Litigation Legal Secretary

Civil Litigation | Carlsbad, CA

Compensation & Schedule

• Salary: $70,000 - $100,000 annually
• Compensation is negotiable based on experience, skills, and depth of litigation expertise.
• Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• 40-hour workweek
• 30-minute lunch break
• On-Site Position - Carlsbad, CA

About the Opportunity

A respected and established law firm in Carlsbad, California is seeking an experienced Litigation Legal Secretary to join our busy civil litigation practice. This position is open due to the retirement of a long-tenured Senior Legal Secretary and offers an excellent opportunity for a seasoned legal professional to become an integral member of a collaborative and fast-paced team.

We are looking for a highly organized individual with a strong background in civil litigation support, court procedures, calendaring, and document preparation. The ideal candidate thrives in a deadline-driven environment and has a thorough understanding of litigation processes from case inception through trial.

This position is available as either a direct hire or temp-to-hire opportunity for the right candidate.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive administrative and litigation support to multiple attorneys.
• Maintain and manage complex litigation calendars, including all statutory, court-ordered, and case management deadlines.
• Prepare, revise, proofread, and format a variety of legal documents, including:
  • Pleadings
  • Motions
  • Discovery requests and responses
  • Correspondence
  • Trial and hearing materials
• Coordinate and process electronic and physical filings in California state and federal courts while ensuring compliance with applicable court rules and procedures.
• Schedule and coordinate depositions, mediations, hearings, client meetings, and trial logistics.
• Assist with corporate counsel and transactional support as needed, including document preparation and formatting.
• Maintain organized electronic and physical case files with exceptional attention to detail.
• Communicate professionally and effectively with clients, court personnel, opposing counsel, experts, and vendors.
• Monitor case activity and proactively identify upcoming deadlines and filing requirements.
• Support attorneys through all phases of litigation, from initial filing through resolution or trial.

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum 3 years of experience as a Litigation Legal Secretary supporting civil litigation matters.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of:
  • California civil procedure
  • Court rules and filing requirements
  • Litigation deadlines and calendaring
• Experience preparing and filing litigation documents in both state and federal courts.
• Proficiency with legal document management systems, e-filing platforms, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong proofreading, grammar, and document formatting skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines with accuracy and professionalism.
• Strong organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• High level of discretion, dependability, and commitment to confidentiality.

Preferred

• Experience supporting multiple attorneys in a busy litigation practice.
• Familiarity with trial preparation and trial support.
• Experience in a law firm environment focused on civil litigation.

Top Three Qualifications

1. Strong litigation experience as a Legal Secretary (minimum 3 years).
2. Thorough knowledge of litigation deadlines, court filings, and legal document preparation.
3. Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.