Position Summary
A leading Houston law firm is seeking an experienced Commercial Litigation Legal Secretary to provide comprehensive administrative and litigation support to attorneys handling complex commercial disputes. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional organizational skills, strong attention to detail, and a thorough understanding of Texas state and federal court procedures. This position requires the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide administrative and litigation support to attorneys in all phases of commercial litigation matters.
- Prepare, revise, proofread, and format legal documents, correspondence, pleadings, motions, discovery requests and responses, briefs, and court filings.
- File documents electronically in Texas state courts and federal courts, including the Southern District of Texas.
- Coordinate and maintain attorney calendars, including court appearances, depositions, hearings, mediations, arbitrations, deadlines, and client meetings.
- Monitor and calculate litigation deadlines pursuant to court rules, scheduling orders, and local procedures.
- Organize and maintain case files, pleadings, exhibits, and litigation databases.
- Assist with trial preparation, including preparing exhibits, witness files, trial notebooks, and hearing materials.
- Coordinate service of process, court reporters, expert witnesses, vendors, and document production.
- Manage client communications and serve as a professional point of contact for attorneys, clients, courts, opposing counsel, and third parties.
- Process attorney expense reports, time entries, billing documentation, and reimbursement requests.
- Support document management and records retention procedures.
- Handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
Qualifications
Required
- Minimum of 3 to 5 years of legal secretary experience supporting commercial litigation attorneys.
- Knowledge of Texas state court and federal court filing procedures and efiling.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Experience with electronic filing systems and legal document management software.
- Strong proofreading, grammar, and document formatting skills.
- Excellent organizational, multitasking, and time-management abilities.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- High level of professionalism, discretion, and attention to detail.
Preferred
- Experience supporting attorneys in a mid-size or large law firm environment.
- Familiarity with litigation support platforms such as Relativity, iManage, NetDocuments, or similar systems.
- Knowledge of commercial litigation procedures, discovery processes, and trial preparation.
- Associate degree or legal secretarial certification.
Skills and Competencies
- Advanced legal document preparation and formatting
- Calendar and deadline management
- Electronic court filings (state and federal)
- Strong written and verbal communication
- Client service orientation
- Problem-solving and critical thinking
- Ability to prioritize competing deadlines
- Professional judgment and confidentiality
Compensation and Benefits
The firm offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, paid time off, retirement savings opportunities, professional development programs, and a collaborative work environment.
Salary Range (Houston Market): Approximately $75,000 to $90,000 annually, depending on experience, qualifications, and firm size.