Michel & Associates, P.C. is a boutique law firm with various practice areas, including both civil and criminal matters. We offer a professional, collaborative, and supportive work environment where employees are encouraged to take ownership of their work, develop their skills, and make a meaningful impact. We value teamwork, mutual respect, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance while delivering exceptional results for our clients. Unlike larger firms where support staff may have limited involvement in case development, our team members work closely with attorneys on substantive matters and are trusted as integral members of the litigation team.
We have an opening for a full-time Legal Secretary position with some Paralegal duties. The person in this position will work regular business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A hybrid work schedule may be available after the successful completion of the probationary period for the right candidate. Some irregular work hours and overtime may occur depending on court filing requirements and business needs.
Job requirements/Responsibilities:
- This position is primarily legal secretary-focused and requires extensive experience with state and federal court filings. The role also includes paralegal responsibilities in support of attorneys throughout all phases of civil litigation, from case intake through trial and arbitration, and provides support to the firm's criminal defense practice as needed.
- File court documents in state and federal court, including working alternative schedules when necessary to meet filing deadlines.
- Assist with trial and arbitration preparation, including organizing exhibits, motions, trial and arbitration notebooks; Bates stamping, redaction, and indexing documents; creating tables of authorities and production charts; and preparing witness materials and organizing evidence.
- Working knowledge of the e-discovery process.
- Experience conducting legal research and applying local court rules, with a strong working knowledge of the California Code of Civil Procedure and CACI Jury Instructions.
- Experience managing expert witness relationships, including engagement, retention documentation, scheduling, coordination of materials, and communication with attorneys and experts.
- Maintain attorney calendars and accurately track filing deadlines, court appearances, and response dates. Keep up with deadlines for assigned attorneys.
- Organize, maintain, and update electronic client files throughout the lifecycle of each matter, ensuring accuracy, accessibility, and compliance with firm procedures.
- Ability to effectively manage time-sensitive documents, ensure deadlines are consistently met, handle court filings, multitask efficiently, and maintain exceptional organizational skills in a fast-paced litigation environment.
- Ability to anticipate the needs of assigned attorneys while effectively supporting multiple attorneys and clients in a fast-paced environment. A high level of professionalism, discretion, and responsiveness is required.
- Review active cases with attorneys, address client needs, and maintain regular communication with clients regarding case status and developments.
- Take an active interest in the cases and their progression. You are more than a paper pusher, you are a vital member of the litigation team helping drive cases toward successful outcomes.
- Prepare, revise, and proofread legal correspondence, pleadings, discovery, and other legal documents with a high degree of accuracy, ensuring documents are free of typographical, grammatical, and formatting errors and are clear, concise, and professional.
- Prepare and proofread correspondence, discovery requests, and discovery responses, including drafting the initial document framework, captions, and discovery questions for attorney review, while ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with applicable requirements.
- Prepare and coordinate service of subpoenas, notices, and other legal documents.
- Manage new client intake and retainer processes, ensuring all required documentation, engagement agreements, and payments are completed and submitted accurately and timely.
- Assist with other tasks as assigned by attorneys and firm management.
Education & Experience
- Minimum of five (5) years of experience as a Legal Secretary, Paralegal, or in a comparable litigation support role; paralegal certificate preferred.
- Minimum of three (3) years of experience supporting trial and/or arbitration preparation.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and Adobe Acrobat Pro, including advanced document formatting, organization, and proofreading. Experience with document management systems, electronic filing platforms, and legal case management software is required. Demonstrated knowledge of California state and federal court filing procedures, including electronic filing systems, i.e. PACER/ECF, One Legal, etc.
- Bachelor's degree strongly preferred.
- This is a full-time position, with the potential for a hybrid work schedule upon successful completion of the introductory/probationary period, based on business needs and for the right candidate.
- Compensation: $30.00 to $40.00 per hour, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
- We offer competitive salaries and a full range of benefits. Please include your resume and cover letter. No phone calls to the office, please.
Benefits Include:
- Medical, dental and vision insurance
- Life insurance
- Long-term disability
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (Dependent Care FSA)
- 401(k) Retirement plan with employer contribution
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Paid Holidays
- Employer provided parking
Schedule:
- Full-time position, Monday through Friday, with a standard 8-hour workday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Ability to commute to Long Beach, CA 90802.
- This is a full-time position, with the potential for a hybrid work schedule upon successful completion of the introductory/probationary period, based on business needs and for the right candidate.
- Occasional overtime and schedule flexibility may be required to meet court filing deadlines and business needs.
Pay: $30.00 - $40.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- AD&D insurance
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Employee discount
- Flexible spending account
- Free parking
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Long Beach, CA 90802
