Paralegal - Litigation (Financial Services)

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP•New York, NY

8d•$99,000 - $141,000•Hybrid

About The Position

This is an exciting opportunity to work for one of the top law firms in the U.S.! Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is looking for a Paralegal – Litigation (Financial Services) to join our team in our New York office. We offer a hybrid work engagement with two days o f remote work, and three days in-office. This position supports the firm’s Financial Services Practice Group, providing advanced support for financial services litigation and arbitration and regulatory matters. Responsibilities include comprehensive case management, managing discovery and filings, maintaining litigation and regulatory databases, preparing materials for hearings, trials, mediations, and arbitrations, and supporting compliance and regulatory filings. This position requires prior experience with litigation and/or arbitration matters, highly organized analytical capabilities, and advanced proficiency in legal technology. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver with exceptional organizational and communication skills, focused on delivering top-tier client service in a fast-paced and complex environment. At Davis Wright Tremaine, you will find challenging assignments, opportunities for professional growth and community involvement, and a culture of inclusion. DWT fosters inclusiveness and authenticity. Regardless of position, everyone here has a voice and the support is unparalleled. On a typical day you will: Case Management Serve as a central point of communication for financial services case teams, ensuring seamless coordination and information sharing across all matter and project assignments. Maintain accurate and up-to-date calendar systems specific to deadlines, including litigation, FINRA and other arbitration hearings, in collaboration with legal assistants, secretaries, and docketing personnel. Oversee the creation, indexing, and ongoing maintenance of complex case files and document collections for litigation and arbitrations before FINRA, JAMS and AAA, including the use of modern document management systems and platforms. Assist with the preparation, review, and proofreading of legal documents, including litigation and arbitration filings and other documents such as regulatory filings, and reports for accuracy, compliance, and adherence to jurisdictional standards. This includes proofreading legal memoranda for typographical and grammatical accuracy and verifying citations to legal authorities and evidence in compliance with The Bluebook and/or other court-specific requirements. Coordinate and manage court filings, regulatory filings and submissions, and compliance reporting, including electronic submissions, ensuring compliance with jurisdictional processes and requirements and/or specific jurisdiction-specific systems. Research & Discovery Conduct advanced fact research and analysis using online databases, public agencies, courts, and other sources; specifically including research associated with financial services matters, such as regulatory investigations, enforcement actions, audits, industry-specific litigation, and agency rulings (e.g., FINRA decisions, SEC notices, etc.). Prepare detailed memoranda summarizing results. Manage specialized document collections, including discovery, witness files, and other subject/issue files and documents. Draft initial versions of discovery requests (interrogatories, requests for production, requests for admission), responses, pleadings, and other documents tailored to financial services industry disputes, transactional diligence, or regulatory inquiries. Collaborate with Practice Support and eDiscovery Project Managers, and outside service provider support teams to ensure accurate collection and handling of electronically stored information (ESI). Coordinate with internal resources and outside service providers (as needed) for document productions and review; perform quality control assessments of service provider work. Execute database searches to retrieve relevant documents for utilization in litigation, arbitration and regulatory compliance matters, including deposition exhibit preparation and other evidentiary needs. Draft privilege logs and perform initial document reviews to identify responsiveness, relevance, and privilege and address issues of attorney-client privilege and regulatory concerns involving enforcement agencies. Summarize deposition transcripts and manage/track depositions. Preparation and Assistance at Trial or Other Proceedings Assist with all-phases of mediation, arbitration, regulatory board hearings (e.g., FINRA, SEC enforcement proceedings, etc.), or trial proceedings, including preparation of exhibit and witness lists, deposition designations, witness preparation, and trial briefs. Coordinate logistics with regulatory board personnel, hearing and/or court personnel, opposing counsel, experts, and necessary trial support vendors, ensuring compliance with agency protocols (e.g., FINRA arbitration rules, SEC investigative hearings, etc.). Familiarity with hearing board and/or courtroom technology and presentation tools, helping to ensure seamless integration with courtroom personnel and other counsel. Provide on-site trial or hearing support for financial services disputes, agency actions, or other litigation or arbitration matters, including managing trial exhibits, coordinating witnesses, assisting with direct and cross-examination materials and other pertinent trial presentation materials, and summarizing trial testimony. Supervise document clerks, or other firm personnel, during trial/hearing preparation and proceedings. Administrative Tasks Record billable time and tasks in compliance with firm policies and client billing protocols; ensure timely submission of time entries. Submit accurate records of hours worked in accordance with firm deadlines. Maintain consistent attendance and punctuality, adhering to schedules for breaks, lunches, and meetings. Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements

