Legal Assistant

Financial Mismanagement and ERISA Litigation Legal Assistant – San Diego, CA

Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight is a civil rights law firm with about 60 attorneys and over 40 staff, and with offices in the District of Columbia, New York, California, and Tennessee. Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight is strongly committed to EEO principles and values a diverse workplace. The team is a tightly knit community of lawyers and legal assistants; all committed to using the law to help craft and enforce a more just society.

We specialize in civil rights and public interest cases, representing plaintiffs in whistleblower and qui tam matters, gender discrimination, labor and wage violations, ERISA litigation, financial and securities fraud, consumer fraud, and many other claims.

Our ERISA practice centers around protecting the retirement savings of American workers from mismanagement and waste and seeing their golden years turn into hardship. We have represented over a million participants in cases against some of the largest companies in America, including UnitedHealth Group, General Electric, Transamerica and Walgreen. We are currently litigating other ERISA cases against major companies throughout the United States. Through our efforts we hope to bring about positive change in the way retirement plans are managed.

Job Description:

Provides administrative and substantive support to attorneys in ERISA and financial mismanagement litigation matters and assists with a variety of firm matters in a hands-on manner. Works closely with attorneys and other Legal Assistants in all aspects of pre-litigation investigations and active litigation, including cases involving fiduciary breaches, excessive fees, imprudent investment practices, and other violations of federal benefits and securities laws.

Responsibilities include conducting factual and financial investigations; reviewing plan documents, financial disclosures, and investment data; drafting and revising key case-related documents, including memoranda, complaints, motions, affidavits, briefs, and correspondence; performing potential client intake interviews; managing highly confidential case files; and preparing for and attending depositions, mediations, client and expert meetings, and court proceedings.

Essential Functions:

• Investigate and analyze financial mismanagement and ERISA-related claims, including reviewing plan documents, financial records, and public filings; conduct legal research using tools such as Westlaw
• Summarize financial and factual findings for attorneys, including analysis of fiduciary breaches, excessive fees, and investment performance
• Draft and assist with case-related documents, including memoranda, complaints, motions, affidavits, briefs, and demand letters
• Organize and maintain case files, including financial data, expert materials, pleadings, and correspondence
• Manage case logistics, including coordinating with experts (e.g., financial analysts), vendors, and maintaining calendars, deadlines, and expenses
• Prepare for and attend depositions, hearings, mediations, and client/expert meetings
• Review large volumes of documents to identify relevant evidence supporting claims
• Interview potential clients, summarize information, and assist in evaluating potential claims
• File legal documents in accordance with court rules and procedures
• Track billable time and assist with training new Legal Assistants as needed
• Provide administrative and operational support to attorneys and Managing Partner(s), and perform other related duties as assigned

Qualifications:

To be eligible, an applicant must have a bachelor’s degree, be willing to make a two-year commitment, and be available to begin work immediately.

Applicants should also have:

• Extremely strong organizational skills, including the ability to balance multiple pressing tasks;
• Excellent writing, proofreading, and editing skills;
• Research and analytical capabilities, including meticulous attention to detail;
• Initiative and energy to see projects to completion;
• An ability to work effectively in a team environment and to take direction from a range of individuals;
• Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills;
• A proactive, inquisitive, and creative approach to problem solving;
• Strong interest in whistleblower advocacy, government investigations, securities or financial fraud, regulatory enforcement, or public interest litigation; and,
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office (expertise in Excel and Word are a plus), Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Sign, and Westlaw (experience in iCONECT/Xera or another e-discovery platform is a plus).

We are committed to EEO principles and value a diverse workplace. We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+, all genders, all ages, differently abled, and other minority applicants to apply.

Hours:

Legal Assistants work 40+ hours per week (i.e., Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to ~6:30 p.m. (local time) in New York and the District of Columbia, and 8:30 a.m. to ~5:30 p.m. (local time) in Tennessee and California).

Salary:

The first-year salary for this position is $63,000, and the second-year salary is $66,500. Legal Assistants are eligible for overtime.

Application Procedure:

Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight is currently in a hybrid environment with regular in-person attendance required 4 days per week. Applications must include a cover letter, a résumé, an unofficial college transcript, two writing samples of no more than 5 pages each, and a list of three references. These documents should be sent in Word or PDF format to Alec Konstantin, Chief Operating Officer, at careers@sanfordheisler.com.

Please include “Prospective Financial Mismanagement and ERISA Litigation Legal Assistant: [Your Name]” in the email’s subject line. Additionally, please specify in your email the earliest date you are available to start working in the firm’s San Diego office.

Reasonable Accommodations:

Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight welcomes applications from individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodations during any part of the hiring process, please send your request to us by email at careers@sanfordheisler.com or by mail to the following address:

ATTN: Kiara Pagan

Human Resources Generalist

Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight's

17 State Street, 37th Floor

New York, NY 10004