Open Positions: Professional Staff
Non-Discrimination Policy
Hanson Bridgett LLP seeks to ensure a positive and diverse work culture where each person may work and develop professionally to the best of their ability free of unlawful discrimination or prejudice. To this end, the firm is an equal opportunity employer that prohibits unlawful discrimination or prejudice of any kind based on race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion or creed, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, veteran’s status, mental or physical disability, or pregnancy.
Walnut Creek, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Rafael, Sacramento, San Diego, Fresno, Costa Mesa
Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Rafael, Walnut Creek, Sacramento, Costa Mesa, San Diego, Fresno
San Diego
Walnut Creek, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Rafael, Sacramento, San Diego, Fresno, Costa Mesa
Risk & Compliance Counsel
Hybrid/Remote
Hanson Bridgett LLP is seeking a Risk and Compliance Counsel to support the firm’s risk management functions. Working closely with the General Counsel, this role advises firm lawyers on conflicts of interest and related professional responsibility issues, assists with ethics and risk management projects, and plays an active role in addressing matters that implicate risk to the firm. This position is well suited for a lawyer with a litigation background who enjoys practical problem solving, counseling lawyers on a wide range of ethics topics, and working across practice groups in a collaborative, sophisticated AmLaw 200 law firm.
Essential Responsibilities and Duties
Conflicts Analysis & Advice
- Advise firm lawyers on conflict of interest issues arising from new matters, existing representations, and lateral hires.
- Analyze conflicts involving current and former clients, affiliates, and related parties, applying the California Rules of Professional Conduct across relevant jurisdictions.
- Provide clear, practical guidance to help lawyers resolve conflicts efficiently while managing firm risk.
Litigation Support
- Assist the General Counsel with the firm’s response to subpoenas and document demands, including analyzing scope, coordinating document collection, and preparing responses.
- Support the investigation, evaluation and management of claims and potential claims against the firm.
- Prepare factual summaries, chronologies, and legal analyses related to disputes or claims involving the firm.
Waivers, Disclosure & Engagement Support
- Draft and review conflict waivers, joint representation letters, and related disclosures.
- Advise lawyers on the appropriateness and scope of waiver and disclosure language.
- Assist with maintaining and improving firm engagement letter and waiver templates.
- Review outside counsel guidelines and legal services agreements to ensure compliance with requirements.
Ethics & Risk Management Support
- Work closely with the General Counsel on legal ethics, professional responsibility, and law firm risk management issues.
- Assist with the implementation and monitoring of ethical screens and related compliance measures.
- Assist with annual insurance renewals.
- Stay current on developments in professional responsibility rules and ethics guidance and assist in communicating key updates to management and firm lawyers.
Collaboration & Projects
- Partner with risk management staff and other administrative departments on projects and initiatives.
- Support special projects undertaken by the General Counsel, including policy updates, training materials, and responses to client or insurer inquiries.
- Contribute to ongoing improvements in conflicts and risk management processes appropriate for an AmLaw 200 law firm.
Required Skills, Abilities, and Qualifications
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
- Active membership in good standing in California and 4-6 years of relevant experience, preferably including litigation, professional liability, or law firm risk management work.
- Strong knowledge of conflicts of interest principles and the California Rules of Professional Conduct.
- Excellent legal analysis, writing, and communication skills.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment, handle sensitive matters discreetly, and work effectively with lawyers at all levels.
- Experience with conflicts and intake systems preferred.
Hanson Bridgett offers a competitive salary and benefits package. The annual salary for this California-based role is anticipated to be in the range of $160,000 to $190,000 and represents the firm’s good faith and reasonable estimate of possible compensation at the time of posting. Actual compensation is negotiable and will depend upon several factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s years of experience, qualifications, and skill set.
Manager of Legal Support
Hybrid
The Manager, Legal Support, leads the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of the firm’s secretarial and administrative support model. This role ensures consistent, high-quality client service, strong practice alignment, and scalable operations by integrating technology and AI-enabled workflows into day-to-day service delivery. The Manager serves as the operational bridge between attorneys, administrative professionals, and cross-functional partners (IT, HR, Finance), driving adoption, standardization, capacity management, and talent development.
Essential Responsibilities and Duties
- Service Delivery & Client Experience (Operational Excellence)
- Lead the day-to-day delivery of pooled secretarial and administrative services across practices and offices (as applicable).
