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Job Description
LITIGATION. COMPLIANCE. INVESTIGATIONS. It is what we do, day in and day out.
At Lightfoot, Franklin and White, we are growing a Houston legal team that does meaningful work and has a great time doing it. As a Lightfoot Legal Assistant/Paralegal you will have the opportunity to work a wide range of cases with our experienced legal team.
The ideal candidate will work onsite in the office daily as an essential member of the team providing comprehensive support in all aspects of litigation. This role requires a strong understanding of litigation procedures, excellent organizational skills, and the ability to work with and collaborate closely with attorneys and firm staff to ensure efficient administration of cases.
Responsibilities include:
1. Case Management: Assist attorneys in managing litigation cases by organizing and maintaining electronic and physical/hard case files, tracking deadlines, and ensuring all necessary documents are filed accurately and in a timely manner.
2. Court Filings: Prepare, organize, and file legal documents with state and federal courts, as well as administrative agencies. Monitor court calendars and notify attorneys of upcoming hearings and deadlines.
3. Subpoena Management: Prepare, and serve or coordinate subpoenas for witnesses, records, and evidence, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations. Track and document subpoenas responses and deadlines and provide follow up and ongoing tracking and calendaring of due dates.
4. Discovery Preparation: Support the discovery process by preparing draft discovery shells, collecting documents, and assisting with production. Assist with the discovery process including document collection, review, and production. Maintain document databases and assist with electronic discovery procedures.
5. Document Preparation: Set up, draft and format materials for depositions, hearings, motions, discovery requests, and responses. Upload documents to the proper case/client files and once uploaded, provide copies for review to the attorneys. Ensure documents are formatted properly complying with jurisdiction/court rules and guidelines.
6. Trial Support: Assist in trial preparation by keeping trial notebooks up to date with relevant pleadings and any new document or discovery, including comparing the new to the existing by highlighting changes. Organize exhibits, prepare trial notebooks, and coordinate logistics for trial attendance.
7. Client Communication: Interact with clients, witnesses, and external/third parties to gather information, schedule meetings, and provide updates on case progress. Correspond with clients/other contacts, when necessary, in a professional manner.
8. Expense Handling and Billing: Submit invoices for case related expenses in a timely manner for payment and maintain copies in case files. Ensure monetary transactions are dealt with efficiently and in accordance with office procedures. Record and maintain billing hours when applicable.
9. Legal Compliance and Confidentiality: Stay updated on changes in laws and regulations relevant to related litigation cases and inform attorneys of any changes that may impact cases or clients. Handle sensitive and confidential information with the utmost discretion.
10. Administrative Duties: Perform general administrative tasks with attention to detail and accuracy. Tasks include copying, scanning, and faxing documents; answering and directing phone calls or taking messages; arranging for meetings; preparing expense reports or submitting invoices for payment; conducting online research; taking notes; entering data into databases, spreadsheets and calendars; and any other clerical duties as needed,
Job Requirement: Must be able to work onsite in the office daily at 1885 St. James Place, Houston, TX 77056.
Qualifications:
1. Education: Bachelor’s degree, Associate's degree or a Certificate in paralegal studies, legal studies or a related field.
2. Experience: Several years’ experience in litigation familiar with the litigation process from case initiation to post trial procedures. Experience in product liability and/or civil litigation is highly desired.
3. Knowledge and Skills:
a. Knowledge of litigation procedures, including court rules, and filing requirements and deadlines.
b. Familiarity with both Texas state and federal court systems.
c. Ability to draft and format a wide range of legal documents including motions, discovery requests and trial documents.
d. Experience with document collection, review, and production.
e. Experience in preparing, serving, and tracking subpoenas.
f. Excellent written and verbal communication skills for drafting legal correspondence, communicating with clients, witnesses, opposing counsel and assisting attorneys.
g. Exceptional organizational skills to manage case files, calendars, deadlines and ensure the accuracy of legal documents.
h. Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and document management software such as IManage.
i. Ability to be a team player working collaboratively with attorneys, other paralegals, legal assistants, and support staff in a fast-paced legal environment with a willingness to learn and follow established procedures.
j. Effective time management skills to handle multiple tasks, prioritize responsibilities and meet tight deadlines.
k. Ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing circumstances, new technology, and evolving legal processes especially in the context of litigation.
Job Requirement: Must be able to work onsite in the office daily at 1885 St. James Place, Houston, TX 77056.
We believe in providing a competitive benefits package for all staff. This includes:
Group medical insurance
Group dental insurance
VSP vision insurance
Paid membership at a Health Club
Flexible Spending Account/Dependent Care Spending Account
Retirement 401(k) plan
Group term life insurance
Voluntary supplemental group term life insurance plan
Group long-term disability insurance
Free parking
Generous paid time off and paid Holidays
Lightfoot is an At-Will, Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to pledge full support to equal employment opportunity for all persons, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, or any other protected characteristic with respect to recruitment, hiring, training, promotion and other work available.
