Paralegal - Litigation

Build your big career with the Firm that does Big Law better. McDermott Will & Emery is a leading global law firm that brings together more than 1,400 lawyers and 1,200 business professionals. We celebrate excellence, collaboration and community and have been recognized as a top workplace by The American Lawyer, Working Mother Magazine, Vault and the Human Rights Campaign.  

At McDermott, we don’t just invest in your future, we accelerate your career – wherever it may lead. That includes supporting you both in and outside of the office.

With us, you’ll find:

• A Firm where everyone belongs: Our award-winning culture prioritizes warmth and authenticity — we encourage you to be yourself!

• Enthusiasm for diverse perspectives: We’re smarter and stronger when everyone has a voice and a seat at the table. We welcome unique viewpoints and ideas, and we make opportunities for you and your career to thrive.

• Support to feel your best and do your best: Wellness is integral to building a successful career and a rich life. That’s why our benefits program supports your physical, emotional, mental and financial health, with an emphasis on work/life balance.  

• Real rewards for real work: We offer generous compensation packages that recognize hard work and excellence. 

Job Description:

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

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.

     Target Hiring Range $71,000 - $154,000

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, experience, and geographic location. 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. 

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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 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. With McDermott, you can live a life you love both in and outside of the office.

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.