Senior Litigation Paralegal

Cardinal North, PLLC; Spokane (WA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Cardinal North, PLLC seeks a Senior Litigation Paralegal to manage a complex personal injury caseload, mentor junior staff, and lead with minimal supervision. You will ensure accuracy, timely filings, and strategic case planning from intake through trial.

The role demands leadership, high autonomy, proactive case anticipation, and a commitment to quality across pleadings, motions, and discovery. Washington state practice and robust paralegal experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or Paralegal Certificate preferred; equivalent relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of formal education/certificate.
• 5+ years of litigation experience, with emphasis on plaintiff’s personal injury law preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat Pro, and case management software (e.g., Clio).
• Advanced and current understanding of Washington civil procedure and applicable state and local court rules.

Responsibilities

• Caseload Management: Independently advance personal injury files from intake through trial, ensuring deadlines and progression.
• Mentorship & Leadership: Help build and strengthen the firm's support structure by establishing best practices and mentoring junior paralegals and legal assistants.
• Document Formatting & Drafting: Draft, format, and proofread demands, pleadings, and comprehensive discovery requests and responses.
• Procedural Gatekeeping: Independently double-check Washington State Court Rules and local rules for compliance.
• Advanced Electronic Filing & Tech: Manage digital workflows, e-filings, and proper service requirements for state and federal courts.
• Trial Preparation: Build comprehensive trial notebooks, index exhibits, and coordinate witness logistics.

Skills

Leadership

Autonomy

Proactive thinking

Attention to detail

Empathy

Education

Bachelor's degree or Paralegal Certificate

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe Acrobat Pro

Clio

Job description

We are seeking a first-rate, experienced, and self-directed Senior Litigation Paralegal to manage a complex personal injury caseload for our clients. This is a long-term role for an exceptional professional who is looking to establish roots within our firm and does not need to be told what to do next. We are seeking a true partner to our attorneys, someone who excels at independent file management today and possesses the leadership capabilities to mentor and develop future legal support staff for tomorrow.

Required Attributes & Leadership Skills

• Long-term Leadership Career Path: We want a cornerstone professional who is looking to grow alongside the firm and eventually step into a formal training and mentorship role. Therefore, you possess strong interpersonal skills and a desire to share knowledge, coach others, and raise the bar as the team grows.
• High Trust & Autonomy: You will own your caseload from day one, tracking milestones, handling competing deadlines, and driving cases to resolution with your team, without the need for micromanagement.
• Proactive Forward Thinking: True alignment with your team comprises anticipating upcoming case needs, staying several steps ahead, and taking ownership of tasks before they are assigned—positioning the attorney, team, and client for success.
• Precision & Quality: We take pride in impeccable, best-in-class work product. Our team relies on professionals who instinctively double-check formatting, grammar, timelines, data and applicable court rules to ensure accuracy and quality before documents reach an attorney's desk.
• Empathetic Presence: You displaydeep compassion for our injured clients balanced with the professional fortitude required to manage tough insurance adjusters and defense counsel.

Key Responsibilities

• Caseload Management: Independently advance personal injury files from intake through trial, ensuring no lapses in deadlines or case progression
• Mentorship & Leadership: Help build and strengthen the firm's support scaffolding by establishing best practices, standardizing workflows, and eventually onboarding, training, and mentoring junior paralegals and legal assistants
• Document Formatting & Drafting: Draft, format, and meticulously proofread demands, pleadings, and comprehensive discovery requests and responses
• Procedural Gatekeeping: Independently double-check Washington State Court Rules (CR) and applicable local court rules for compliance
• Advanced Electronic Filing & Tech: Manage digital workflows, e-filings, and proper service requirements for state and federal courts using modern case management systems
• Trial Preparation: Build comprehensive trial notebooks, index exhibits, and coordinate witness logistics, ensuring the attorney steps into the courtroom fully supported

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree or a formal Paralegal Certificate preferred; equivalent relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of formal education/certificate
• Experience: 5+ years of litigation experience, with a heavy emphasis on plaintiff’s personal injury law preferred
• Technical Mastery: Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat Pro, and case management software (e.g., Clio)
• Local Authority: Advanced and current understanding of Washington civil procedure and applicable state and local court rules