Legal Secretary

$65,000 - $85,000/Yr

Wilson Elser - San Diego, CA

Full-time

Onsite - San Diego, CA

1,001-5,000 employees

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

Wilson Elser's San Diego office is seeking a dedicated Legal Secretary to join our dynamic team. This position plays a crucial role in supporting our extensive practice, which encompasses various areas of law including nursing home negligence, auto, premise, and product liability matters. As a full-service and leading defense litigation law firm, Wilson Elser is committed to providing exceptional service to our clients, backed by a team of over 1100 attorneys across 44 offices nationwide. Founded in 1978, we are proud to be recognized among the top 200 law firms by The American Lawyer and ranked 53rd in The National Law Journal's survey of the largest law firms in the country. The Legal Secretary will be responsible for a variety of tasks that are essential to the smooth operation of our legal practice. This includes preparing pleadings and discovery documents for filing and service, scheduling depositions, managing calendars, and ensuring compliance with court rules and procedures. The ideal candidate will possess strong organizational skills, the ability to work independently, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. This position is not remote and requires the individual to work in the office, contributing to a collaborative and fast-paced environment. In addition to the core responsibilities, the Legal Secretary will also manage document organization, assist with travel arrangements, and handle billing processes for third-party vendors. Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential, as the role involves significant interaction with attorneys, clients, and court personnel. We are looking for someone who can thrive under pressure and adapt to the demands of a busy legal office.

Responsibilities

• Prepare pleadings and discovery documents for filing and service
• Prepare court forms such as California Judicial Council Forms for attorneys' review
• Schedule depositions with attorneys, clients, witnesses, and court reporters
• Schedule conference calls and on-site/off-site meetings
• Arrange and coordinate travel arrangements
• Calendar depositions, hearings, trials, and all associated dates
• Manage Outlook calendar of all appointments, conferences, and meetings
• Open new matters, run conflict checks for partner's review, prepare engagement letters
• Document management and organization, saving documents and emails to document management system
• Become familiar with court rules and filing procedures
• Prepare cover letters for attorney bills
• Submit attorneys' expense reports
• Manage bills for third-party vendors, process check requests and follow up with accounting

Requirements

• Must have 3+ years of litigation experience
• Knowledge of litigation (e-filings) and trial procedures, and federal and state court procedures and rules
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel)
• Experience working with a document management system
• Strong interpersonal relationship skills
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to integrate into a fast-paced environment
• Ability to prioritize and work independently
• Work well under pressure, remain flexible, be proactive, resourceful, and efficient
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Benefits

• Paid time off
• 401(k) matching
• Opportunities for advancement