Job Description

About Our Client

Our client is a nationally recognized criminal and civil trial boutique based in New York City. The firm was founded and is led by a premier trial lawyer who has taught trial advocacy at a top-tier law school and has earned recognition from leading legal directories and national media. The firm's attorneys are graduates of top-ten law schools. Together they bring more than 70 years of experience and more than 50 jury trials in some of the country's most complex and high-profile cases.

The firm's largest practice area is criminal defense, including white-collar defense. It also handles complex civil litigation and appeals. The firm has active cases in the Southern District of New York, in New York state courts, and in California courts.

This is a small, process-driven team. The firm does the hard work up front so that cases stay under control at the back end. Everyone shares an "all hands-on deck" attitude, and the goal is always the best result for the client.

Our client is hiring a Senior Litigation Paralegal for its Manhattan office. This is a senior, on-site role. You will provide direct support to the firm's four full-time attorneys, and you will lead and mentor one junior paralegal. In short, you will run and raise the level of the firm's paralegal function.

This is real trial work, not just document review. The firm is preparing for a major federal trial expected in the first half of 2027, with motion practice already underway. You will help prepare and run that trial from start to finish: pre-trial, trial, and post-trial.

You will not be asked to draft legal arguments. You will be asked to produce clean, precise, error-free documents, to catch mistakes across complex filings, and to keep every deliverable organized and on time.

What you will do

Case management

• Help the attorneys manage and organize cases from start to finish.
• Maintain and update case files, including pleadings, discovery documents, correspondence, expert reports, and exhibits.
• Build and track case timelines, calendars, and deadlines so that nothing is missed.
• Coordinate with clients, witnesses, experts, vendors, opposing counsel, and co-counsel.

Documents and court filings

• Prepare, proofread, and edit legal documents, including pleadings, motions, briefs, affidavits, and sentencing memos.
• Bluebook and cite-check briefs, and prepare tables of contents and tables of authorities.
• File documents in state and federal court and follow all court rules and e-filing steps.
• Organize and maintain electronic document databases, and keep all files confidential and easy to find.

Discovery and investigation

• Help prepare and respond to discovery requests, including document productions and interrogatories.
• Manage document review, often across large volumes of data.
• Draft memos, correspondence, charts, and research summaries.

Legal research

• Run legal research using Westlaw, LexisNexis, and PACER.

Trial support

• Prepare trial exhibits, witness lists, and other trial materials.
• Provide on-site support during trials, hearings, and depositions.
• Manage exhibits, coordinate witnesses, and run courtroom technology.

Supervision and quality control

• Mentor and train the junior paralegal.
• Keep quality and consistency high across all of the team's work.

Time recording

• Enter your time each day into the firm's practice management software.

Why this role

• You will work side by side with nationally recognized trial lawyers on serious, high-profile cases.
• You will do hands-on trial work, not just back-office support.
• You will hold a senior seat, lead the paralegal function, and grow into more case and people management as the firm takes on more work.
• You will be part of a true team. On every filing date, the responsible attorney is in the office and stays until the filing is complete.
• Because the role is non-exempt, your overtime during heavy trial periods is paid, and the firm also offers a year-end bonus.

Work Environment

• On-site at the firm's Manhattan office. There is no remote or hybrid option.
• Core hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• During trial preparation and trial, expect significant overtime and some weekend work. This is not a nine-to-five job, and you should be ready for that.
• Day-to-day travel is minimal. During trials, you may need to travel to and from courthouses, sometimes on short notice.

