Paralegal / Senior Paralegal (CHI) (Chicago)

ABOUT JENNER & BLOCK

Jenner & Block LLP is a law firm with a fearless reputation and global reach, high-level problem solvers in litigation, government controversies, investigations, regulatory challenges, and complex corporate transactions. With offices in Century City, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC, the firm represents a wide range of clients, counseling Fortune 100 companies, large privately held corporations, major nonprofits, top universities, private equity investors, and Native American tribes. Consistently recognized as a firm that stands up for its values with its commitment to justice and community service, Jenner has been named the No. 1 pro bono firm 13 times in the United States by The American Lawyer.

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Jenner & Block LLP is a law firm with a fearless reputation and global reach, high-level problem solvers in litigation, government controversies, investigations, regulatory challenges, and complex corporate transactions. With offices in Century City, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC, the firm represents a wide range of clients, counseling Fortune 100 companies, large privately held corporations, major nonprofits, top universities, private equity investors, and Native American tribes. Consistently recognized as a firm that stands up for its values with its commitment to justice and community service, Jenner has been named the No. 1 pro bono firm 13 times in the United States by The American Lawyer.

POSITION SUMMARY

This role may be filled at the Paralegal or Senior Paralegal level. Title and compensation will be determined based on the selected candidate's experience and qualifications.

As part of the Talent and Career Strategy team, the Paralegal provides legal support throughout all phases of complex litigation and investigations, with responsibilities scaled to experience level. This role combines case management responsibilities with workflow coordination, and may include team leadership and quality oversight at the Senior level. The Paralegal / Senior Paralegal will also play a critical role in fact development, evidence preservation, regulatory response, and risk mitigation, and will operate with a high degree of autonomy, managing multiple matters at once while serving as a key liaison between attorneys, clients, courts, and external vendors.

This position demands exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, strong analytical abilities, and proficiency in litigation support technologies. Extensive knowledge of court procedures, discovery processes, legal cite checking, and trial preparation is required, as the Paralegal / Senior Paralegal will serve as a subject matter resource to ensure compliance with court rules and internal procedures while helping to drive operational efficiency across matters.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Litigation, Investigation, & Case Management Responsibilities

• Assist attorneys in all stages of large, complex litigation matters from inception through post-trial, including attending and supporting depositions, hearings, trials, and arbitrations.
• Apply advanced knowledge of federal and state procedural rules and electronic filing requirements; implement and maintain case calendaring and docketing systems, ensure accuracy of key dates, and provide guidance on court-related procedural questions.
• Prepare templates and draft pleadings, motions, discovery requests and responses, and related legal documents; assist with proofreading, legal cite-checking, Bluebook compliance, and case law retrieval.
• Organize and maintain electronic case files in accordance with firm protocols; manage high volumes of documents, including client and third-party communications, client collections, productions, deposition materials, exhibits, and trial materials.
• Assist attorneys with document collection, Relativity database setup, and management, including document production.
• Perform complex data analysis, tracking, and discovery management within Relativity, including document review and database searches.
• Prepare, organize, and manage exhibits and trial materials, including pleadings, witness preparation materials, trial notebooks, deposition designations, demonstratives, and digital courtroom presentations (e.g., Trial Director, OnCue).
• Assist attorneys with internal investigations, regulatory inquiries, and compliance reviews.
• Assist attorneys with preparing materials for witness interviews, including pulling documents from Relativity and organizing materials into binders for witness interviews.

Leadership & Training Responsibilities

• Supervise, mentor, and train junior and midlevel paralegals assigned to your matters.
• Review documents and filings of other teams members for accuracy and compliance.
• Assist with paralegal onboarding, training, and performance feedback.
• Identify stretch assignments for more junior members of the team to build advanced litigation or investigative skills.
• Provide guidance, training, and mentorship to junior paralegals, including instruction on firm litigation procedures and best practices.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum 6 years of experience as a litigation paralegal in an AmLaw 100 or specialized litigation firm, with demonstrated leadership and mentorship skills appropriate for a senior-level role.
• Expert knowledge of Federal and relevant State procedural rules and electronic filing requirements, with strong familiarity with Federal and State court rules, case management systems, and e-filing databases.
• Experience drafting pleadings, and discovery requests and responses, with proficiency in legal cite-checking and Bluebook standards.
• Working knowledge of docketing applications (e.g., CompuLaw, PACER), litigation support and transcript management tools (e.g., TextMap, CaseMap, Opus2, NetDocuments), and document review/e-discovery platforms (e.g., Relativity).
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint), legal research platforms (e.g. LexisNexis, Westlaw), and document management/PDF tools (e.g. Kofax, Adobe Acrobat).
• Excellent organizational, prioritization, and multitasking skills with strong attention to detail; ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Availability to work overtime, travel, and handle after-hours filings and deliverables as needed.
• This is a hybrid role requiring in-office presence at least four days per week (Monday–Thursday).

Disclaimer

Additional Duties

This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the primary duties and responsibilities for the position. It is not an exhaustive list of all tasks or responsibilities that may be assigned. The role may include additional duties, specialized projects, and other tasks as required. The firm reserves the right to modify or adjust the responsibilities to meet business needs.

Physical Requirements

Candidates must be able to meet the physical demands of the position, including the ability to commute to the office as required on designated in-office days based on the position. The firm is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Eligibility Requirement

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. Jenner will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.

EEO Statement

Jenner & Block LLP is an equal opportunity employer. Recruitment and employment decisions are not made on the basis of an individual’s race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability or medical condition, genetic information, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity and/or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions, arrest record, matriculation, personal appearance, political affiliation, marital, parental, veteran, military, or order of protection status, or any other protected status or that of their relatives, friends, or associates.

Jenner & Block is proud to offer a competitive total rewards package, including comprehensive health & well-being benefits and 401k profit sharing. The anticipated pay range for this role is $95k - $165k in Chicago. The actual offered rate for this position will be determined based on several factors, including qualifications and experience, geographic location, education, external market data, and consideration of internal equity.