Legal Administrative Assistant - Litigation/Maritime

Jones Walker LLP•Houston, TX

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Jones Walker is seeking a proactive, highly organized Legal Administrative Assistant (LAA) to provide comprehensive support to a team of litigation attorneys in their Houston office, including attorneys with a Maritime practice. This role is best suited for a self-directed professional who takes ownership of assignments, anticipates needs, and follows matters through to completion with minimal supervision. The successful candidate is detail-oriented, curious, and comfortable exercising independent judgment to ensure cases remain organized, deadlines are met, and matters continue moving forward without requiring constant attorney direction.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required; Bachelor’s degree preferred.
At least two years of experience in a legal administrative or litigation support role.
Strong working knowledge of, or the ability to quickly learn, court rules, procedures, calendaring requirements, and litigation workflows.
Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and manage competing priorities with minimal supervision.
Proven ability to identify deadlines, determine appropriate next steps, and follow assignments through to completion without detailed direction.
Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy, particularly with court filings, docket management, calendaring, and document organization.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and the ability to work with legal practice management software, document management systems, and court filing platforms.
Willingness and ability to embrace new technologies, platforms, and processes and learn them quickly.
Strong organizational and project-management skills with the ability to prioritize effectively in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a professional and client-service-oriented demeanor.
Natural curiosity and willingness to learn new practice areas, procedures, technologies, client industries, and the maritime sector.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
Comfortable working in a fast-paced legal environment with shifting priorities and competing deadlines.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Open, close, and maintain client files, keeping them organized and current in both electronic and hard copy format.
Create, edit, and revise pleadings, discovery, correspondence, and other legal documents.
Proofread documents for spelling, grammar, formatting, and content accuracy, ensuring high-quality work product.
Manage attorneys’ calendars and independently maintain litigation calendaring, ensuring deadlines, hearings, scheduling orders, meetings, travel, and other critical dates are accurately identified, recorded, monitored, and communicated.
Review court filings, notices, pleadings, and correspondence to identify deadlines and required follow-up actions; promptly save and organize filed documents and ensure all related deadlines are calendared.
Proactively facilitate the management of litigation deadlines by providing timely reminders and following through to ensure matters remain on track.
File legal pleadings and other documents with courts and administrative agencies.
Maintain attorney time records.
Support billing and e-billing activities, including invoice preparation, submission, and follow-up.
Correspond with clients, courts, opposing counsel, and others verbally and in writing while representing attorneys and the Firm professionally.
Support deposition, hearing, mediation, and trial preparation, including compiling exhibits, preparing binders, coordinating logistics, and organizing materials.
Track outstanding items through completion and proactively follow up with attorneys, clients, courts, opposing counsel, vendors, and internal teams as necessary.
Anticipate attorney and client needs by gathering information, preparing materials in advance, and identifying potential issues before they become problems.
Respect strict confidentiality requirements regarding client files and sensitive information.
Navigate workflow technology with confidence and effectively utilize available resources.
Answer phone calls, take messages, and redirect calls when appropriate.
Proactively build and coordinate relationships with attorneys, LAAs, paralegals, and other business professionals across the Firm.
Assist team members as needed to manage client deadlines and workload demands.
Regular and predictable in-office attendance.