Find Jobs
Find Jobs Near You – Available Work in Your Location
Legal Secretary
Career Insights for Litigation Legal Secretary
See where this job fits in the broader career landscape. Knowing your career path helps you see what's possible from here.
Scorecard
Based on California data
Review key factors to help you decide if this role fits your goals. How is this calculated?
What they do
A Litigation Legal Secretary provides secretarial and administrative work for a litigation attorney or litigation law firm. Uses specialized knowledge of legal terminology and procedures related to litigation. Organizes files, schedules meetings and manages communication to prepare for lawsuits and trials. Prepares and files documents for court cases. Works with supervision from an attorney or paralegal; may handle paralegal tasks.
$84,378 / year median in California
-17% projected decline
Job Description
Responsibilities:
- Support attorneys throughout the litigation lifecycle by organizing documents, tracking case activity, and helping move matters forward efficiently.
- Draft, revise, format, and proofread pleadings, correspondence, and other legal materials for filing in California state and federal courts.
- Monitor critical dates and coordinate calendars for hearings, depositions, mediations, court appearances, and trial-related events.
- Arrange court submissions, service of process, and production of case materials while maintaining accurate filing records.
- Maintain orderly case files and attorney schedules to help ensure compliance with procedural rules and filing deadlines.
- Assemble trial preparation materials such as binders, exhibit sets, witness documents, and other supporting case resources.
- Communicate professionally with clients, opposing counsel, court staff, outside vendors, and expert witnesses regarding scheduling and case logistics.
- Manage electronic filing tasks through California court platforms and support document administration within firm systems and databases. Requirements
- At least 2 years of experience in a legal secretary, litigation secretary, or trial secretary capacity.
- Working knowledge of California court rules, litigation procedures, and deadline management.
- Experience assisting attorneys with trial preparation and litigation support activities.
- Proficiency in e-filing and court filing processes, including electronic submission of legal documents.
- Strong skills in Microsoft Office, especially document formatting in Word and general document management.
- Demonstrated ability to organize competing priorities, maintain accuracy, and meet time-sensitive deadlines.
- Effective communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a legal environment that requires close attention to detail.