Litigation Legal Assistant

THE OPPORTUNITY

Summit Law Group is seeking a Legal Assistant to support all aspects of our litigation practice. The ideal candidate has Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and federal filing experience and a solid understanding of litigation fundamentals. There is plenty of flexibility to make this desk your own, if you’re organized and capable.

Summit is known for its signature mix of unmatched competence, casual humor, and its rejection of traditional law firm hierarchies. Legal assistants are vital team members who participate in case strategy, status meetings, and potentially bill hours, if applicable. We’re seeking a true teammate, who takes pride in their work, and possesses excellent attorney/client service standards. 

POSITION SUMMARY

This desk is unique as it regularly navigates filing in new jurisdictions, oftentimes as the first in our office to do so. Navigating court rules, calling clerks’ offices, and proactively preparing case teams for filing quirks will be key expectations of this role. To be successful, you must appreciate collaboration, maintain a level head amidst challenges, and approach obstacles with curiosity.

Daily expectations include proofreading, file and calendar management, preparing tables of authority and contents, and e-filing with various state and federal courts – primarily Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, though we do file nationally. Document work is big for our LAs; your editing skills will be on display from day one and may be the subject of a skills assessment prior to offer.

This desk supports a wide variety of practices, including commercial litigation, administrative law, and criminal matters. We’re happy to show you the ropes in areas you aren’t familiar with. Each attorney utilizes their assistant differently, but all are very friendly, and appreciate proactive communicators who take pride in their work. Catching sneaky document flaws, consistent reminders, and realistic improvements to attorney workflows will endear you quickly. 

CRITICAL SKILLS

• Well versed in legal terms, court rules, and filing best practices
• Exceptional attention to detail, including writing, proofreading, and editing skills
• Able to independently solve legal filing issues, research court rules, and docket case events
• Excellent understanding of what requires attorney approval versus what can be completed autonomously
• A professional and courteous communication style, regardless of audience
• Kind, responsive, and organized

 RESPONSIBILITIES

• File pleadings in state and federal courts for civil and criminal matters, including under seal
• Proactively coordinate multiple attorney calendars, alerting teams of approaching deadlines and case needs
• Manage electronic and paper files, docketing, and templates
• Communicate directly with clients, outside 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: 5+ years of litigation experience in a law firm setting
• Ideal: Filing experience in Alaska and Oregon courts
• Familiarity filing in both state and federal courts
• Outstanding writing, editing, and proofing skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills, and sound judgment on when to self-help, collaborate, and ask for clarification
• 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, and ten paid holidays. While subject to change, we also provide offices for legal staff, firm funded HSAs, and a dog-friendly office.

We offer various hybrid schedules, which are subject to administrative approval and typically coordinated by each practice group. The successful applicant must complete onsite onboarding and sign a Work from Home Agreement prior to beginning any hybrid schedule. Please note, attorneys on this desk are primarily in the office, so applicants preferring 3+ days in the office will be prioritized.

The salary for this position ranges from $85,000 – $105,000, depending on experience and skillset, given a minimum of 5 years of experience.

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: https://www.summitlaw.com/blog/news

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. The successful candidate’s offer is contingent on a satisfactory criminal background and reference check. We may also conduct a skills assessment prior to offer to ensure compatibility with position requirements.