Paralegal Manager

Freeman Mathis & Gary • Roseville, CA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP is seeking an experienced Paralegal Manager for its Sacramento office. The Paralegal Manager oversees an assigned group of Paralegals, including onboarding, training, and supervision, and serves as the first point of contact for questions about the paralegal role. The position advises and guides the team on substantive work, coordinates assignments and workflow, supports firm initiatives, and maintains daily contact with attorneys and support staff. It reports to the Director of Legal Operations.

The role combines team management with hands-on litigation support. The manager assists attorneys with case organization, document management, discovery, witness interviews, trial preparation, legal research, and other litigation tasks. The position requires substantive familiarity with the litigation process and the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. It also requires maintaining positive, professional relationships and meeting a 600-hour annual billable-hours requirement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Certificate in Paralegal studies.
• 5–7 years of litigation experience, including some defense experience.
• Civil litigation experience.
• Substantive familiarity with litigation processes, including case management, discovery, databases, privilege logs, court filings, e-filing, and cite checking.
• Familiarity with conducting legal and factual research using web-based legal research services.
• Proficiency in an electronic file setting and comfort working in a paperless system.
• Experience with iManage.
• Ability to pass a background check and drug screen.
• Experience billing time in compliance with client guidelines and meeting a monthly billing target.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Westlaw, and Kofax PDF editor.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to organize and prioritize numerous tasks and complete them under time constraints.
• Familiarity with workflow, roles, and responsibilities of professionals on legal teams.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work with people at every level of the organization.
• Professionalism, even temperament, and problem-solving ability.
• Ability to manage changing priorities and pressure situations.
• Willingness to improve and develop professionally.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a leadership or management role.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and assign paralegal support to specific matters, determine scheduling and support requirements, and ensure deadlines are met.
• Manage direct reports’ timekeeping by reviewing and approving weekly timecards and PTO requests and monitoring and managing overtime requests.
• Conduct performance reviews.
• Coordinate training on paralegal skills and support applications, including seminars and educational gatherings, and ensure MCLE requirements are met.
• Understand and perform basic employee relations duties.
• Recruit, interview, and hire Paralegals, including reviewing and vetting resumes, coordinating interviews, and obtaining final hiring approval.
• Work with firmwide Directors and Managers to implement and improve Paralegal policies and procedures.
• Monitor costs and expenses to assist with budget preparation.
• Analyze and report on paralegals’ time to assess workload, productivity, and ability to meet Firm needs.
• Provide paralegal support to attorneys with case organization, document management, witness interviews, discovery, administrative tasks, and trials.
• Assist attorneys with preparation of civil cases for trial.
• Obtain, review, analyze, and summarize legal and evidentiary documents related to cases.
• Manage discovery and records management.
• Schedule depositions and meetings with clients, witnesses, experts, opposing counsel, court reporters, and others.
• Identify, locate, interview, and evaluate potential experts and send expert packages to parties for review.
• Track document requests and follow up on receipt progress.
• Summarize case records, create chronologies, and summarize discovery responses.
• Organize and prioritize tasks, completing them within time constraints with minimal supervision and attention to detail.
• Conduct legal research efficiently to inform attorney decisions.
• Organize and maintain case files in coordination with Legal Assistants and other staff.
• Review files regularly and proactively work to move cases forward.
• Ensure work complies with applicable client guidelines.
• Maintain accurate time records and meet a 600 annual billable-hours requirement.
• Maintain positive relationships with firm attorneys, co-counsel, clients, and vendors.
• Assist with special projects and additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision.
• HSA and FSA plans available for employees and dependents.
• Work-life balance.
• Generous PTO policy.
• 401K plan with a 3% Employer Safe Harbor contribution.
• Firm-paid life insurance and long-term disability.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Year-end bonuses and referral fee programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager