Litigation Paralegal

jw; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

jw is seeking a Litigation Paralegal to provide comprehensive legal and administrative support across all phases of litigation. The role partners closely with attorneys, clients, and witnesses to coordinate case activities, manage deadlines, and prepare legal documents in a fast-paced environment.

The position emphasizes high-level research, document management, deposition and trial prep, and post-trial support while maintaining confidentiality and client service excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred and a paralegal certificate is preferred.
• Minimum five years of litigation paralegal experience in a law firm or professional services environment.
• Strong knowledge of state and federal court rules, litigation procedures, and e-filing.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, proofreading, and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist attorneys during initial client meetings and gather factual information.
• Coordinate case development, discovery, and document management throughout the matter.
• Draft discovery requests, privilege logs, and related pleadings; prepare case materials for deposition and trial.
• Coordinate depositions, trial preparation, and courtroom logistics; manage exhibit and witness files.
• Conduct legal research and prepare memoranda; maintain litigation calendars and deadlines.

Skills

Communication skills

Legal research

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Paralegal Certificate (ABA-approved) preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Adobe Acrobat

Document management systems

Westlaw

Lexis

Job description

Litigation Paralegal

Department: Paralegal

Reports To: Paralegal Committee

FLSA: Non-Exempt

POSITION SUMMARY

The Litigation Paralegal provides comprehensive legal and administrative support to attorneys throughout all phases of litigation, including case assessment, discovery, motion practice, trial preparation, trial support, appeals, and post-judgment proceedings. This role partners closely with attorneys, clients, experts, witnesses, court personnel, and opposing counsel to coordinate case activities, manage litigation deadlines, prepare legal documents, conduct legal and factual research, and assist with the successful resolution of client matters.

The Litigation Paralegal exercises sound judgment, maintains confidentiality, and manages multiple complex litigation matters while delivering exceptional client service in a fast-paced legal environment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Case Development & Investigation

• Assist attorneys during initial client meetings and gather relevant factual information.
• Organize and maintain litigation files throughout the life of the matter.
• Conduct factual investigations, including witness interviews and collection of supporting evidence.
• Coordinate site visits, photography, medical records, wage information, and other investigative materials.
• Arrange service of process and coordinate with process servers.
• Assist with case evaluations and factual analysis.

Discovery & Document Management

• Draft and prepare discovery requests, including interrogatories, requests for production, requests for admissions, and requests for disclosure.
• Coordinate document collection and production with clients.
• Review documents for responsiveness, confidentiality, and privilege.
• Prepare privilege logs and document indexes.
• Organize, maintain, and manage electronic and physical document repositories.
• Coordinate electronic discovery activities and production sets when applicable.

Deposition & Trial Preparation

• Coordinate depositions, including scheduling, notices, subpoenas, court reporters, videographers, conference facilities, and witness logistics.
• Prepare deposition exhibits, outlines, witness files, and supporting materials.
• Attend depositions, assist attorneys, take notes, and summarize testimony.
• Digest, index, and organize deposition transcripts.
• Coordinate expert witnesses and assist with expert file management.
• Prepare exhibit lists, witness lists, trial notebooks, and trial binders.
• Assist attorneys with voir dire materials, jury selection support, trial briefs, and pretrial filings.
• Draft settlement documents, releases, dismissal documents, and related pleadings.

Trial & Court Support

• Provide courtroom support during hearings and trials.
• Coordinate witness appearances and subpoena management.
• Maintain trial exhibits and exhibit logs.
• Track admitted exhibits and trial testimony.
• Assist attorneys with daily trial preparation and organization.
• Coordinate trial logistics and courtroom technology as needed.

Post-Trial & Appellate Support

• Monitor appellate and post-judgment deadlines.
• Prepare notices of appeal and assist with appellate filings.
• Organize appellate records, appendices, and supporting documentation.
• Perform cite-checking and Shepardizing for appellate briefs.Assist with judgment enforcement activities, including garnishments, writs of execution, levies, abstracts of judgment, and satisfaction of judgment documentation.

Legal Research & Document Preparation

• Conduct legal research using Westlaw, Lexis, and other legal research platforms.
• Prepare legal memoranda, summaries, and factual chronologies.
• Draft routine pleadings, motions, stipulations, correspondence, and case-related documents.
• Shepardize and cite-check legal authorities.
• Assist attorneys with document revisions and proofreading.

Case Management & Administrative Support

• Maintain litigation calendars and monitor filing deadlines using Firm calendaring systems.
• Prepare electronic filings in federal and state courts.
• Open new matters and maintain case files in accordance with Firm procedures.
• Coordinate client meetings, witness interviews, mediation sessions, arbitrations, and hearings.
• Respond to client requests and assist with gathering case information.
• Assist with billing support, expense processing, and administrative functions.
• Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Paralegal Certificate from an ABA-approved program or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of litigation paralegal experience in a law firm or professional services environment required. (The original JD left the years of experience as a placeholder, so I recommend five years to align with your other senior paralegal positions.)
• Experience supporting litigation matters through trial preferred.
• Strong knowledge of state and federal court rules, litigation procedures, and e-filing systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, document management systems, and legal research platforms including Westlaw and Lexis.
• Strong legal research, analytical, organizational, and project management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong proofreading and document preparation abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple litigation matters while meeting competing deadlines.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.

WORK CONDITIONS

This position operates in a professional office environment with standard office equipment. Occasional travel may be required for court appearances, client meetings, depositions, trials, and Firm meetings. Additional hours may be required to support litigation deadlines, trial preparation, and business needs.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of essential functions, responsibilities, or requirements.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. It is our intention that all qualified applicants are given equal opportunity and that employment decisions be based on job-related factors.