Docket Specialist

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

401k

Parental leave

Transportation fringe

Back-up care

Generous PTO

Disability insurance

Job summary

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP in Los Angeles seeks a Docket Specialist to manage docketing, monitor deadlines, enter data, and support attorneys and staff. The role demands confidentiality, accuracy, and timely communication, with a focus on process improvements.

The position offers a hybrid schedule (on-site and remote) under KattenFlex and a competitive salary range for the LA market, with opportunities to grow within the firm. A relevant degree and 5+ years docket experience are preferred.

Qualifications

• Five or more years of progressive docket-related experience, preferably in a large law firm.
• Strong knowledge of Federal/State/Local court rules and CM/ECF procedures.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to work with diverse teams.

Responsibilities

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of rules and research authorities for docketing.
• Enter deadlines into CourtAlert and ensure accuracy across calendars.
• Communicate with case teams and courts to advance filings and deadlines.
• Create reports and provide training to new docket staff.

Skills

Docket management

Court rules knowledge

CM/ECF familiarity

Communication skills

Data entry

Attention to detail

Training ability

Team collaboration

Education

Associate’s Degree

College degree preferred

Tools

CourtAlert

PACER

Outlook

Google Chrome

MS Word

Adobe

Job description

Katten is a full-service law firm with approximately 650 attorneys in locations across the United States and in London and Shanghai. Clients seeking sophisticated, high-value legal services turn to Katten for counsel locally, nationally and internationally. The firm’s core areas of practice include corporate, financial markets and funds, restructuring, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, structured finance and securitization, transactional tax planning, private credit and private wealth. Katten represents public and private companies in numerous industries, as well as a number of government and nonprofit organizations and individuals.

Docket Specialist

The Docket Specialist will exercise discretion and independent judgment in facilitating actions required to efficiently and accurately calendar all docket activities. The Specialist is responsible for performing the day-to-day duties of the Docket Department, monitoring information entered into the Firm Docketing system, and providing general litigation support. Maintains professionalism and strict confidentiality in all client and firm matters.

Katten offers a hybrid work model, allowing the flexibility to work both on-site and remotely on a regular basis (KattenFlex).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

include, but may not be limited to, the following. Other duties may be requested and/or assigned. Essential functions are primary job duties that an individual must be able to perform successfully with or without a reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of State, Federal, Local, and Judge’s rules. Ability to research resource guides, rules and statutes, authorities, and numerous courts’ websites.
• For each case being monitored, identify the correct rule set to be used in the calendaring system. Provide attorney and secretary with a printed copy of the judge's standing orders upon request.
• Maintain a working knowledge of the Docket Department’s database as it relates to day-to-day work production. Create and distribute various calendar and timekeeper reports.
• Review court documents, legal correspondence, and attorney requests and enter deadlines into the Docket Department’s database, CourtAlert. Maintain firm policies to ensure the accurate entry of deadlines and docket entries into CourtAlert.
• Communicate with case teams in advance of filings, review the filings for conformity with court rules, file with the court, and deliver courtesy copies. Communicate directly with the courts to ensure filings are accepted.
• Monitor daily receipts of all electronic court filings (ECF) to ensure that events are timely posted on attorney and firm calendars.
• Communicate quickly and clearly via email and phone to inquiries from attorneys, legal executive assistants, and paralegals regarding docket entries, court procedures, and filings.
• Participate in professional organizations that promote the on-going education of Federal, State and Local rule changes. Prepare and distribute announcements regarding same to local attorneys and legal support staff.
• Work with the Litigation Services Counsel to implement procedures for systems, processes, technology and services to ensure continual service enhancements, cost reductions, and organizational consistency with firm policy. Recommend changes in procedures to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the Department.
• Ensure consistent application of firm policy and adherence to risk management guidelines, as defined by the firm’s legal malpractice carrier, to minimize potential malpractice exposure.
• Create Docket system electronic reminders and appointments/events on the attorney and firm calendar. Create and distribute printed reports, as requested, by attorneys.
• Answer and process incoming telephone calls and respond to e-mail inquiries disseminating information relative to the courts, judge’s standing orders and Docket Department procedures.
• Assist with training of new Docket staff.
• Periodic review of case status (i.e. active or closed). Create and distribute reports to attorneys, obtain information and update database.
• Provide Electronic Case filing (CM/ECF) support to legal staff. Maintain knowledge base of e-filing requirements and procedures for all courts serviced by the Los Angeles and Dallas attorneys. Maintain tracking log of attorney court registrations, including expiration dates, and notify attorneys to ensure no lapse in registration. Assist attorneys with updating their PACER account for NextGen filing.
• Maintain accurate attorney filing credentials, create court admission accounts for attorneys, and troubleshoot credential issues.
• Forward court documents and incoming mail/email relating to active cases as provided by attorneys and legal support staff to appropriate firm personnel. Coordinate with the Record Center to ensure pleadings are indexed in the Records Management System.
• Perform searches for court information through on-line service providers such as Pacer, Courthouse News and others.
• Ensure exceptional client service levels are achieved in delivery of services to secretaries, paralegals, attorneys, and vendors.
• Participate in Docket Department meetings. Provide assistance with implementation of new technology and procedures affecting the firm.
• Ability and willingness to handle after hours filings when needed. Occasional overtime may be required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Associate’s Degree; college degree preferred. Five or more years of progressive docket-related experience preferably in a large law firm environment; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Prior experience and knowledge of docket tasks and procedures required. Strong knowledge of Federal/State/Local court rules required. Familiarity with Electronic Case Filing (CM/ECF) procedures a plus. Familiarity with Court Alert a plus.
• Computer proficient with familiarity of various database systems including Outlook, Google Chrome, MS Word, and Adobe preferred. Data entry skills with 85% accuracy and minimum keyboarding skills of 30 wpm are preferred. Ability to learn and utilize specific internal or third-party Docket Department software.
• Strong knowledge of court rules and procedures and the litigation process required. Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills. Ability to communicate with courtesy and diplomacy, efficiently follow written and verbal instructions, provide information, and maintain effective relationships with a diverse group of attorneys, clients, staff, and outside contacts.
• An aptitude for detail and accuracy to analyze, interpret, and process documentation for docketing purposes, perform essential duties relating to day-to-day docketing procedures, and respond to docket inquiries. Ability to articulate potential issues and propose resolutions to attorneys.
• Excellent follow-through skills with the proven ability to prioritize numerous tasks and handle multiple functions in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, detail-oriented work environment.
• Excellent organizational skills including record keeping, data collection, and system information. Ability to compile and analyze data and furnish information in report format, written correspondence, e-mail, or verbally.
• Dependable team player who works collaboratively and cooperatively with others in a team-oriented environment. Ability to act independently and make decisions within scope of the position’s responsibilities.
• Possess excellent knowledge of reading, writing, grammar, spelling, punctuation, proofreading, and formatting in order to interpret source data, perform data entry, proofread material for grammatical, typographical, and spelling errors, and perform Docket file maintenance.
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations and apply mathematical concepts when performing and verifying calculations on forms and documents.

In our Los Angeles office, the annualized salary range for this position is $80,000 to $100,000. Actual pay will be adjusted based on experience and other job-related factors permitted by law.

Katten will consider for employment qualified Applicants with Criminal Histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of Article 9 to Chapter XVII of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.

We offer an outstanding benefit package which includes: medical/dental/vision, 401k with employer contribution, parental leave, transportation fringe benefit program, back-up care option, generous paid time off policy and long-term and short-term disability policies.

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP in an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.