Legal Practice Assistant - Trial & Litigation - DTLA

Meyers Nave; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 66,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Meyers Nave, located in Downtown Los Angeles, seeks a full-time legal secretary to support the Trial and Litigation Group. The role requires drafting documents, calendaring, and strong communication with clients and attorneys. Experience in California state and federal courts is essential.

The position reports to the Director of Administration and emphasizes accuracy, integrity, and professional client service in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma required; bachelor’s preferred.
• 7+ years of legal secretary/legal assistant experience.
• Prior litigation experience in CA state and federal courts required; appellate experience preferred.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment and meet deadlines.
• Clear and persuasive communication; strong writing skills.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and anticipate needs.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and revise documents and correspondence.
• Format court pleadings per applicable rules and generate TOAs/TOCs.
• Manage calendars with calendaring practices (e.g., CompuLaw).
• Use Firm software and MS Office to support daily operations.
• Collaborate with colleagues to ensure calendars and documents meet firm standards.
• Maintain composure and accuracy under high workload; provide professional client service.

Skills

Communication

Multitasking

Written & Verbal Communication

Work under pressure

Team collaboration

Attention to detail

Education

High School Diploma

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

MS Office

iManage

CCC Macros

Time & Billing Software

Adobe

Job description

Working in our Downtown Los Angeles office, this full-time non-exempt position performs a variety of administrative support duties and delivers high-quality services to internal and external clients, exhibiting a commitment to integrity and excellence. The position, reporting to the Director of Administration, requires thorough knowledge of all firm and practice specific administrative processes and procedures, information technology systems, research tools and a broad-based understanding of the clients, matters and associated practices. The scope of responsibilities includes prioritizing, managing and following through on multiple projects, and communicating effectively, courteously and professionally with clients, attorneys, staff and peers. This role has no direct reports.

This position will support the firm’s Trial and Litigation Group, which includes a robust litigation practice focused on complex crisis litigation in the areas of constitutional law, wildfire litigation, COVID-19 litigation, civil rights claims in the land use context, First Amendment claims, takings, and class action litigation. The Group is actively engaged in all phases of litigation in both federal and state court from initial pleadings through discovery, dispositive motion practice, trial, and appeal.

Critical features of this job are described under the headings below. They may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The position’s essential functions include but are not limited to:

• Communication: Effective communication, to include draft, review and revision of documents, including correspondence, reports, pleading and memoranda.
• Document Processing: Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to format court pleadings according to applicable court rules and generate TOAs and TOCs using Firm software, which implies a depth of knowledge regarding court rules (federal, state), and in-person/electronic filing. Knowledge of Federal and State position statement processes is a plus.
• Calendaring: Superior organizational skills with a demonstrated understanding of calendaring practices (e.g., CompuLaw), to keep attorney(s) abreast of upcoming deadlines.
• Technology: Literacy in various software packages (e.g., MS Office, iManage, CCC Macros, time and billing software, Adobe), to include quick and accurate typing speed.
• Collaborate closely with employees to ensure calendars are formatted and prepared in accordance with Firm best practices;
• Maintain composure, efficiency and accuracy under high work volume circumstances;
• Demonstrate excellent support by working cordially, cooperatively and productively with all Firm employees; and
• Other functions as assigned.

Management retains the right to add to or change the functions of this position at any time.

QUALIFICATIONS

The following qualifications are required:

• High School Diploma; Bachelor’s degree preferred;
• Minimum of seven (7) years of legal secretary/legal assistant experience;
• Prior litigation experience in California state and federal court is required; appellate experience is preferred;
• Ability to work well under pressure and multi-task in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment;
• Responds to requests for service and assistance and meets commitments;
• Speaks clearly and persuasively; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions; participates in meetings;
• Writes clearly and informatively; varies writing style to meet needs;
• Ability to work with little supervision; prioritizes and anticipates work needs; works well under occasional periods of pressure and short deadlines.

Meyers Nave is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of any qualified applicant’s race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status or any other category protected by law. Meyers Nave will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the FCO and the Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made.

The pay range for this position, working in our Los Angeles office is $48.08 to $54.80 per hour, depending on experience, paid semi-monthly.

Meyers Nave complies with the requirements of all applicable California and federal employment laws, including those protecting disabled individuals. If you have difficulty using our online application system due to a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact us via email at [e-mail] or by phone at [phone].