Requirements

Essential

• Paralegal experience at a large law firm.
• Hands-on litigation and trial experience, including trial preparation and trial execution. This includes support for motion practice, sentencing memos, exhibit management, witness coordination, and e-filing.
• Experience with New York state court and federal court filings and procedures, including the Southern District of New York (SDNY).
• Strong Bluebook and cite-checking skills, and experience preparing tables of contents and tables of authorities.
• Excellent proofreading, attention to detail, and written communication. You can produce clean, error-free legal documents and catch mistakes across complex filings.
• A strong sense of ownership. You work accurately and do not need constant supervision.
• The ability to supervise and mentor a junior paralegal and keep quality high across all deliverables.
• Comfort supporting the defense of clients who face serious criminal charges, including matters that involve sexual assault and sex trafficking.
• The ability to work well under pressure and meet tight deadlines, including extended hours during trial preparation and trial.
• Proficiency with Westlaw, LexisNexis, Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, and legal practice management software.
• A bachelor's degree.
• Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.
• Availability to work on-site in Manhattan, with overtime, occasional weekends, and short-notice travel to courthouses when needed.

Preferred

• 5 to 7 years of professional paralegal experience.
• A bachelor's degree from a competitive university, and/or a paralegal certificate from an ABA-approved program.
• Experience in criminal defense or white-collar criminal defense.
• Familiarity with California court formatting and filing.
• Experience with eDiscovery and litigation tools such as Relativity, CaseMap/TimeMap, West Case Notebook, and PACER.
• A healthy sense of humor.

Benefits

• Base salary: $90,000 to $120,000 per year, based on experience.
• This is a non-exempt role, so overtime is paid.
• Year-end performance bonus.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 10 days of paid time off (PTO).
• 5 paid sick days.
• A 401(k) plan is being put in place and is expected to be available by the end of 2026.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers. For all positions, whether with Keller Executive Search or our clients, qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, skin color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.

Commitment to Diversity: Keller Executive Search and its clients are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where all individuals are valued and respected.

Reasonable Accommodations: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities and pregnant individuals. We engage in an interactive process to determine effective, reasonable accommodations.

Compensation Information: For client positions, compensation information is available in the job post. If not provided, it will be shared during the interview process in accordance with applicable laws. When required by law, salary ranges will be included in job postings. Actual salary may depend on skills, experience, and comparison to current employees in similar roles. Salary ranges may vary based on role and location.

Compliance with Laws: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients comply with federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all employment terms and conditions, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Workplace Harassment: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients expressly prohibit any form of workplace harassment based on race, skin color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.

E-Verify Participation: Keller Executive Search and/or our clients may participate in E-Verify. Information about E-Verify participation will be provided during the application process where applicable.

Privacy and Pay Equity:

• California Residents: For more information about the categories of personal information we collect for recruiting and employment purposes, please review our Privacy Policy.
• Colorado, Nevada, New York City, California, and Washington Residents: Compensation information is available in the job post or will be provided during the interview process if not initially available.
• Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are committed to pay equity and conduct periodic pay equity analyses in accordance with applicable laws.

State-Specific Information:

• Rhode Island: We do not request or require salary history from applicants.
• Connecticut: We provide wage range information upon request or before discussing compensation.
• New Jersey: We do not inquire about salary history unless voluntarily disclosed.

Veteran Status: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients provide equal employment opportunities to veterans and comply with applicable state laws regarding veteran preference in employment. If you are a veteran, please inform us during the application process.

Genetic Information: In accordance with federal and state laws, both Keller Executive Search and our clients do not discriminate based on genetic information. We do not request or require genetic information from applicants or employees, except as permitted by law.

Local Laws: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients comply with all applicable local laws and ordinances regarding employment practices in the areas where we operate.

Keller Executive Search and our clients may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the recruitment and candidate evaluation process. These tools are used exclusively to support human decision-making by helping to review and assess candidate qualifications and materials. AI is never used to automatically reject, disqualify, or make final hiring decisions about candidates. All AI-assisted evaluations are reviewed by experienced recruitment professionals, and all hiring decisions are made by qualified human recruiters. Our use of AI is designed to enhance fairness, consistency, and efficiency while maintaining our commitment to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination principles.

Note: This job posting may be for a position with Keller Executive Search or one of our clients. The specific employer will be identified during the application and interview process. Employment laws and requirements may vary depending on the employer and location.

Keller is a recruitment agency that provides services to clients ranging from startups and non profits to multinational corporations. Keller emphasizes ethical search processes, attentive candidate care, and leadership placements that support long-term client outcomes.

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