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to take ownership of a legal office's day-to-day operations while applying their deep knowledge of real estate and UD law.