Litigation Paralegal

Job Description

Job Description

WHO WE ARE

At The Estate Lawyers , we specialize in trust and estate litigation—and we’re on a mission to protect trustees from getting sued and beneficiaries from getting screwed. With offices in Orange County and San Diego, our growing team of high-performing litigators and support staff collaborate to bring clarity, confidence, and strategy to every case.

We believe great law firms are built by great people—so we hire team players who stay hungry, communicate with radical candor and radical respect, and care deeply about the team win / client win . No jerks allowed.

WHY JOIN US?

Our paralegals aren’t glorified assistants or document pushers—they are the backbone of our litigation team. You’ll work closely with attorneys and clients to keep the trains running on time, contribute to moving the case forward and making the client feel valued, and deliver real value by helping reduce unnecessary attorney hours and client costs.

You’ll have ownership over your caseload, and the opportunity to grow within a firm that values your experience and judgment. Plus, we invest in your career development and encourage a healthy balance between drive and downtime.

WHO THIS ROLE IS FOR

• You are a seasoned litigation paralegal with at least 3 years of (moderate/heavy) probate/trust litigation experience.
• You know how to run a case from intake through trial without constant attorney oversight.
• You’re a systems thinker who thrives in organized chaos and gets satisfaction from bringing order to complex case timelines.
• You’re tech-savvy, resourceful, and always looking for a better, smarter way to get things done.
• You’re a true team player—no ego, just excellence.
• You genuinely care about delivering a great experience to clients, coworkers, and attorneys alike.

WHO THIS ROLE IS NOT FOR

• If you feel you are constantly asking questions and uncertain about the next step
• Do not like tracking your time contemporaneously.
• If you're more reactive than proactive.
• If you don’t like deadlines, details, or responsibility.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

The Paralegal has no authority to encumber expenses on behalf of the Firm. The Paralegal may not practice law, give legal advice, or set case strategy. This role is accountable for monitoring, managing, and moving cases forward —always anticipating the next step and ensuring the team stays aligned.

• Case Management & Workflow Oversight
  • Manage a portfolio of trust and probate litigation cases from inception through close or trial.
  • Monitor case pipeline using reports and review meetings to ensure clients and matters move forward at the right pace.
  • Flag and escalate cases that fall outside firm standards, such as:
    • Overdue tasks or deadlines extended more than once
    • Cases with no billable hours in 2–4 weeks (depending on phase)
    • Excessive billable hours compared to phase benchmarks
    • Cases without a next step or future task identified
    • Retainer replenishments overdue
    • Matters open longer than expected
    • Cases approaching trial requiring significant firm resources
  • Report status and exceptions to Responsible Attorney weekly.
  • Ensure monthly case status meetings occur and case status letters are sent to clients.
• Execution & Organization
  • Handle all phases of active litigation matters, including:
    • Court filings (electronic and physical)
    • Document drafting, preparation, and editing
    • Discovery- Draft and serve
    • Legal research, cite-checking, and shepherdizing
    • Deposition summaries, trial binders, exhibit lists, and uploading evidence into Trial Director or similar tools
  • Maintain organized and accessible case files; keep Case Management Workbooks current.
  • Calendar and manage deadlines and reminders to ensure the team never misses a milestone.
  • Conduct regular check-ins with attorneys and support staff to ensure tasks are completed timely.
• Leadership & Communication
  • Serve as the hub of communication and accountability between attorneys, clients, and support staff.
  • Lead internal case check-ins and ensure new client goals meetings occur within two business days of retention.
  • Mentor and support junior paralegals and legal assistants to ensure they meet performance expectations.
  • Review time entries and billing weekly for accuracy, quality, and timeliness; provide feedback as needed.
• Strategic Contribution
  • Identify when the amount of work completed versus work remaining is outside firm guidelines; work with the team to correct or validate exceptions.
  • Anticipate “next steps” and consistently manage up—you are always five moves ahead.
  • Handle special projects of significance assigned by the Owner.
• Client Experience
  • Send monthly Case Status Letters to clients to align expectations on progress, strategy, and budget.
  • Ensure communication with clients is timely, clear, and consistent with the firm’s values.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Case Lifecycle: At least 70% of cases are resolved within the firm’s expectations for average case life and closed timely.
• Billing Accuracy: 100% of cases have daily billable hours entered by the assigned attorney or paralegal—no exceptions.
• Task Completion: 95% of case-related tasks are completed on or before the due date.
• Client Communication: 100% of clients receive regular case status updates (monthly status letters + updates at key milestones).
• File Integrity: 100% of active cases have up-to-date Case Management Workbooks and organized files accessible to the team.
• Core Values Compliance: The paralegal consistently demonstrates the firm’s values in work product, communication, and teamwork:
  • Stay Hungry – Always learning, improving, and driving matters forward.
  • Radical Candor & Radical Respect – Communicates directly and constructively while respecting others.
  • Team Win / Client Win – Prioritizes collaboration to achieve results for both the team and the client.
  • No Jerks Allowed – Protects culture by being professional, respectful, and solution-oriented at all times.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 5+ years of litigation paralegal experience, 3+ specifically in trusts and estates litigation.
• Supported at least 25 depositions and 3 trials directly , including document handling and evidence organization.
• Mastery of Probate Code, CRC, and CCP.
• Fluent in Adobe Acrobat Pro (OCR, Bates stamping, etc.) and familiar with Trial Director or equivalent software.
• Proficient with MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams). Proficient with entering time into a CMS such as Clio, etc. Bonus if you have experience with iManage.
• Can meet billable requirements with timely, accurate time entries.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, high-expectation environment.
• Excellent communicator—clear, timely, and collaborative.

PERKS & BENEFITS

• $45–$60/hour (DOE)
• PTO
• 401(k) with safe harbor matching
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Health savings & FSA options
• Life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Paid professional development

Opportunities for internal growth and leadership