Civil Litigation Paralegal

Hart McLaughlin & Eldridge, LLC; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Hart McLaughlin & Eldridge, LLC in Chicago seeks an experienced Civil Litigation Paralegal to support personal injury and general litigation matters. The role emphasizes client-focused advocacy, accuracy, and efficient case management in a busy environment.

The ideal candidate has a civil litigation background, with at least 3 years in a law firm setting, and is proficient with court filings, legal research tools, and case management software.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies or a Paralegal Certificate (ABA-approved) is required.
• Minimum 3 years of experience as a litigation paralegal at a law firm.
• Experience in civil litigation, general litigation, and personal injury litigation is required.
• Background in medical malpractice, nursing home litigation, mass torts, or environmental/toxic torts is strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of litigation processes, legal terminology, and procedures.
• Extensive knowledge of Illinois state and federal court systems, rules, and filing procedures.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Outlook for calendar management and scheduling.
• Experience with legal research tools and case management software.
• Ability to manage a high volume of work in a fast-paced setting.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and time management skills.
• Discretion and professionalism with sensitive information.
• Familiarity with billing systems and attorney time tracking is preferred.
• PACER, Westlaw, Lexis experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Draft, prepare, organize, and electronically file legal documents such as pleadings, motions, discovery, and correspondence.
• File documents with courts following filing rules and deadlines.
• Conduct legal research and summarize case law, statutes, and regulations.
• Provide in-trial support and assist with hearing preparation.
• Oversee general administrative tasks, including correspondence, call management, and document organization.
• Maintain attorneys’ calendars and coordinate meetings, court appearances, depositions, and deadlines.
• Ensure clear communication between attorneys, clients, and third parties.
• Generate and manage all legal correspondence and notices.
• Maintain and organize electronic and physical case files.
• Schedule and coordinate appointments, hearings, and case-related events.
• Track deadlines and ensure timely follow-up on milestones.
• Create and maintain accurate records and databases for case files.
• Manage civil litigation personal injury cases, including intake, fact investigation, and discovery.
• Review, analyze, and summarize medical records, billing statements, and accident reports; prepare medical chronologies and damages evaluations.
• Draft and respond to discovery requests; coordinate with witnesses and expert teams.
• Assist attorneys with evaluating liability, tracking causation, and damages claims.
• Draft pleadings, motions, settlement demand letters, and court notices for review and filing.

Skills

Communication

Organization

Time management

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies or Paralegal Certificate (ABA-approved)

Minimum 3 years litigation paralegal experience

Tools

PACER

Westlaw

Lexis

Case management software

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Hart McLaughlin & Eldridge (HME) is seeking an experienced Civil Litigation Paralegal to join our dynamic legal team in our Chicago office. The ideal candidate will have a strong civil litigation background, with specific experience handling personal injury and general litigation matters. We are looking for someone who brings a client-first mindset, is solutions-oriented, and shares our commitment to effective advocacy.

About HME

Hart McLaughlin & Eldridge is a leading Chicago-based litigation law firm recognized for its results-driven approach and dedication to personalized client service. With over 150 years of combined experience, our firm handles complex litigation across a wide array of industries, including antitrust, asbestos and toxic torts, automotive and trucking, aviation, business disputes, civil rights, class actions, mass torts, construction, employment law, medical negligence, nursing home litigation, pharmaceutical litigation, premises liability, and product liability. HME is dedicated to upholding our reputation for success through strategic advocacy, exceptional client service, and results-driven legal representation. We focus on delivering efficient, effective, and cost-conscious solutions, tailoring our approach to meet each client’s unique needs.

For more information about HME visit our website https://www.hmelegal.com/

Key Responsibilities

Legal Support

• Draft, prepare, organize, and electronically file legal documents, including pleadings, motions, discovery, and correspondence
• File documents with courts in strict compliance with filing rules and deadlines
• Conduct legal research and summarize case law, statutes, and regulations
• Provide in-trial support and assist with hearing preparation

Administrative Support

• Oversee general administrative tasks such as correspondence, call management, and document organization
• Maintain attorneys’ calendars and coordinate meetings, court appearances, depositions, and deadlines
• Ensure clear communication between attorneys, clients, and third parties
• Generate and manage all legal correspondence and notices

Case Management

• Maintain and organize electronic and physical case files
• Schedule and coordinate appointments, hearings, and other case-related events
• Track deadlines and ensure timely follow-up on case milestones
• Create and maintain accurate records, logs, and databases related to case files

Civil Litigation & Personal Injury Support

• Manage all aspects of civil litigation personal injury cases, including intake, fact investigation, and discovery
• Review, analyze, and summarize medical records, billing statements, and accident reports; prepare comprehensive medical chronologies and damages evaluations
• Draft and respond to discovery requests, including interrogatories, requests for production, and third-party subpoenas
• Coordinate with liability and expert witnesses, managing scheduling, case file preparation, and ongoing communications.
• Assist attorneys with evaluating liability, tracking causation, and assessing damages claims
• Draft legal pleadings, motions, settlement demand letters, and court notices for attorney review and filing
• Maintain organized, accessible digital and physical case files throughout all phases of the litigation lifecycle

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies or a Paralegal Certificate from an ABA-approved program (required)
• Minimum 3 years of experience as a litigation paralegal at law firm
• Required experience in civil litigation, general litigation, and personal injury litigation
• In addition to civil litigation experience, a substantial background in medical malpractice, nursing home litigation, mass torts, or environmental and toxic torts is strongly preferred
• Strong knowledge of litigation processes, legal terminology, and procedures
• Extensive knowledge of Illinois state and federal court systems, rules, and filing procedures
• High proficiency in Microsoft Outlook for calendar management and scheduling
• Experience with legal research tools and case management software
• Demonstrated ability to manage a high volume of work in a fast-paced setting
• Excellent organizational, communication, and time management skills
• Close attention to detail with strong proofreading and editing skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a legal team
• Discretion and professionalism in handling sensitive and confidential information
• Familiarity with billing systems and tracking attorney time is preferred
• PACER, Westlaw, Lexis, experience is preferred

Details

Job Type: Full Time, Direct Hire

Schedule: Monday – Friday

Work Location: One South Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60603

Salary Range: $75,000-90,000/Year, based on qualifications and experience