5+ years of paralegal experience, depending upon practice area and position.
Experience with FINRA, JAMS and/or AAA arbitrations and/or federal/state financial courts is preferred.
Bachelor’s degree and completion of paralegal program of study highly recommended.
Equivalent knowledge and skill will be considered based on direct industry experience, including:
Prior work in the legal services industry in litigation and/or arbitration matters.
Familiarity with financial services-specific rules and practices (e.g., SEC compliance submissions, broker-dealer oversight, arbitrations under FINRA Code of Arbitration).
Exceptional attention to detail to navigate complex financial filings and compliance materials.
Exceptional time and task management abilities.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality work.
Excellent written and oral communication skills at a post-college level.
Advanced proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office applications (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) for drafting and editing complex documents and spreadsheets.
Proficiency in the use of legal research (Westlaw, LexisNexis) and document retention databases (iManage, NetDocuments), and other legal research platforms to conduct legal and fact research for the effective management of complex evidence and case files.
Familiarity in the use of trial support software (Trial Director, OnCue).
Proficiency in the use of eDiscovery document review platforms, specifically Relativity.
Availability for overtime as needed to meet deadlines and support trial schedules.

Responsibilities

Case Management Serve as a central point of communication for financial services case teams, ensuring seamless coordination and information sharing across all matter and project assignments.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date calendar systems specific to deadlines, including litigation, FINRA and other arbitration hearings, in collaboration with legal assistants, secretaries, and docketing personnel.
Oversee the creation, indexing, and ongoing maintenance of complex case files and document collections for litigation and arbitrations before FINRA, JAMS and AAA, including the use of modern document management systems and platforms.
Assist with the preparation, review, and proofreading of legal documents, including litigation and arbitration filings and other documents such as regulatory filings, and reports for accuracy, compliance, and adherence to jurisdictional standards. This includes proofreading legal memoranda for typographical and grammatical accuracy and verifying citations to legal authorities and evidence in compliance with The Bluebook and/or other court-specific requirements.
Coordinate and manage court filings, regulatory filings and submissions, and compliance reporting, including electronic submissions, ensuring compliance with jurisdictional processes and requirements and/or specific jurisdiction-specific systems.
Research & Discovery Conduct advanced fact research and analysis using online databases, public agencies, courts, and other sources; specifically including research associated with financial services matters, such as regulatory investigations, enforcement actions, audits, industry-specific litigation, and agency rulings (e.g., FINRA decisions, SEC notices, etc.). Prepare detailed memoranda summarizing results.
Manage specialized document collections, including discovery, witness files, and other subject/issue files and documents.
Draft initial versions of discovery requests (interrogatories, requests for production, requests for admission), responses, pleadings, and other documents tailored to financial services industry disputes, transactional diligence, or regulatory inquiries.
Collaborate with Practice Support and eDiscovery Project Managers, and outside service provider support teams to ensure accurate collection and handling of electronically stored information (ESI).
Coordinate with internal resources and outside service providers (as needed) for document productions and review; perform quality control assessments of service provider work.
Execute database searches to retrieve relevant documents for utilization in litigation, arbitration and regulatory compliance matters, including deposition exhibit preparation and other evidentiary needs.
Draft privilege logs and perform initial document reviews to identify responsiveness, relevance, and privilege and address issues of attorney-client privilege and regulatory concerns involving enforcement agencies.
Summarize deposition transcripts and manage/track depositions.
Preparation and Assistance at Trial or Other Proceedings Assist with all-phases of mediation, arbitration, regulatory board hearings (e.g., FINRA, SEC enforcement proceedings, etc.), or trial proceedings, including preparation of exhibit and witness lists, deposition designations, witness preparation, and trial briefs.
Coordinate logistics with regulatory board personnel, hearing and/or court personnel, opposing counsel, experts, and necessary trial support vendors, ensuring compliance with agency protocols (e.g., FINRA arbitration rules, SEC investigative hearings, etc.).
Familiarity with hearing board and/or courtroom technology and presentation tools, helping to ensure seamless integration with courtroom personnel and other counsel.
Provide on-site trial or hearing support for financial services disputes, agency actions, or other litigation or arbitration matters, including managing trial exhibits, coordinating witnesses, assisting with direct and cross-examination materials and other pertinent trial presentation materials, and summarizing trial testimony.
Supervise document clerks, or other firm personnel, during trial/hearing preparation and proceedings.
Administrative Tasks Record billable time and tasks in compliance with firm policies and client billing protocols; ensure timely submission of time entries.
Submit accurate records of hours worked in accordance with firm deadlines.
Maintain consistent attendance and punctuality, adhering to schedules for breaks, lunches, and meetings.
Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.