The Job in One Sentence
Make sure I am where I am supposed to be, when I am supposed to be there, with exactly what I need for whatever is going on that day.
That is the whole job. Everything below is what it takes to do that well.
This is a high-trust, right-hand role supporting the managing partner of a three-generation Charleston plaintiffs' trial firm. The work runs across the professional and the personal, because the two do not stay in separate boxes when you are running active litigation. You are the person who sees the whole board, anticipates what is coming, and makes sure nothing falls through.
What You'll Actually Do
Keep the calendar bulletproof.
- Own one unified calendar across professional and personal life — court dates, depositions, mediations, client meetings, CLE, travel, family, the works.
- Protect the schedule. Spot conflicts before they happen. Build in travel and prep time. Be the gatekeeper.
- Tell me what's coming before I have to ask.
Run the prep and logistics for everything that matters.
- Depositions, hearings, mediations, and trials: make sure the materials, files, exhibits, and notes are assembled, organized, and in my hands ahead of time.
- Coordinate the logistics around each event — where it is, when to leave, what's needed on site, who else needs to be there.
- During trial weeks especially, you are the operational backbone keeping the day moving.
Draft and manage correspondence.
- Draft letters, emails, and routine correspondence for my review and signature.
- Manage the inbox flow: flag what's urgent, handle what you can, queue the rest.
Handle travel end to end.
- Book and coordinate travel for hearings, depositions, conferences, and personal trips.
- Build the itinerary so I just have to show up.
Organize the files.
- Keep physical and digital files orderly and findable.
- Know where things live so nothing gets lost when it's needed fast.
Help on the front end with clients.
- Assist with initial client intake and basic screening.
- Be a warm, professional first point of contact.
Run personal logistics and errands.
- Handle the personal side — errands, appointments, family logistics — so the professional side stays clear.
- Treat the personal and the professional with the same discretion and care.
Who Thrives Here
I'm hiring on fit, not on a resume. The right person is far more about how they operate than where they've worked. You'll do well here if you are:
- Anticipatory. You see what's coming and handle it before it becomes a problem. You don't wait to be told.
- Unshakably organized. Calendars, files, logistics, details — they're all under control because you keep them that way.
- Calm in chaos. Trial work is high-pressure and unpredictable. You stay steady when the day goes sideways.
- Discreet. You'll be around sensitive cases, client matters, and personal life. What you see and hear stays with you. Full stop.
- A strong communicator. Clear, professional writing. Comfortable speaking with clients, courts, and counsel.
- Resourceful. When something needs to get done and there's no playbook, you figure it out.
- Genuinely reliable. When you say it's handled, it's handled.
Helpful, But Not Required
None of these are dealbreakers. The right person without them beats the wrong person with them.
- Prior legal, litigation, or law firm experience
- Familiarity with how depositions, hearings, mediations, and trials run
- Knowledge of Charleston and the Lowcountry
- Comfort with calendar, document, and travel software
The Details
- Location: In person, downtown Charleston (8 Chalmers Street). This is not a remote role.
- Reports to: Gedney M. Howe, IV, Managing Partner.
- Type: Full-time. Expect some flexibility around hours during trial, deposition, and travel weeks.
- Transportation: Valid driver's license and reliable transportation, given errands, travel coordination, and getting materials where they need to be.
How to Apply
Send a resume and a short note telling me why you'd be good at this — in your own words. I care more about the note than the resume.
Pay: $45,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Location:
- Charleston, SC 29401 (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Charleston, SC 29401 (Required)
Work Location: In person
