Paralegal

We are looking for a skilled Paralegal/Legal Secretary to join a busy legal practice in California on a Long-term Contract basis. This permanent opportunity supports a plaintiff-side construction defect practice where many matters are resolved before trial, requiring someone who can keep cases moving efficiently through pre-litigation, arbitration, and active litigation stages. The ideal candidate brings strong organizational skills, sound judgment, and the ability to manage deadlines and legal support tasks with minimal supervision in a small-firm setting.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee case schedules by tracking court dates, filing deadlines, and procedural requirements to help matters progress without delay.
• Prepare, finalize, and submit legal documents through electronic filing systems in both state and federal courts.
• Arrange and coordinate key case events, including hearings, mediations, arbitrations, and meetings with expert witnesses.
• Support pre-litigation activity by organizing case materials, assisting with settlement preparation, and monitoring next steps.
• Review, sort, and maintain document productions so records remain accurate, accessible, and ready for attorney review.
• Serve as a point of contact for clients, opposing counsel, experts, and outside service providers regarding case-related logistics and updates.
• Maintain well-organized physical and digital case files while ensuring day-to-day litigation support needs are handled promptly.
• Assist with knowledge transfer and cross-training activities associated with the transition of responsibilities within the practice.
• At least 3 years of experience in a litigation paralegal role.
• Demonstrated ability to manage calendaring, deadlines, and multiple active matters with a high level of accuracy.
• Hands-on experience with electronic filing procedures and familiarity with court rules in litigation matters.
• Strong background in civil litigation support, including discovery coordination and trial preparation assistance.
• Proficiency with case management software and general legal file organization.
• Ability to work independently and adapt to a broad range of responsibilities in a small-office environment.
• Clear and detail-focused communication skills for interacting with attorneys, clients, experts, and external parties.
• Construction defect experience is helpful but not required.