- Establish service standards (responsiveness, turnaround times, prioritization norms) and ensure consistent execution.
- Manage escalations effectively, balancing attorney needs with firm-wide standards and capacity realities.
- Partner with Practice Group Leaders to align service model with practice needs (litigation vs. transactional vs. regulatory, etc.).
- AI-Enabled Workflow Design & Process Improvement
- Support the firm’s automation and AI efforts by continuously refining the secretarial work portfolio, identifying:
- tasks appropriate for automation,
- tasks appropriate for AI assistance,
- tasks requiring human-only judgment and review.
- Support the firm’s automation and AI efforts by continuously refining the secretarial work portfolio, identifying:
- Technology & AI Adoption Leadership (Change Management)
- Serve as the business owner for administrative technology and AI tools in the secretarial function, partnering closely with IT.
- Quality, Governance, and Risk Controls
- Implement quality control standards for high-risk work (client-facing documents, filings support, deadlines, confidential data handling).
- Monitor error patterns, root causes, and corrective actions; ensure learning is institutionalized (not dependent on individuals).
- Resource Planning
- Work with the leads to manage pool capacity using transparent, equitable allocation practices that match work complexity to skill level.
- Forecast demand cycles by practice (e.g., trial schedules, deal closings) and adjust staffing plans proactively.
- Use data to manage utilization, turnaround times, backlog, and staffing ratios; propose structural changes as needed (tiers, specialties, shifts, coverage models).
- People Leadership
- Coach and develop secretarial professionals and leads, setting clear expectations and accountability.
- Own performance management: goals, feedback, recognition, corrective action, and documentation in partnership with HR.
- Management & Communications
- Act as a trusted partner to attorneys and business professionals; communicate priorities, standards, and changes clearly and consistently.
- Influence without over-relying on hierarchy set boundaries where necessary and reframe issues from “preference” to “service model”.
- Time and Attendance & Administrative Oversight
- Oversee time and attendance compliance for the secretarial team, with particular focus on California meal‑period and overtime requirements.
- Recruitment and Onboarding
- Supports the recruitment process for legal secretaries and assistants in coordination with HR and firm leadership.
- Oversee onboarding and integration of new hires by coordinating training, assignments, and communication with relevant teams.
Required Skills, Abilities, and Qualifications:
- 5–10+ years of experience in legal administrative services, practice support, legal operations, or comparable professional services environment.
- 3+ years of people management experience (direct or matrix leadership).
- Strong understanding of law firm workflow and urgency drivers (deadlines, court rules awareness, transaction timelines, billing cycles).
- Demonstrated capability leading change (system implementations, process redesign, service model transitions).
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in pooled/shared services models or centralized administrative operations.
- Exposure to legal technology and document ecosystems (DMS, document production, workflow tools, time/billing, intake systems).
- Experience partnering with IT on tool adoption, training, and governance.
Hanson Bridgett offers a competitive salary and benefits package. The annual salary for this California-based role is anticipated to be in the range of $140,000 to $165,000 and represents the firm’s good faith and reasonable estimate of possible compensation at the time of posting. Actual compensation is negotiable and will depend upon several factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s years of experience, qualifications, and skill set.
Facilities Cooridnator
In-Person
The Facilities Coordinator reports to the Director of Office Operations and is the main point of contact in the San Diego office. This role is responsible for maintaining a clean and fully operational office. This role coordinates with outside vendors regarding office moves, new furniture, and building improvements, as well as with building property management. The Facilities Coordinator works closely with IT to ensure seamless conference room and audio/visual set-ups. Additional duties include maintaining the copy room, handling copy/scan requests, and preparing mail and other shipments. An essential function of this role is in-office attendance each day.
Essential Responsibilities and Duties
- Provides secretarial and administrative support for assigned timekeepers who need assistance.
- Responsible for document preparation of a variety of correspondence, reports, memoranda, and legal documents required by the assigned timekeepers.
- Filing documents with the courts and serving notice on parties requiring familiarity with the rules of the court in various counties, filing timelines, notice issues, and chronology of pleadings.
- Prepares and enters timesheets.
- Copying, scanning, and mailing/shipping of documentation.
- Answering phones and greeting clients.
