Custodio & Dubey LLP is seeking an experienced Habitability Litigation Paralegal to join our growing Habitability Department in Downtown Los Angeles.
This position requires substantial legal experience handling California Habitability/Landlord-tenant litigation. The ideal candidate can independently manage discovery from start to finish, prepare meet-and-confer correspondence, assist with discovery disputes and motions, and support attorneys throughout every stage of litigation.
Candidates must have at least three years of direct experience working as a paralegal on habitability cases. This is not an entry-level position. The successful candidate will understand California civil litigation procedures, discovery requirements, tenant-related claims, court filing practices, and the deadlines associated with an active litigation caseload.
We are looking for someone who is highly organized, detail-oriented, deadline-driven, and comfortable working in a fast-paced law firm environment. Experience with Filevine and e-filing in multiple California counties is a plus.
What Success Looks Like in This Role
- Draft complete and substantive discovery responses, including responses to Form Interrogatories, Special Interrogatories, Requests for Admission, and Requests for Production.
- Prepare and propound written discovery, including Form Interrogatories, Special Interrogatories, Requests for Admission, and Requests for Production of Documents.
- Draft detailed meet-and-confer letters regarding deficient discovery responses, document production, discovery objections, and other discovery disputes.
- Review and analyze opposing parties’ discovery responses to identify deficiencies, incomplete answers, improper objections, and missing documents.
- Assist attorneys with informal discovery conferences, motions to compel, protective orders, and other discovery-related proceedings.
- Communicate with tenants to gather information, obtain documents, prepare discovery responses, and secure signed verifications.
- Review, organize, and summarize photographs, videos, inspection reports, code-enforcement records, repair requests, notices, communications with landlords or property managers, medical records, lease documents, and other case evidence.
- Assist with preparing complaints, amended complaints, answers, notices, declarations, motions, oppositions, replies, and other litigation documents.
- Monitor discovery deadlines, court deadlines, hearing dates, and case-specific litigation calendars.
- Prepare accurate, complete, and properly formatted documents for attorney review.
- File and serve legal documents in California state courts, including e-filing in multiple counties.
- Coordinate with attorneys, case managers, litigation assistants, inspectors, experts, process servers, court reporters, and outside vendors.
- Maintain complete and organized electronic case files and ensure that documents, discovery materials, correspondence, and deadlines are accurately updated in the case-management system.
- Assist with depositions, mediations, hearings, arbitrations, and trial preparation.
- Support the Habitability Department with additional litigation-related projects as needed.
Ideal Candidate Qualifications
- Minimum of three years of civil litigation experience required.
- Strong understanding of California habitability and landlord-tenant claims required.
- At least three years of experience drafting and responding to written discovery required.
- Experience reviewing discovery responses and drafting substantive meet-and-confer letters required.
- Experience assisting with motions to compel and other discovery disputes strongly preferred.
- Strong knowledge of California civil litigation procedures, discovery rules, and court deadlines.
- Experience drafting pleadings, notices, declarations, motions, and other litigation documents.
- Experience filing and serving documents in California state courts required.
- Experience e-filing across multiple California counties is a plus.
- Ability to independently manage multiple cases, assignments, and competing deadlines.
- Excellent legal writing, proofreading, and verbal communication skills.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to produce accurate, attorney-ready work.
- Comfortable communicating with tenants regarding sensitive living conditions, property issues, damages, and discovery obligations.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with attorneys and other members of the litigation team.
- Filevine experience is a plus.
- Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus.
- Paralegal certificate or legal-studies background preferred.
Compensation and Benefits
Compensation for this position is $75,000–$95,000 per year, depending on experience. This is a full-time, non-exempt position.
The position is based in our Downtown Los Angeles office. After successfully completing the probationary period, the position follows a hybrid schedule with the opportunity to work from home on Wednesdays.
Benefits include:
- 401(k)
- Health insurance stipend
- Paid time off
- Paid sick time
- Paid holidays
- Professional development assistance
- Free secure parking
- Work from home on Wednesdays after the probationary period
Required Experience
- Civil litigation paralegal experience: 3 years
- Discovery drafting and analysis: 3 years
- Meet-and-confer drafting: 3 years
- California civil litigation: 3 years
- Legal filing and e-filing experience
- Bilingual - (Spanish is a plus)
Pay: $75,000.00 - $95,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Free parking
- Health insurance
- Paid sick time
- Paid time off
Experience:
- Civil Litigation : 3 years (Required)
Work Location: In person
