Legal Secretary – Litigation Job at Davis Wright Tremaine in Los Angeles

Job Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to work for one of the top law firms in the U.S.! Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is looking for a Legal Secretary – Litigation to join our team in our Los Angeles office.

We offer a hybrid work engagement with two days of remote work, and three days in-office.

Position Summary

This position is responsible for providing litigation secretarial support to five or more attorneys in various practice groups.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive secretarial support including typing, editing, formatting legal documents and correspondence.
• File documents electronically and via messenger, arrange service of documents on opposing counsel, and coordinate schedules.
• Input attorney time, maintain paper and electronic files, and support calendar and contacts maintenance.
• Coordinate travel arrangements, prepare expense reimbursement, and perform other secretarial and administrative tasks as assigned.
• Work independently at a high level and collaborate with secretaries and firm staff in various departments.

Daily Activities

• Heavy court filings and service of pleadings on state, federal, appellate and other venues in California and other states.
• Schedule remote hearings, deposition appearances, in-person depositions, appointments, and meetings.
• Track litigation deadlines, docket and confirm deadlines are accurately docketed.
• Type, proofread, format and edit correspondence and documents (e.g., pleadings, contracts, memoranda) under time-sensitive deadlines; draft pleadings.
• Minimize backlog and overtime while maintaining a deep understanding of attorneys’ practices, goals, and firm policies.
• Check in with attorneys to ensure projects are on track, exercise judgment on when to seek guidance and assign tasks to support staff.
• Communicate project status clearly to all team members.
• Handle complex and demanding workflows, leveraging firm resources when necessary.
• Make arrangements for messenger, overnight delivery or courier services as needed.
• Schedule appointments, conference calls, meetings and maintain calendars.
• Open and route mail and email, attaching files and documents; save to case management system.
• Maintain attorney and client records and file management.
• Answer, screen and respond to phone calls; respond to attorney/clients needs with a sense of urgency, ensuring resolution with appropriate follow-up.
• Serve as an intermediary with clients, proactively addressing client service needs to strengthen relationships.
• Work with attorneys to prioritize, organize and relieve them of administrative tasks and run conflicts and open new client and new matter files.
• Prepare and submit expense/reimbursement reports and vendor invoices.
• Enter attorney time into time-keeping program and ensure released; process and edit prebills and oversee client billing process.

Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience as a legal secretary or executive assistant required; familiarity with law firm billing processes is a plus.
• Strong word processing and computer skills; proficient understanding of MS Word, MS Excel and MS Outlook required; experience with all MS Office 2016 products preferred; MS Office 365 is a plus.
• Proofreading, NetDocs and PowerPoint skills desired.
• Ability to type 75 wpm on word processing equipment with a high degree of accuracy.
• Exceptional organizational skills required; ability to multi‑task, work under pressure and meet conflicting deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills with tact, diplomacy and discretion with firm contacts and clients.
• Willingness to work in a team‑oriented, service environment; share firm and technical knowledge with others.
• High degree of attention to detail and initiative to learn new skills to enhance performance.

About the Firm

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is an AmLaw 100 law firm with 11 offices nationwide. We are relentlessly committed to client service and look for candidates who share that commitment.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation.
• Choice of health and vision insurance plans.
• Dental plan.
• Fertility and adoption benefit.
• Paid sabbatical after 13 years of service.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Commuter benefits.
• Retirement contribution.
• Paid volunteer days for qualifying community service work.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP fosters a culture where all talented individuals—especially those who are traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession—can see paths to success. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is built on four pillars: Community, Growth, Education, and Engagement. Learn more about our DEI commitment at https://www.dwt.com/dei.

Accommodations

We provide reasonable accommodations for those who need them to complete the application or recruiting process and for employees who need reasonable accommodations to perform the essential functions of their positions due to a disability or for religious reasons. If you need to request accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please email humanresources_confidential@dwt.com.

Salary Range

The annualized salary range for this position in Los Angeles is $88,000 to $110,000 ($45.13–$56.41 hourly). Actual pay will be adjusted based on experience and other job‑related factors permitted by law. Full‑time employees may be eligible for a bonus, health insurance with an optional HSA, long‑term disability, dental insurance, vision care, telemedicine and virtual short‑term solution‑based counseling services, life insurance, healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts, subsidized backup care and caregiving resources, 401(k), vacation, sick time, and an employee assistance program. Additional voluntary programs include voluntary accident insurance, voluntary life, voluntary disability, voluntary long‑term care and pet insurance. Commuter and transit programs are also available.