Litigation Paralegal

We are currently seeking a Litigation Paralegal with 5+ years’ experience to join our Orange County office. Our paralegals work collaboratively as part of the litigation support team to provide support to our litigation attorneys in all three of our offices during all phases of the litigation process, from the initiation of a case, during document collection and discovery, and through trial and the appellate process.

Essential Skills for the Position

• Organized: Multi-task, prioritize, and juggle numerous assignments and the needs of multiple attorneys with competing priorities and an ever-changing to-do list
• Communication: Superior communication skills, both oral and written
• Self-starter: Anticipate what is needed, take initiative, and make things happen
• Technologically Savvy: Comfortable and efficient with learning and staying up to date on new technologies and specialized software
• Adaptable: Able to work independently and part of a team, utilizing firm best practices and standards with flexibility and adaptability to changing procedures when necessary
• Problem Solver: Find the most appropriate solutions to prioritize time-sensitive assignments and to complete complex tasks
• Attention to Detail: Strong attention to detail and analytical skills
• Calm Under Pressure: Manage large quantity of changing information in high stress circumstances and maintain high work quality

Job Responsibilities & Tasks

• Prepare correspondence, legal forms, subpoenas, and other basic pleadings
• Conduct legal research and perform cite checking using Lexis Nexis or Westlaw
• Collect documents and other materials from client, opposing parties, and third parties (hard copies, electronic data, and physical evidence) and maintain the chain of custody
• Load, organize, and manage documents to allow for easy retrieval and/or review by attorney
• Review and tag documents in electronic document management databases for privilege and key issues
• Oversee the logistics of document production, redactions, and preparation of privilege logs
• Interact with outside parties, including clients, third-parties, vendors, experts, court personnel and other attorneys
• Perform factual research or background research of experts and witnesses
• Prepare charts and graphs of damages and other information
• Enter data and prepare chronologies and timelines and lists of key witnesses/players
• Assemble and organize appendices, exhibits, and supporting documents for court filing and service
• Create tables of contents and authorities with hyperlinks for court-filed documents
• Prepare binders of key documents for depositions, hearings, and attorney review
• Summarize document productions, deposition transcripts, and other discovery-related documents
• Manage technical logistics for depositions and trial, including conference or courtroom logistics for deposition, trial, or hearing and provide trial-tech support as needed
• Prepare witness outlines, jury instructions, demonstratives, trial designations, witness lists, exhibit lists and binders, and other materials for trial and trial presentation
• Coordinate the scheduling of witnesses for preparation and testimony
• Maintain and track legal and filing deadlines through the litigation team’s calendar system, calculate and enter deadlines for State and Federal courts
• Be knowledgeable of local court rules, procedures, and timelines for filing deadlines and capable of researching resource guides, rule codes, authorities, and court websites relative to same
• Assist with special projects and other related duties as needed

Qualifications and Litigation Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred; Paralegal Certificate from an ABA-approved program with a focus on litigation required
• Minimum 5 years of complex business litigation paralegal experience in CA state and federal courts (experience with commercial real estate and construction litigation preferred but not required)
• Demonstrated experience working with database systems and legal software tools in the areas deposition, case management, file sharing, and e-discovery, such as Relativity, Opus, and OnCue
• Proficiency using a rule-based calendaring or docketing system, such as Court Alert
• Strong software skills and knowledge such as Adobe/Kofax, Microsoft Suite
• Flexibility for travel and overtime as needed
• 1,600 billable hour requirement

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary to be based upon experience and education; we're targeting between $80,000-$95,000 annual
• Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision as well as 401(k) and vacation time
• Hybrid work arrangement out of our Orange County office, with the expectation to be in the office at least 3 times per week and on an as needed basis. For the first 90 days, you will be required to work completely onsite.

Cox, Castle & Nicholson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Cox, Castle & Nicholson 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.

Cox, Castle & Nicholson will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO). Privacy Policy (coxcastle.com)