Litigation Paralegal

McDermott Will & Emery is a leading global law firm helping to propel the success of today’s most respected, dynamic, and important organizations. More than 1,200 lawyers strong, we bring our personal passion and legal prowess to bear in every matter for our clients and the people they serve. Pride and determination abound here because every member of our team is respected, supported, and inspired to exceed. We have been recognized as a top firm to work by The American Lawyer, Working Mother Magazine, Vault, and the Human Rights Campaign for both lawyers and business professionals.

As part of our ongoing commitment to be #AlwaysBetter for our people, clients, and communities, we have created a culture of belonging that champions your individuality and authenticity as both a person and a professional. From our competitive compensation, top benefits and award-winning professional development programs to industry-leading wellness initiatives, we support you through every stage of your life and career so you can live a life you love both in and outside of the office.

Position Summary and Qualifications:

Essential job function: Provide legal support to attorneys within the designated practice area.

The qualified candidate must have five (5) years of experience as a Litigation Paralegal in a mid to large size law firm or corporation, demonstrating the very highest level of substantive knowledge and understanding of their practice area.  This includes preparing documents, filing documents in state and federal courts, Bluebooking, managing discovery, acting as custodian of any and all documents, media and databases relevant to active cases, preparing for trials in federal court, and managing trial support.  Candidate must have a working knowledge of and sufficient experience with a range of litigation support applications in addition to advanced working knowledge of current technology relevant to the practice area, including but not limited to:  Relativity, PACER, CM/ECF, Westlaw, Lexis, CaseMap, TextMap, LiveNote, and CompuLaw.  Candidate must be solutions oriented, display good judgment, and meet any challenge with maturity and a ‘can do’ attitude while anticipating issues that may arise.  The successful candidate must have excellent analytical and organizational abilities, creativity, and initiative.  The candidate must maintain high work quality while under pressure of competing deadlines and priorities.  Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to interact effectively with staff, attorneys, clients, courts, and vendors are essential.  A college degree is required or equivalent certificate; equivalent work experience will be considered. 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Organize, index and maintain case files
• Assist with the preparation and drafting of various legal documents including transmittal letters, subpoenas, and case summaries for attorney review
• File documents with federal and state courts, arbitration and dispute resolution bodies, and government agencies
• Perform cite checking and Bluebooking
• Conduct legal research
• Gather case related materials including contracts, witness and expert files, and exhibits
• Maintain departmental docketing calendar to ensure timely filings
• Prepare trial workspaces, including coordinating with IT and outside vendors regarding war room and courtroom equipment
• Provide administrative trial support, including maintaining exhibit and witness lists and filing court documents
• Commitment to work overtime as needed, which may include weekends or holidays

Job Specifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or Paralegal Certificate, preferred
• At least five (5) years of related work experience
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to work independently as well as with a team, have an acute attention to detail, and be able to multi-task and prioritize while working in a high pressure, deadline-driven environment
• Ability to work flexible and/or fluctuating work hours
• Ability to handle and maintain confidential information

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, stoop, talk and hear
• Employee must occasionally lift up to twenty (20) pounds

Work Environment:

Typical indoor office environment

Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by people within this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this job.

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Successful candidates will be provided with outstanding career opportunities and will receive a competitive total rewards package with the opportunity to earn performance-based bonuses. ​

   Expected Pay Range in New York $74,000 – 163,000

Please note that quoted salary ranges are not guarantees of what final salary offers may be. Base pay is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Base pay is only one part of the Total Rewards that MWE provides to compensate and recognize our staff professionals for their work. Full time positions are eligible for a discretionary bonus and a comprehensive benefits package.