Legal Assistant/Secretary (Civil Litigation) in Virginia Beach, Virginia at Wolcott Rivers PC

Wolcott Rivers Gates is seeking an experienced legal assistant to join our litigation team!

Position Summary:

Join our team at Wolcott Rivers Gates as a Legal Assistant supporting our Civil Litigation team. A Legal Assistant provides comprehensive administrative support and assists with case management from initial consultation through final disposition. The ideal candidate will have 2 or more years of experience as a legal assistant supporting a litigation attorney, and is detail-oriented, organized, self-motivated, and has excellent written and verbal communication skills, along with exceptional interpersonal skills. The right candidate will be a self-starter who takes initiative, learns quickly, possesses a strong understanding of the litigation process and court procedures in Virginia, and is able to work independently with minimal supervision.

What does someone in this role do?

A Legal Assistant works closely with attorneys, paralegals, courts and other parties to support case management, administrative operations, and client service excellence.

Primary responsibilities include:

Professional Communication & Client Support

• Communicating with clients, experts, opposing counsel, court personnel, and other involved parties.
• Assisting with consultations and client intake
• Providing general client services and updates

Administrative & Calendar Management

• Coordinating schedules among meeting participants
• Managing attorney calendars and providing reminders for deadlines and court dates
• Keeping the attorney organized, prepared, and on time for meetings, hearings, and appearances

Case Management & File Maintenance

• Maintaining organized electronic and hard-copy case files
• Tracking case status, deadlines, and tasks in case management software
• Assisting with basic computer tasks and navigation of legal software/systems

Document Preparation & Legal Support

• Preparing, drafting, filing, and serving legal documents
• Typing, transcribing, and formatting handwritten or dictated notes, letters, time entries, cover letters, and other documents
• Organizing documents and preparing attorneys for depositions, trials, mediations, and court appearances

Billing & Administrative Tasks

• Tracking and entering billable hours
• Assisting with billing and invoicing
• Completing other ad-hoc duties as assigned

What makes someone successful in this role?

• Manages multiple priorities with ease across a full caseload
• Tech-savvy with a passion for learning new systems and tools
• Takes pride in accurate, error-free work
• Brings a positive, can-do attitude to the team
• Self-motivated with a genuine interest in continuous learning
• Team player who enjoys pitching in whenever asked and being a reliable source of support for the team
• Reliable and consistent, both in attendance and in delivering quality work
• Able to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced team environment
• Maintains professional demeanor and confidentiality

Wolcott Rivers Gates is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining top talent. Our continued success relies on our ability to provide a supportive, inclusive, and motivating environment where everyone has a role to play in delivering outstanding service to our clients.

To learn more about how you might become a part of our team, or to explore some of the benefits our firm provides to its employees, please visit our careers page at http://www.wolcottriversgates.com/about-the-firm/careers/

Compensation Range: $45,000 - $60,000 per year commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Qualifications:

• Familiarity with discovery processes, including Requests for Production, Interrogatories, Subpoenas
• Working knowledge of Virginia litigation processes, court procedures, and e-filing systems is required. Preferred candidates also have experience with Federal Court
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat
• Comfortable learning new technology platforms
• Exceptional drafting, attention to detail, and proofreading skills
• A proven ability to manage a dynamic and demanding workload with accuracy.
• Ability to type a minimum of 50 words per minute (60+ wpm preferred)

Experience:

• Minimum of 2–3 years of experience as a legal assistant/secretary in civil litigation. (Required)
• Bachelor's Degree, Paralegal certificate, or equivalent combined education and experience. (Required)
• Notary Public certification. (Preferred)
• Experience specifically in the areas of estate litigation, corporate litigation, regulatory compliance, and/or contract disputes. (Preferred)