Legal Assistant: Litigation

THE OPPORTUNITY

Summit Law Group is seeking a legal assistant to support our busy and thriving litigation team. Our legal assistants are vital to case success, contributing to case strategy, status meetings, and potentially billing hours, if applicable. This role is unique as it mainly serves one client portfolio and offers a development path to paralegal.  

Summit is known for its signature mix of unmatched competence, casual humor, and its rejection of traditional law firm hierarchies. Litigation openings are rare, and we will wait for the right personality and skillset to fit this thriving team. If you possess exceptional client service standards and take great pride in your work, we invite you to join us.

POSITION SUMMARY

This desk is high volume with equally high expectations and isn’t for a newbie; extensive filing experience is a must, ideally including appellate work. Success for this position requires staying organized, being proactive, and keeping a level head when things go awry.  This LA must be capable of navigating obscure or new filing systems independently and maintain superb judgement on what can be done autonomously versus what needs attorney approval.

The attorneys on this desk appreciate confident communicators who take pride in their work, obsess over deadlines, and are unafraid to poke attorneys when needed. Daily expectations include proofreading, file and calendar management, preparing tables of authority and contents, and e-filing with various state, federal, and appellate courts. It is critical to be punctual, confidential, tech-savvy, upbeat, and highly organized.

Summit is known for running lean and hiring staff at the pinnacle of their careers. For this seat, we’re reimagining that structure, and seeking a sharp LA looking to grow their career and skillset. The bulk of this desk will be core LA work, but will grow to include discovery, case chronology, deposition prep, and other tasks as you develop. Timeline and titles are uncertain, but we’re willing to invest in the right candidate.

CRITICAL SKILLS

• Exceptional writing, proofreading, and editing skills; including grammar, spelling, punctuation, format, syntax, and content
• Able to independently solve legal filing issues, research court rules, and docket case events
• Ambitious, tenacious, and professional 
• Excellent understanding of what requires attorney approval versus what can be completed autonomously
• A courteous communication style regardless of audience
• Organized and able to learn quickly

RESPONSIBILITIES

• File pleadings in state and federal courts for civil and criminal matters, including under seal
• Proactively coordinate multiple calendars, alerting teams of approaching deadlines and future case needs
• Manage electronic and paper files, docketing, and templates
• Communicate directly with clients, other counsel, courts, and vendors
• Complete administrative tasks, including expense reimbursements, scheduling, drafting letters, processing mail, arranging travel, and supporting group and firm initiatives
• Some transcription may be required

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Required: Extensive experience with litigation and court filings
• Outstanding writing, editing, and proofing skills
• Advanced knowledge of legal concepts, terminology, and process
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the confidence to correct attorneys, ask for help, and collaborate
• A strong work ethic and deep pride in the work you produce
• Ability to meet changing deadlines quickly and effectively
• Tech-savvy and able to learn new technology quickly

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Summit strives for competitive compensation and benefit packages. We offer health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability plans, with family packages available. 401K options include Roth and traditional accounts, matching, profit sharing, and immediate vesting. Summit also offers bonuses based on firm performance, commuter benefits, ten paid holidays, and opportunities for hybrid schedules. The successful applicant must complete onboarding onsite before being eligible for a hybrid schedule.

While subject to change, we also provide offices for legal staff, firm funded HSAs, and a dog-friendly office.

The salary for this position ranges from $85,000 – $105,000, depending on experience and skillset.

ABOUT SUMMIT
Summit Law Group’s nontraditional law firm model was founded on revolutionizing the way legal services are provided and focuses on a single principle: customer service. Our mission is to creatively formulate the most effective, efficient solutions to our clients’ legal needs with small, dedicated teams. We eliminated inefficiencies inherent to traditional law firms – the hidden charges, rigid fee structures, and strict hierarchy – to focus exclusively on our clients. Our innovative model sees all attorneys join as equity owners, and everyone at Summit Law Group shares in the firm’s success.

Summit is consistently recognized as a top regional and national firm, consistently recognized by US News & World Report, Best Lawyers, and Chambers USA. Annually since 2021, Summit has been named Washington Firm of the Year at the Benchmark Litigation US Awards, and named as one of Washington’s Best Workplaces by the Puget Sound Business Journal. We are especially proud of our diversity efforts, having been named a national leader among law firms by Law360’s Diversity Snapshot, and receiving our Mansfield Rule Plus Certification, both annually since 2022. You can check out more stories about Summit HERE.   

APPLICATION & INTERVIEW PROCESS
To apply for this position, please click HERE. Cover letters are invited but not required.

Our interview process is unique, transparent, and thoughtfully designed to ensure all parties can make a well-informed decision. We may conduct a skills assessment prior to offer to ensure compatibility with position requirements. The successful candidate’s offer will be contingent on a satisfactory criminal history background check and satisfactory references.