Paralegal Manager – West Coast Litigation

Job Summary

Gibson Dunn is a leading global law firm, advising clients on significant transactions and disputes. Our exceptional teams craft and deploy creative legal strategies that are meticulously tailored to every matter, however complex or high-stakes. The firm’s work is distinguished by a unique combination of precision and vision.

Based in Los Angeles (preferred), Orange Country, Century City, Palo Alto, or San Francisco, the Paralegal Manager – West Coast Litigation will be responsible for leading and overseeing the litigation paralegal teams across the Firm’s California and Texas offices. This role is responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of regional litigation paralegal resources, ensuring high-quality, efficient, and cost-effective support to attorneys and partners.

This role reports to the Associate Director of Paralegal Services and closely collaborates with the Paralegal Manager – East Coast Litigation, office leadership, Practice Group leaders, Directors of Administration, and firm management to ensure staffing, performance, and development efforts are aligned with the Firm’s business needs and national standards.

Responsibilities include:

Regional Leadership & Strategy

• Leading and managing litigation paralegals across the California and Texas offices, fostering a high-performance, collaborative, and professionally integrated culture.
• Developing and executing a regional strategic roadmap for litigation paralegal services, including service delivery models, staffing structures, technology adoption, and long-term capability building.
• Championing a nationally integrated approach to litigation support, promoting consistency, transparency, and alignment across offices.
• Serving as a strategic advisor to partners and office leadership on paralegal staffing models, utilization, and operational effectiveness.

• Overseeing the allocation of litigation case and project assignments to ensure balanced workloads and optimal utilization.
• Monitoring billable and non-billable hours, productivity metrics, and overtime to support firm economics and sustainable performance.
• Analyzing utilization trends and providing data-driven recommendations regarding staffing, leverage, and workflow improvements.
• Forecasting staffing needs based on litigation pipelines and trial activity.
• Partnering with office leadership on new staffing requests and budget considerations.

• Partnering with recruitment on hiring, onboarding, and integration of full-time and temporary litigation paralegals.
• Conducting mid-year and year-end performance evaluations in collaboration with HR and leadership.
• Providing structured coaching, mentorship, and career development planning to support retention and professional growth.
• Overseeing the training and mentorship of junior paralegals and project assistants, and partnering with the Paralegal Management team to develop and evolve a formalized learning track that integrates litigation competencies, technology proficiency, and AI-driven innovation.
• Promoting professional standards and executive-level communication across the regional team.

• Leading modernization initiatives related to workflow optimization, litigation support processes, and evolving service delivery models.
• Driving adoption of technology platforms and AI-enabled tools that enhance efficiency, quality, and scalability.
• Partnering with Legal Operations and IT to identify and implement process improvements across the litigation support function.

• Ensuring consistent, high-quality work product across all California and Texas offices.
• Supporting major trials and complex matters as needed to ensure appropriate resourcing and execution.
• Representing the regional litigation paralegal function in leadership and cross-functional discussions.
• Modeling professional, solutions-oriented communication with attorneys, practice managers, and firm leadership.

• Tracking, reviewing, and approving time and attendance.
• Ensuring compliance with firm policies and applicable California and Texas employment standards.
• Conducting regular team meetings and maintaining clear communication across offices.
• Performing other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership experience managing teams in a multi-office law firm environment.
• Strong understanding of litigation workflows, trial preparation, and paralegal utilization models.
• Experience implementing process improvements, technology adoption initiatives, or operational modernization efforts.
• Ability to engage confidently and professionally with partners and senior leadership.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen, including understanding of billable hour economics and utilization metrics.
• Executive presence, sound judgment, and the ability to lead with composure in a fast-paced environment.

Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• Minimum of 8+ years of litigation paralegal experience in a major law firm.
• Minimum of 3+ years of management or supervisory experience strongly preferred.
• Trial experience strongly preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and document management systems required.
• Experience with litigation databases (e.g., Relativity), PACER, Westlaw, and AI-enabled legal tools preferred.

​Gibson Dunn will consider for employment qualified Applicants with Criminal Histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of local law.

Compensation & Benefits:

The annual compensation range for this position is $225-245k. The salary offered within this range will depend upon qualifications and other operational considerations.

Benefits offered for this position include health care; retirement benefits; paid days off, including sick time, and vacation time; parental leave; basic life insurance; Flexible Spending Accounts; as well as discretionary, performance-based bonuses.

Locations:

Los Angeles, Orange County, Century City, Palo Alto, San Francisco

EEO Statement

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity for all partners, employees and applicants and, in accordance with the applicable federal and state laws, does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, color, religion, matriculation or political affiliation, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, ancestry, age, marital status or partnership status, family responsibilities, disability, medical condition, personal appearance, genetic information, predisposing genetic characteristics, sexual orientation, military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking and sex offenses, arrest or conviction record, or on any other basis prohibited by law.