Paralegal

Job Description

Job Description

Our maritime law firm client is seeking a Litigation Paralegal to provide immediate onsite support to its San Francisco office on a contract basis. This is a hands-on litigation support role that combines substantive billable work with critical litigation secretarial functions, with the ideal candidate having demonstrated experience managing litigation calendars, court deadlines, e-filings, document preparation, and day-to-day case support while also assisting attorneys with discovery, trial preparation, legal research, and other substantive paralegal tasks. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced law firm environment are essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage attorney calendars, court deadlines, and litigation docketing activities.
• Coordinate and maintain case calendars, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local court deadlines.
• Prepare, proofread, format, and finalize pleadings, motions, discovery, correspondence, exhibits, and other legal documents.
• Perform electronic filing with California state and federal courts and coordinate service of process.
• Assist with discovery management, including document review, organization, production, and tracking of discovery deadlines.
• Support attorneys with motion practice, legal research, drafting, and case preparation.
• Organize and maintain electronic and physical case files.
• Prepare exhibits, hearing binders, deposition materials, and trial notebooks.
• Coordinate depositions, hearings, mediations, meetings, and other litigation-related events.
• Communicate professionally with clients, courts, opposing counsel, vendors, and third parties.
• Track billable time and maintain accurate case information within the firm's practice management system.
• Provide general litigation and administrative support to attorneys as needed.

• Paralegal certificate from an ABA-approved program or otherwise qualified under California Business & Professions Code requirements
• 3+ years of litigation paralegal, legal secretary, or litigation support experience within a law firm environment.
• Strong experience with calendaring, docketing, deadline management, and court filings.
• Experience supporting litigation matters through discovery, motion practice, hearings, and trial preparation.
• Proficiency with Clio or comparable legal practice management software.
• Experience with California state and federal court filing procedures.
• Strong document formatting, proofreading, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with legal research platforms such as LexisNexis or Westlaw.
• Familiarity with discovery management, document review, and trial support processes.
• Prior experience in civil litigation, insurance defense, transportation, maritime, personal injury, or related litigation practices.

This position requires regular onsite attendance in the firm's San Francisco office. The successful candidate will play a critical role in keeping litigation matters moving forward and supporting attorneys through all phases of the litigation process. Candidates who possess a strong litigation support foundation and are eager to expand their substantive paralegal responsibilities are encouraged to apply.