Legal Secretary

Legal Secretary

Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell was established in 1998, and currently numbers more than 100 lawyers. The firm represents sophisticated clients in high-stakes civil trials, appeals and related litigation ranging from complex commercial to class actions to multidistrict litigations. Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell lawyers have taken more than 1,300 trials, arbitrations and appeals to verdict, award, or opinion in 45 states and Washington D.C., with exceptional results for our clients.

Summary/Objective

This position supports the Firm’s President and Head of the Antitrust and Commercial Practices by providing high-level administrative and legal support.

This role serves as a trusted support member to the President, managing executive-level administrative responsibilities, including highly confidential matters, while also performing the full range of legal secretary and litigation case management duties. The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional judgment, discretion, professionalism, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.Strong judgment, discretion and professionalism a must.

Minimum of 10 years’ Litigation (defense) experience required.

Specifically-

Experience required in: Antitrust & Commercial

Experience preferred in: Class Action & Product Liability

Responsibilities

• Provide legal and administrative support to the Firm President while handling confidential subject matter (professionalism and confidentiality and must)
• Responsible for document handling including draftingand proofreading,with strong attention to detail
• Manage caseload in litigation matters and maintaining proactiveness in cases
• Maintaining electronic case files (e.g., iManage)
• Ability to properly finalize and file court pleadings across different e-filing platforms, at both State and Federal levels
• Ability to locate and download court documents from State and Federal jurisdictions as requested, ensuring they are saved to the electronic file utilizing specific naming conventions
• Proficiency in PACER
• Communicate effectively and professionally, including email correspondence, with clients, experts, vendors, and internally
• Process expert and vendor invoices accurately and timely to ensure prompt payment
• Prepare and submit conflict checks, new business memoranda, and engagement agreements as requested.
• Monitor and maintain attorney calendars and assist with scheduling as needed
• Photocopying, notebook preparation, and/or scanning, etc. as needed, with an understanding of duties pertaining to trial preparation
• Prepare, edit, proofread, and finalize timekeeping entries for team members, and review and proofread billing correspondence, ensuring compliance with billing guidelines and budgets as applicable
• Assist with travel or other related items
• Other special duties or projects may be requested depending on team/Partner needs.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required Skills

• Ability to problem solve and think critically with self-direction and minimal supervision
• Proactive and a self-starter
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Personable and client-focused
• Well-versed in civil litigation matters and procedures, including strong familiarity with relevant pleadings, with the ability to be proactive
• Recognition of parties and roles within civil litigation cases, in order to learn and understand distributions (internally and externally), among other case-specific tasks
• Working knowledge of law firm practices, including opening new matters, case management, document management to include utilizing specific naming conventions, and proofreading utilizing track changes (redlining), as well as various administrative tasks such as reconciling expenses, ensuring invoices are paid, entering time, reviewing prebills, etc.
• Working experience with e-filing in state and federal platforms, with knowledge of navigating case dockets, court files, and pleadings/documents, for state courts and through PACER
• Accurately and efficiently manage travel arrangements and related tasks
• Availability to work occasional evenings and weekends during trial preparation or similar situations (advance notice provided; overtime compensation after 40 hours)

Qualifications

• 10+ years of active litigation (defense) experience in a law firm:
• Experience required in: Antitrust & Contract Disputes
• Experience preferred in: Class Action & Product Liability
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, as well as Adobe (PDF)
• Excellent communication skills, especially with clients
• Knowledge of legal proceedings and pleadings, as well as legal terms and process of cases
• Knowledge and ability to e-file pleadings and documents with the Court
• Proficiency in proper grammar, including strong proofreading skills
• Typing speed of at least 65 wpm
• College degree preferred but not required.

The team atmosphere is fostered not only by the lawyers, but by all members of the support staff. Our firm’s employees are proud of collaborating to service firm clients. Our commitment to teamwork allows us to tap multiple fields of experience from our range of practice areas, ensuring our ability to meet each client’s individual needs. Our team approach enables us to analyze a situation from several points of view until we uncover the advantage that makes the difference for our client.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time, 37.5 hour per week position. It is not expected that evenings or weekends will be required. This is a non-exempt position, and is entitled to overtime pay.

Typical hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., including a lunch hour. However, these hours may vary slightly, depending on attorney needs. This is a full time position working from our Denver office. Overtime is paid at 1.5 times the hourly pay rate when the employee works more than 40 hours in a Sunday through Saturday work week.

Travel

Travel is limited, primarily local, and generally occurs during the business day in connection with local trials.

Salary Range

$100,000 - $110,000, depending on experience. The final salary will be commensurate with education and experience. Additionally, the firm provides standard benefits including health insurance, 401(k) contribution, and paid time off, with annual bonus potential based on firm performance.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) that values and respects the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. The firm’s policy is to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, age, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We recognize that diversity and inclusion are driving forces in the success of our firm and help our trial teams deliver superior client service informed by diverse viewpoints. We give equal opportunity to all qualified applicants, and we always use job-related factors to make selection decisions.