Litigation Services Manager

Wilson Sonsini is the premier legal advisor to technology, life sciences, and other growth enterprises worldwide. We represent companies at every stage of development, from entrepreneurial start-ups to multibillion-dollar global corporations, as well as the venture firms, private equity firms, and investment banks that finance and advise them. The firm has approximately 1,100 attorneys in 17 offices: 13 in the U.S., two in China, and two in Europe. Our broad spectrum of practices and entrepreneurial spirit allow exceptional opportunities for professional achievement and career growth.

The firm is seeking a Litigation Services Manager to oversee our litigation department’s operations related to the firmwide, national docketing function, calendaring, and e-discovery resources. Specifically, the Manager will actively supervise and coordinate these departments, maintaining a strong understanding of their functions to promote efficient and effective operations. The Manager will manage a core team of docketing professionals who handle docketing work directly and support the docketing activities of distributed litigation teams. This role will also lead the continuing rollout and adoption of centralized docketing processes firmwide, including reviewing and advising on software recommendations.  Additionally, the Manager will oversee the e-discovery resources within the firm, with a focus on further development.

This position is available as a hybrid work schedule.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Knowledge management

  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure as well as state and local rules of the courts for the firm’s most frequent practice. Research and locate current rules pertaining to other jurisdictions on an as needed basis.

  • Supervise maintenance of knowledge base of e-filing requirements and procedures for all courts where attorneys request e-filing assistance.

  • Participate in professional organizations related to relevant rule changes.

• Supervise a core docketing and e-discovery team staff

  • Directly supervise and manage legal support staff in the docketing and e-discovery functions.

  • Responsibilities include interviewing; training; monitoring and approving overtime; directing work; budgeting; employee evaluations; resolving problems; and making recommendations for hiring, promotion, compensation, and bonus.

• Maintain docketing service levels

  • Ensure consistent and timely execution of docketing procedures and that docket system reminders are set and reported.

  • Perform on-going review of the automated software rule sets to ensure they reflect accurate date calculations so filing deadlines and critical dates are not missed.

• Maintain quality control procedures

  • Recommend changes to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the docketing function.

  • Ensure the proper maintenance and integrity of the docketing database.

  • Monitor information entered in the firm’s docketing systems for accuracy.

  • Participate in the testing of docketing system and e-discovery improvements, enhancements, new applications, and selection of future calendaring technologies.

• Maintain and further develop e-discovery resources

  • Assess existing resources and recommend changes to improve efficiency and utility of e-discovery resources.

• Advising litigation teams

  • Assist and advise attorneys and staff with litigation support services procedural issues and questions.

• Budget and billings

  • Approve client chargebacks for case filings, photocopies, or other court related fees, including sign-off and coding of invoices and reimbursement requests.

• Business acumen

  • Maintain a direct line of communication with the litigation department leader on all substantive issues.

  • Attend departmental meetings to obtain a full-range knowledge of the operation of the firm.

Qualifications and Skills:

• JD, Master's, Bachelor’s degree and/or paralegal certificate preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• 5+ years of relevant experience in litigation support.

• Managerial experience in the docket or e-discovery department of a large law firm is a plus.

• Strong knowledge of federal, state and local court rules.

• Expertise in Case Management/Electronic Case Filing (CM/ECF) procedures and docketing/calendaring procedures.

• Proficiency in docket databases (i.e. ALN/eDockets, CompuLaw, CPI), MS Office suite, and PACER.

• Strong communication skills and ability to interpret and analyze complex source data and prepare well-executed correspondence, training materials, and documentation.

The primary location for this job posting is in Palo Alto, but other locations may be listed. The actual base pay offered will depend upon a variety of factors, including but not limited to the selected candidate’s qualifications, years of relevant experience, level of education, professional certifications and licenses, and work location. The anticipated pay range for this position is as follows:

Palo Alto, San Francisco: $131,750 - $178,250 per year. Century City, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle: $119,000 - $161,000 per year.

The compensation for this position may include a discretionary year-end merit bonus based on performance. We offer a highly competitive salary and benefits package.

Benefits information can be found here. Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).