Pre-Litigation Personal Injury Paralegal

Location: Downtown San Diego, CA (Fully On-Site)
Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Compensation: $60,000 - $80,000 (DOE)
Employment Type: Direct Hire

Position Overview

A well-established personal injury law firm in downtown San Diego is seeking an experienced Pre-Litigation Paralegal to join their team. This role is responsible for managing a high-volume caseload from intake handoff through the pre-litigation phase, working closely with the Managing Partner and supporting one attorney.

The ideal candidate brings strong personal injury experience, excellent organizational skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with clients, medical providers, and insurance carriers in a fast-paced environment. This is a client-facing role requiring empathy, attention to detail, and proactive case management.

Key Responsibilities

Pre-Litigation Case Management

• Manage a high volume of personal injury cases from intake through pre-litigation.
• Maintain accurate, organized, and up-to-date electronic case files using SmartAdvocate or a similar system.
• Proactively monitor case progress, identify outstanding items, and move cases forward efficiently.
• Prepare files for litigation referral by ensuring all records, documentation, and summaries are complete.

Client Communication

• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients during the pre-litigation phase.
• Provide timely status updates, explain next steps, and respond to inquiries with professionalism and empathy.
• Obtain client signatures, authorizations, and required documentation.

Medical Records & Billing

• Identify treating providers and coordinate the request, retrieval, and tracking of medical records and billing (including use of national record retrieval services).
• Follow up with medical facilities and providers to ensure timely receipt of documentation.
• Review records and bills for completeness and maintain organized logs and summaries.

Lien Identification & Coordination

• Identify potential lienholders and place appropriate entities on notice.
• Communicate with lienholders regarding balances and required documentation in coordination with the attorney.
• Track and maintain lien information to ensure readiness for case resolution.

Insurance & Carrier Communication

• Communicate with insurance adjusters and defense carriers regarding claims, records, and case status.
• Assist in preparing and transmitting demand packages and supporting documentation.
• Track responses, deadlines, and follow-ups related to carrier communications.

Administrative & Support Functions

• Draft routine correspondence and documentation under attorney direction.
• Ensure deadlines, follow-ups, and tasks are completed without constant supervision.
• Maintain confidentiality and adhere to all legal and ethical standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3+ years of personal injury experience required (pre-litigation focus strongly preferred).
• Proven experience managing personal injury cases from intake through pre-litigation.
• Hands-on experience with:
  • Client communication
  • Medical records and billing retrieval
  • Drafting demand packages
  • Insurance carrier interaction
• Familiarity with SmartAdvocate or similar case management systems preferred.
• Experience working with intake teams and transitioning cases to litigation support.

Core Competencies

• Strong organization and time management skills (must handle high caseload efficiently).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with attorneys and team members.
• High attention to detail and strong problem-solving abilities.
• Professional, empathetic approach when working with injured clients.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.