Litigation Paralegal

Litigation Paralegal | Northbrook, IL

Join a team where your experience matters and your contributions make a difference.

Tyson & Mendes is seeking an experienced Litigation Paralegal to join our Chicago area office in Northbrook, Illinois. If you enjoy substantive litigation work, collaborating with accomplished attorneys, and taking an active role in moving cases forward, this is an opportunity to grow your career with a nationally recognized insurance defense firm.

Our Chicago office represents clients throughout Illinois and beyond in a wide variety of complex insurance defense matters, including catastrophic injury and wrongful death, professional and medical liability, premises liability, construction defect, transportation litigation, product liability, and commercial disputes. The office is led by Scott Ruksakiati, Midwest & Central Regional Managing Partner and Chicago Branch Office Managing Partner, an accomplished trial attorney with more than 30 years of litigation experience. Scott has successfully first-chaired numerous jury trials and commercial arbitrations and is recognized for his strategic approach to litigation, including obtaining favorable resolutions through dispositive motions, mediation, and trial. You'll have the opportunity to work alongside experienced litigators who value collaboration, thoughtful case preparation, and the important role paralegals play in delivering excellent client outcomes.

At Tyson & Mendes, our paralegals are more than support staff. They are valued members of the litigation team. In this role, you'll contribute to meaningful casework, including discovery, document management, case organization, litigation deadlines, and trial preparation. You'll work closely with attorneys who appreciate initiative, attention to detail, strong communication, and a proactive approach to litigation support. We are looking for someone who enjoys taking ownership of their work, anticipating team needs, and helping cases move forward efficiently.

Our Northbrook office offers the connection and collaboration of a close-knit local team, backed by the resources of a growing national law firm. You'll benefit from:

• Direct collaboration with experienced trial attorneys and regional leadership
• A supportive, communicative team environment
• Substantive involvement in complex insurance defense litigation
• Access to national paralegal and administrative resources
• Professional development and opportunities to strengthen your litigation skills
• A competitive billable-hours bonus program that recognizes your contributions

We believe great paralegals are essential to great litigation teams, and we are committed to creating an environment where your work is valued.

This position follows a hybrid schedule requiring ONE days per week in our Northbrook office, with additional in-office attendance as needed for trial preparation or other business needs. Candidates must be able and willing to commute to Northbrook, Illinois, and be available to work onsite as required.

If you're an experienced litigation paralegal who takes pride in your work, enjoys being part of a collaborative team, and wants to contribute to sophisticated litigation alongside accomplished trial attorneys, we'd love to meet you. Bring your experience. Grow your skills. Make an impact.

Join Tyson & Mendes and be part of a team committed to excellence in litigation and exceptional client service.

Responsibilities:

• Ability to assist attorneys with propounding and responding to discovery (interrogatories, requests for admissions, and request for production, subpoenas, and preparing deposition binders) and motions (preparation of any supporting documents and exhibits, and preparing hearing binders)
• Ability to manage trial preparation including: coordination of witnesses and travel, trial exhibits, charts, trial notebook, subpoenas, and page lines
• Independently obtain, review and organize medical records/medical billings, calculate damages including medical expenses, lost wages and property damage
• Work as part of a team with all levels of experiences
• Routine communications with clients, experts, and attorneys about case status and preparation

Requirements:

• Paralegal certification
• Minimum of 3-5 years experience as a litigation paralegal
• Experience with litigation in the state of Illinois is highly encouraged
• Solid understanding of civil litigation (state and federal deadlines and rules)
• Able to work in office 1 day a week and as needed for trial prep (707 Combined Centre on Skokie Blvd, Northbrook, IL)
• High proficiency in MS Suite, specifically Word, PowerPoint and Outlook and Adobe Acrobat
• Ability to think and act independently and with minimal supervision
• Articulate, organized and a team player with excellent listening, verbal and written communication skills
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines
• Professional appearance and demeanor

Compensation Package:

• Hourly pay range of $30-$43/hour, depending on experience
• Overtime paid at 1.5× the regular hourly rate, as needed
• Paralegals are eligible for an annual bonus ranging from $250-$3,000
• Employees receive a monthly technology reimbursement of $60
• Comprehensive benefits coverage offered, including plans available at zero employee cost (average annual employee contribution for health/vision/dental coverage is $700-$1,700)
• Employees benefit from a 401(k) program that includes a 100% match on the first 3% contributed and a 50% match on the following 4-5%
• Paid parental leave at base pay rate

Benefits:

• 37.5-hour standard workweek designed to promote balance and prevent burnout
• Employee Assistance Program through HealthAdvocate
• Vacation time is accrued annually at the employee's base rate
• Internal diversity and inclusion programs, such as the Women's Initiative and Young Professionals Initiative
• Firm-wide charitable giving program
• Numerous social and off-site events each year to enrich your relationships with your colleagues

Why Tyson & Mendes? We are one of the country's fastest growing civil defense firms. We have steadily and successfully made our mark as a trailblazer in the legal ecosphere. We are a progressive, dynamic and diverse firm that prides ourselves in breaking the mold upheld by the "traditional" law firm. Here, you will discover an exceptionally smart, deeply talented team, who have continuously made a profound impact on the lives of literally hundreds of thousands of people. From Howell vs. Hamilton Meats, to our many trial wins, our mission every day is to provide unparalleled service and achieve exceptional results for our clients. In addition to our outstanding legal work, we take an innovative approach to law firm management that invests wholly in our employees.

It is Tyson & Mendes' policy to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit-based factors.