Legal Secretary I

Join an amazing team that is consistently recognized for our achievements and culture, including our most recent Forbes award for being one of America's Best Midsize Employers for 2024!

Bretoi, Lutz & Stele, House Counsel for Mercury Insurance is currently seeking a Legal Secretary I to join our team in San Diego, CA.

Position Summary:

Entry level position that provides secretarial and administrative support to professional legal staff. Demostrates thorough degree of legal knowledge, compentence and secretarial skills. Prepares and files legal documents, motions, pleadings and coorespondence of a legal nature as directed. Maintains attorneys calendar, sets court dates and appearances, and schedules meetings with witnesses and other involved parties. Maintains department records. May be required to support up to as many as three litigation attorneys.

Essential Job Functions:

• Works closely with Attorney to:
• Draft letters and legal documents;
• Prepare and assemble documents, including necessary transmittal forms and envelopes, in proper
• format;
• Complete typing and word processing assignments and documents of legal nature, including cooresopndence, pleadings, subpoenas, and related documents.
• Prepares documents for filing with Court;
• Produces quality written communication, corrects and edits documents to ensure final copy conveys propery format and is correct in detail;
• Prepares Answers, Cross-Complaints, discovery and all pleadings as directed by the handling attorney;
• Maintains transcripts, documents and evidence;
• Handle files with minimal exposure and complexity; typical soft-tissue injury claims with no risk;
• Maintains record of claims and legal documents and case activity;
• Works with attorney to assist in work flow processes;
• Coordinates legal services such as court reporting, copying and delivery agencies;
• Assures all work is prepared and timely submitted without delay.
• Has complete understanding of court deadlines, Rules of Court, requirements for processing documents and all office and court processes;
• Handles routine correspondence and inquires with attorneys, clients, adjusters, courts, etc. through written or telephone communcations skills;
• Communicates with claims, opposing counsel and clients regarding legal file;
• Carries out day to day activities in a logical and effective manner and completes work assignments promptly;
• Schedules court reporters, expert witnesses and other experts for testimony at depositions and trial;
• Classifies, sort and file correspondence, articles, records and other documents;
• Operates standard and/or automated office equipment such as word processors, typewriters, transcribing software, case management software, photocopies, etc.

Calendaring and Tasks:

• Maintains attorney calendar by accurately recording court dates and appearances as directed.
• Schedules meetings, depositions, and appointments;
• Assembles documents, reports and information as requested to prepare for meetings;
• Arranges necessary meeting spaces, secures conference rooms as needed;
• Informs participants of meeting dates, times and location;
• Resolves calendar conflicts by prioritizing and coordinates rescheduling dates as requested;
• Tasks all deadlines in connection with appearances;
• Tasks all deadlines in course and scope of daily job duties and upcoming assignments;
• Schedules internal conferences related to legal files;

Continuing Professional Knowledge and Education:

• Updates job knowledge by participating in Educaitonal opportunities;
• Reads and understands professional publications regarding changes in Court rules and procedures;
• Assume other responsibilities as directed.
• Regular attendance at work on a full-time schedule of at least 7.5 hours and 37.5 hours per week
• Other functions may be assigned

Education:

• These worker characteristics are normally acquired through completion of a general high school educational, vocational training in legal support.

Experience:

• At minimum 1+ years experience in insurance defense litigation or significant experience in the legal industry.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Must have advanced secretarial skills, including word processing, competence and typing and transcription from rough draft and Dictaphone machine;
• Promotes and demonstrates a cohesive work environment and provides high level of professionalism in corresponding and communicating with office staff and clientele including but not limited to, adjusters, opposing counsel, clients, and vendors.
• Requires the ability to produce quality work that is accurate, complete, and properly formatted ensuring a high degree of confidentiality is maintained;
• Work requires thorough knowledge of legal principles, terminology and procedures.
• Work requires excellent written communication skills to draft legal documents in support of and response to inquires and requests from opposting counsel, as well as to proof and edit documents for accuracy. Must possess superior ability to effectively correspond with clients, attorneys, and other involved parties.
• Work requires considerable analysis of case information in order to prepare legal documents and responses in a thorough and accurate manner, identifying the correct procedures, strategy and important issues.
• Requires knowledge and proficiency in word processing software in order to complete assignments.
• Work requires thorough knowledge of superiors’ area of responsibility and knowledge of company policies, procedures and operations.
• Work requires the ability to analyze moderately complex administrative details such as utilizing library resources to gather information, assembling and prepareing reports for legal filing.

About Mercury

Join an amazing team that is consistently recognized for our achievements and culture, including our most recent Forbes award of being one of America's Best Midsize Employers for 2023!

Why choose a career at Mercury?

At Mercury, we have been guided by our purpose to help people reduce risk and overcome unexpected events for more than 60 years. We are one team with a common goal to help other others. Everyone needs insurance and we can’t imagine a world without it.

Our team will encourage you to grow, make time to have fun, and work together to make great things happen. We embrace the strengths and values of each team member. We believe in having diverse perspectives where everyone is included, to serve customers from all walks of life.

We care about our people, and we mean it. We reward our talented professionals with a competitive salary, bonus potential, and a variety of benefits to help our team members reach their health, retirement, and professional goals.

Learn more about us here: https://www.mercuryinsurance.com/about/careers

We offer many great benefits, including:

• Competitive compensation
• Flexibility to work from anywhere in the United States for most positions
• Paid time off (vacation time, sick time, 9 paid Company holidays, volunteer hours)
• Incentive bonus programs (potential for holiday bonus, referral bonus, and performance-based bonus)
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and pet insurance
• 401 (k) retirement savings plan with company match
• Engaging work environment
• Promotional opportunities
• Education assistance
• Professional and personal development opportunities
• Company recognition program
• Health and wellbeing resources, including free mental wellbeing therapy/coaching sessions, child and eldercare resources, and more

Mercury Insurance is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.