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Litigation Paralegal

Interdependence

Calabasas, CA, USonsiteOther

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About this role

30-Day Trial Engagement (Confidential Search)

Calabasas, CA (Hybrid) • Contract • $65–$95/hr

THE ROLE

This is a confidential search conducted by Interdependence on behalf of a longstanding strategic legal partner — a Calabasas-based plaintiff’s trial boutique — for a 30-day freelance litigation paralegal engagement in support of a California Superior Court jury trial set for June 2026. The engaging law firm will be disclosed to qualified candidates following execution of a standard mutual non-disclosure agreement and completion of a conflict check.

This is a sprint-style engagement with daily deliverables, close attorney supervision, a clear end date, and above-market compensation paid weekly. The right candidate is a seasoned California civil litigation paralegal between trials who can plug into a trial team and contribute substantively from day one.

ENGAGEMENT TERMS

• Duration: Approximately 30 days, beginning immediately, through approximately one week post-verdict (estimated mid-June 2026).

• Hours: 30–50 hours per week. Trial weeks heavier. Weekend and evening availability required during trial.

• Location: Hybrid. Most work remote.

• Rate: $65–$95 per hour, commensurate with experience and certifications. Paid weekly via 1099 directly by the engaging law firm.

• Engaging entity: The engaging law firm is the contracting party for this role. Interdependence’s role is limited to candidate sourcing and initial screening; the working relationship, supervision, and payment will run through the law firm.

• Supervision: Direct supervision by lead trial counsel and senior associate counsel, under California Business & Professions Code § 6452.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Trial exhibit preparation, exhibit-list management, and exhibit binders (paper and electronic).

• Deposition transcript review, designation/counter-designation tracking, and pinpoint citation cross-referencing.

• Motion in liminelogistics: tracking deadlines, formatting, e-filing through LASC One Legal or File & ServeXpress, assembling judge’s courtesy copies.

• Witness file maintenance — fact witnesses,retained experts, treating physicians.

• Subpoena issuance, service tracking, and witness coordination for trial appearances.

• Trial notebook assembly and ongoing maintenance through verdict.

• Cite-checking and California Style Manual compliance on motions, oppositions, and trial briefs.

• Document review support — productions are substantiallycomplete but supplementation is anticipated.

• Coordination with retained court reporters, videographers, and trial-servicesvendors.

• In-trial dailylogistics: courtroom setup, exhibit retrieval, witness check-in, end-of-day debriefs with counsel.

QuALIFICATIONS

• Compliance with California Business & Professions Code § 6450: ABA-approved paralegal program, paralegal certificate from an accredited institution, baccalaureate degree with one year of qualifying experience, or high school diploma with three years of qualifying experience under attorney supervision.

• Minimum five (5) years of California civil litigation paralegal experience.

• Demonstrated jury-trial preparation experience — at least three matters thatproceeded to or through trial in California Superior Court.

• Fluency in the Los Angeles Superior Court e-filing ecosystem (One Legal, File &ServeXpress, or Case Anywhere).

• Hands-on competence with California Code of Civil Procedure deadlines, the California Rules of Court, and Los Angeles Superior Court local rules.

• Working knowledge of CCP §§ 998, 2024.030, the 2034 series, and the CACI jury instruction structure.

• Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat Pro (Bates stamping, redaction, OCR), and at least one document review or trial-presentation platform (TrialDirector,OnCue, or equivalent).

• Discretion, professionalism, and the ability to keepconfidences. Non-negotiable.

PREFERRED

• Prior trial-team experience ona premises liability, TBI, or catastrophic personal injury matter.

• Familiarity with Beverly Hills Courthouse procedures and Department 205.

• Experience withmedical-records review and expert-file management (life care planning, neuropsychology, vocational economics, biomechanics).

• California Notary Publiccommission.

• Experience supporting both a lead trial lawyer and second-chair attorney in a coordinated trial team.

WHAT YOU'LL GET

• Direct access to senior trial counsel — no middle layer.

• Meaningful, substantive trial-team work on a significant matter — not document-review-by-the-yard.

• Above-market compensation paid weekly, not on net-30 terms.

• A clean engagement letter with a clear end date and a kill-fee clause that protects both sides.

• A professional reference for future engagements, contingent on performance.

PLEASE DO NOT APPLY IF...

• You cannot commit to the full 30-day engagement through verdict, including weekends and evenings during trial.

• Your last California civil trial was more than four years ago.

• You are currently engaged on another trial set during May or June 2026.

• You cannot be physically present in Calabasas and at the Beverly Hills Courthouse on short notice.

• You are not authorized to perform paralegal work in California under B&P § 6450.

APPLICATION MATERIALS

Submit through the Greenhouse application portal:

• Current resume.

• A short cover noteidentifying (a) three California civil trials you supported through verdict in the last five years (venue, trial date, your role); (b) your earliest available start date; and (c) your hourly rate.

• Two professional references — names, titles, direct phone numbers — from California trial lawyers who have supervised your trial-preparation work in the last36 months.

• Confirmation that you can pass a written conflict check with respect to a discrete list of California law firms, parties, and counsel (to be provided afterinitial screening).

Application window: Open until filled. We expect to make a decision within 7 days of posting. E

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