Career Paralegal, Dispute Resolution

Madison Pearl; Dubai; On-site; AED 167,000 - 234,000; Full time

Job summary

Madison Pearl in Dubai seeks a seasoned career paralegal to support partners and fee-earners across commercial litigation, arbitration, and general disputes. You will prepare pleadings, review documents, conduct legal research, and help manage matters from inception to completion.

The role requires at least five years’ paralegal experience, with UAE exposure, strong drafting and case management skills, and the ability to supervise junior staff.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years' overall paralegal experience, preferably in a leading law firm or established disputes practice.
• Minimum of 1 year's UAE paralegal experience with strong familiarity with the UAE disputes landscape.
• Demonstrable experience supporting contentious matters, ideally including UAE litigation and/or international arbitration.
• Strong drafting, research, organisational, and case management skills, with excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to support multiple partners and fee-earners across a range of complex and competing matters.
• Arabic language skills would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Support partners and fee-earners across a broad range of contentious matters, including commercial litigation, arbitration, construction disputes, shareholder disputes, and general contentious matters.
• Assist with the preparation, review, and management of pleadings, submissions, witness statements, chronologies, bundles, correspondence, and other litigation and arbitration documentation.
• Conduct legal and factual research across UAE laws, regulations, case law, and relevant procedural rules, supporting the wider disputes team with high-quality research and analysis.
• Assist with document review, disclosure, evidence management, due diligence, and the preparation of materials for litigation, arbitration, and settlement proceedings.
• Support the management of matters from inception through to completion, maintaining case files, monitoring deadlines, coordinating documentation, and ensuring efficient matter progression.
• Liaise with clients, courts, arbitral institutions, experts, counsel, and other third parties as required in connection with ongoing disputes.
• Manage multiple matters simultaneously, prioritising workloads and ensuring work is completed accurately and within required deadlines.
• Supervise, mentor, and delegate work to junior paralegals, ensuring high-quality output and efficient workflow management.

Skills

Legal Research

Case Management

Drafting & Pleadings

Litigation Support

Attention to Detail

Deadline Management

Mentoring Juniors

UAE Law

Arabic (Advantageous)

Job description

This firm is recognised for its strong regional presence, market-leading work, and collaborative culture built over decades. The disputes practice advises on a broad range of contentious matters, including commercial litigation, arbitration, construction disputes, shareholder and corporate disputes, and general contentious advisory matters. The team acts for a diverse range of clients across sectors and jurisdictions, handling complex, high-value disputes before the UAE onshore courts and arbitral institutions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support partners and fee-earners across a broad range of contentious matters, including commercial litigation, arbitration, construction disputes, shareholder disputes, and general contentious matters
• Assist with the preparation, review, and management of pleadings, submissions, witness statements, chronologies, bundles, correspondence, and other litigation and arbitration documentation
• Conduct legal and factual research across UAE laws, regulations, case law, and relevant procedural rules, supporting the wider disputes team with high-quality research and analysis
• Assist with document review, disclosure, evidence management, due diligence, and the preparation of materials for litigation, arbitration, and settlement proceedings
• Support the management of matters from inception through to completion, maintaining case files, monitoring deadlines, coordinating documentation, and ensuring efficient matter progression
• Liaise with clients, courts, arbitral institutions, experts, counsel, and other third parties as required in connection with ongoing disputes
• Manage multiple matters simultaneously, prioritising workloads and ensuring work is completed accurately and within required deadlines
• Supervise, mentor, and delegate work to junior paralegals, ensuring high-quality output and efficient workflow management

Key Requirements:

• Minimum of 5 years' overall paralegal experience, preferably gained within a leading law firm or established disputes practice
• Minimum of 1 year's UAE experience as a paralegal, with strong familiarity with the UAE legal and disputes landscape
• Demonstrable experience supporting contentious matters, ideally including UAE litigation and/or international arbitration
• Strong experience in preparing and managing litigation and arbitration documentation, including pleadings, submissions, bundles, chronologies, and evidence
• Experience managing, delegating to, and supporting junior paralegals
• Strong legal research, drafting, organisational, and case management skills, with excellent attention to detail
• Ability to support multiple partners and fee-earners across a range of complex and competing matters
• Arabic language skills would be advantageous

Important – Career Paralegal Position:

This is a long-term Career Paralegal position. There is no opportunity for qualification within the firm, and the firm will not consider candidates who are actively seeking qualification in the future.

Candidates must be able to demonstrate a genuine and considered commitment to pursuing a long-term career as a paralegal, rather than viewing the role as a pathway to qualification. Applications from candidates who are currently pursuing qualification or intend to qualify as a lawyer in the future will not be considered.

Candidates should therefore be prepared to clearly articulate their reasoning for choosing the career paralegal pathway and their long-term commitment to developing within a specialist paralegal career.

*Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted*