Legal Support Specialist - Appellate

Greenberg Traurig (GT), a global law firm with locations across the world in 15 countries, has an exciting employment opportunity for you. We offer competitive compensation and an excellent benefits package, along with the opportunity to work within an innovative and collaborative environment.

Join our Appellate Team as a Legal Support Specialist located in our Austin office.  

We are seeking a highly skilled professional who thrives in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. The ideal candidate possesses strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities, ensuring efficiency and accuracy in every task. With a dedicated work ethic and a can-do attitude, you will take initiative and approach challenges with confidence and resilience. Excellent communication skills are essential for collaborating effectively across teams and delivering exceptional client service. If you are someone who demonstrates initiative, 

adaptability, and innovation, we invite you to join our team.  

This role will be based in our Austin office, on an onsite basis with an option to work remotely one day a week.

Position Summary

This position provides high-level secretarial and administrative support to four or more attorneys, with a primary focus on appellate practice. Assists attorneys in preparing appellate and complex litigation matters from onset through post-trial, including preparation and formatting of briefs in compliance with court rules, organizing case files, and managing deadlines. Provides comprehensive document production support, including advanced editing of legal documents, correspondence, and filings. Candidate must be flexible to work overtime as needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Handles scheduling and travel arrangements. Schedules court appearances, depositions, arbitrations, mediations, client meetings and conference calls; arranges business itineraries and coordinates lawyers’ travel arrangements; processes travel reimbursement, maintains calendar and due dates for lawyers as required.

• Organizes and coordinates flow of information. Sorts, reads and annotates incoming mail and documents as required - attaches appropriate file to facilitate necessary action; determines routing, signatures required, and maintains follow-ups. Answers phones and directs callers to appropriate persons as circumstances warrant.

• Types and composes general correspondence, memos, legal documents, faxes, reports, etc. from various sources (e.g., handwritten notes, tape dictation). Prepares communications outlined by lawyer in oral or written directions. Responsible for accuracy and clarity of final copy. Correlates and edits materials submitted by others. Organizes material that may be presented to lawyers in draft format. Ensures that all correspondence or other documentation is dispatched in a timely manner (via mail, messenger, express delivery services, etc.)

• Prepares draft documents such as briefs, complaints, motions, subpoenas, summonses, using firm templates and information from attorneys. Prepares motion binders and special working binders as necessary.

• Prepares and formats appellate briefs, appendices, and tables of contents and authorities in compliance with federal and state court rules. Formats complex legal documents, including appellate filings, ensuring strict compliance with court-specific rules and judge preferences.

• Coordinates and submits e-filings, including appellate filings, in Federal, Circuit, and State courts.

• Establishes and maintains filing and records, in both hard copy and electronic formats as required. Files information in a timely manner. Retrieves information from files as requested. 

• Enters lawyers’ time on a daily basis and sends to accounting by month-end deadlines. Prepares client billing as required.

• Researches and abstracts information and support data in preparation for meetings, work projects, and reports.

• Takes action authorized by Lawyer, Business Director or HR Manager using initiative and good judgment in handling matters.

• Notifies appropriate parties the status of assigned lawyers; notifies HR Manager about availability to assist with overflow work.

• Assists attorneys in in all stages of litigation cases from onset through post trial.

• Ascertains calendaring requirements for each matter and ensures proper maintenance of any required case calendars.

• Oversees organization, maintenance and appropriate utilization of documents and other case-related materials, including maintenance of client-presentable and efficient work areas and case rooms.

Qualifications

Skills & Competencies

• Established understanding of litigation laws as they relate to individuals, partnerships and corporations. 

• Familiarity with Federal Rules of Civil Procedure rules for court document filings.

• Comprehension of a variety of legal court documents, including complaints, answers, rulings, judgments, affidavits, motions, appeals, table of contents/authorities, subpoenas, court dockets, reports, memos and correspondence.

• Strong ability to maintain high standards, use good judgment and seek out ways to contribute and anticipate needs.

• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills and ability to manage time effectively.

• Excellent interpersonal skills, communication skills and the ability to collaborate well in a team.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to walk from work station, to desk or to go to various offices to retrieve assignments.  This position may also be sedentary and require the employee to sit for extended periods of time.

• Requires manual dexterity to dial a telephone, enter data into a computer, handle objects and operate tools.

• Some filing is required and this would entail the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets and bend or stand as necessary.

• Position also requires the ability to work under pressure to meet strict deadlines.

Education & Prior Experience 

• Requires 5 or more years of experience as a legal secretary, working in a business law practice with exposure to litigation and appellate practices.

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience preferred.

Technology

• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite applications including PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook, as well as document management and other office technologies.  Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, including styles, formatting, document comparison, and creation of tables of contents and authorities for appellate filings. Expertise in e-filing

GT is an EEO employer with an inclusive workplace committed to merit-based consideration and review without regard to an individual’s race, sex, or other protected characteristics and to the principles of non-discrimination on any protected basis.