Paralegal Support Services Specialist

KAHANA & FELD LLP; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

KAHANA & FELD LLP in San Diego is seeking a full-time Paralegal Support Services Specialist to provide support across multiple practice groups. The role involves standard paralegal duties such as drafting legal documents, assisting with legal research, and ensuring continuity of legal support.

The ideal candidate should have 5+ years of paralegal experience, preferably in litigation and insurance defense. Additional responsibilities include managing case files and providing seamless coverage for absent paralegals.

Work location is in-office with a hybrid option after 90 days. A bachelor's degree is preferred, and strong organizational skills are a must.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of paralegal experience in a law firm setting.
• Litigation and insurance defense experience preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with all stages of litigation.

Responsibilities

• Perform administrative duties including scheduling appointments and managing logistics.
• Draft, edit, and manage legal documents.
• Assist with legal research and document review as needed.

Skills

Strong organizational skills

Multitasking

Communication skills

Proficiency with legal software

Ability to adapt quickly

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

JD degree

Job description

The Paralegal Support Services Specialist will provide support across multiple practice groups within the firm. In addition to performing standard paralegal duties, this role is responsible for paralegal triage, covering planned and unplanned absences (PTO, leave), assisting with trial and project overflow, and ensuring continuity of legal support across departments.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Perform administrative duties, including scheduling appointments, hearings, and deadlines; organizing case files; and managing logistics.
• Draft, edit, and manage legal documents (e.g. pleadings, discovery, correspondence).
• Assist with legal research, cite‑checking, and document review, as needed.
• Coordinate and track filings with state and federal courts and understand electronic filing processes for various courts.
• Manage case files and maintain document databases.
• Maintain a working knowledge of the code of civil procedure, civil code, local rules, and courtroom rules and procedures.
• Respond to urgent or last‑minute requests that come into the Paralegal Triage email, for paralegal assistance across practice groups.
• Prioritize and allocate time effectively to handle simultaneous demands from different practice groups.
• Provide seamless coverage for paralegals on vacation, medical leave, or other absences.
• Step into active cases and projects with minimal transition time.
• Ensure continuity of client service and adherence to deadlines during coverage periods.
• Assess and communicate workload issues and capacity to the Paralegal Manager.
• When required, assist with trial preparation and logistics, including exhibit preparation, witness binders, and evidence tracking.
• Provide in‑office or on‑site trial support as needed.
• Support legal teams during high‑demand phases of litigation or transactions.
• Fill temporary gaps in paralegal staffing due to turnover or staffing transitions.
• Rotate across practice areas as needed to meet business demands.
• Work closely with the Paralegal Manager to assess where support is most critically needed.
• Accurately document and bill for all billable and non‑billable work and tasks according to billing procedures, ensuring that annual billable hour requirements are met.
• Attend paralegal meetings and other meetings as required.
• Perform other duties and projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred, or equivalent experience working in a legal environment; JD degree is a plus.
• 5+ years of paralegal experience in a law firm setting.
• Litigation and insurance defense experience preferred.
• Prior experience in multiple practice areas a strong plus.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with all stages of litigation, including pre‑trial, trial, and post‑trial procedures.
• Ability to adapt quickly and work effectively across multiple teams and practice groups.
• Strong organizational, multitasking, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with legal software.
• Comfortable in fast‑paced and high‑pressure environments, especially around trial deadlines.

This job description reflects management's assignment of essential functions; it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Kahana Feld provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Job Type

Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Supervisory Responsibilities

None

Work Location

In-Office. Hybrid after 90-days of employment

Work Schedule

8:30-5:30pm Monday-Friday. Occasional weeknights, weekends, and holidays, as needed to meet firm’s needs.

Physical Requirements

Primarily sedentary work. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Repetitive motion. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading. Work is performed in an office environment and requires the ability to operate standard office equipment and keyboards. Must have the ability to walk short distances, and/or drive a vehicle to deliver and pick up materials. Work can be performed with or without accommodation.

Travel

5-10% domestic travel by car and by plane.