- Provide backup coverage for office support/reception during regular business hours and greet all visitors and employees
- Maintain an accurate lobby directory and security list for building access
- Ensure the office is fully stocked with office supplies; order as needed
- Prepare offices and workstations for new employees
- Responsible for planning and implementing office engagement and client events
- Communicate with building management as needed to schedule and facilitate installations, repairs and/or cleaning
- Complete expense reports when requested
- Maintain emergency supplies and equipment
- Maintain consistent communication with the Director of Office Operations
- Update and maintain the intranet page for the San Diego office
- Work with the vendor for off-site file storage transfers
- Assist IT staff in maintaining copy machines, printers, and setting up new office equipment
- Perform copy/scan requests, prepare mail, and other shipments
- Review and code vendor invoices
- Check new hire documents on the first day of employment. Reliable, flexible, and able to work with attorneys/paralegals who have a variety of different working styles.
- Flexible and solutions-oriented with the ability to work under pressure.
- Ability to work well with others, is collaborative, enjoys variety, and must thrive on the challenge of helping others to complete projects as a team.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and writing skills.
- Must possess a high level of attention to detail.
- Good interpersonal skills for dealing with clients, lawyers (in-house and outside counsel) and other staff with a commitment to superior client/attorney service.
- Flexible to work overtime.
- Strong organizational skills, with the ability to multitask and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment
- Problem-solving skills and resourceful thinking
- Outstanding communication and writing skills
- A cheerful, can-do attitude
- Exceptional customer service skills, both internal and external
- Takes the initiative and pays close attention to accuracy
- Proficient in MS Office, Acrobat, general knowledge of AV systems, and office equipment
Hanson Bridgett offers a competitive salary and benefits package. The annual salary for this California-based role is anticipated to be in the range of $65,000 to $75,000 and represents the firm’s good faith and reasonable estimate of possible compensation at the time of posting. Actual compensation is negotiable and will depend upon several factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s years of experience, qualifications, and skill set.
Legal Secretary - IP/Trademark
Hybrid
This position provides high-level administrative support to litigation and transactional trademark and copyright attorneys. Must have advanced knowledge of federal court protocols and rules. To succeed in this role, candidate must be independent, have can-do spirit and be able to manage multiple projects and tasks. Considerable experience in litigation, trademarks and trademark prosecution are essential in this role.
This role offers the opportunity to work from a remote location on days when in-person attendance is not required, and as agreed upon by the direct supervisor and assigned attorneys. It is an essential function of any remote role that the employee be available to attend in-person meetings, professional development sessions or to come to the office for other reasons, if the need arises. This position requires the individual reside in California, and will have a designation to one of Hanson Bridgett’s eight office locations.
Essential Responsibilities and Duties
- Prepare correspondence, memos, and other legal documents as directed.
- Assist with document review, proofreading and editing of legal documents.
- Conduct trademark investigations about adverse parties.
- Communicate with clients and trademark team about deadlines and filings.
- Ensure the orderly management of client files; transmit physical documents to records department.
- Create various spreadsheets and project sheets to track team assignments and client requests.
- Work closely with docketing specialist to ensure deadlines are properly calendared.
- Handle confidential information with discretion and maintain data integrity.
- Complete conflicts checks through electronic intake system and draft engagement letters.
- Coordinate meetings, appointments, conferences and travel arrangements.
- Prepare monthly expense reports for attorneys.
- Assist with preparation and filing of notices of opposition, petitions for cancellation, extensions of time to oppose and other ESTTA filings.
- Maintain electronic files and keep attorneys updated on case status.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records using iManage.
- Assist with billing and invoicing process
- Other duties as assigned.
Required Skills, Abilities, and Qualifications
- 3+ years of experience as a legal secretary in trademark law.
- Deep knowledge of trademark procedures, terminology, and concepts.
- Knowledge of court rules and civil procedures in Federal courts, including experience with e-filing; knowledge of TTAB filing procedures.
- Highly organized and able to handle a heavy IP desk, including managing calendars and prioritizing workload.
- Proficiency in MS Office Suite and legal software for document management.
- Strong organizational and time management skills with attention to detail.
- Clear and professional communication skills.
Hanson Bridgett offers a competitive salary and benefits package. The annual salary for this California-based role is anticipated to be in the area of $85,000 - $95,000, and represents the firm’s good faith and reasonable estimate of possible compensation at the time of posting. Actual compensation is negotiable, and will depend upon a number of factors, including but not limited to, the candidate’s years of experience, qualifications, and skill set.
