Litigation Paralegal – Labor & Employment

barnes; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Barnes & Thornburg LLP in Chicago seeks an experienced Litigation Paralegal to join our Labor & Employment Litigation team. You will support attorneys through all phases of litigation, including pleadings, discovery, motions, hearings, arbitrations, and trial, while maintaining organizational systems and document management.

The role requires a 5+ year background in litigation paralegal work, preferably in labor and employment, with strong research, drafting, and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and/or paralegal certificate required.
• 5+ years of litigation paralegal experience, preferably in labor and employment.
• Familiarity with federal and state filing procedures and PACER/ECF.
• Experience supporting wage-and-hour, discrimination, and class actions.
• Strong research, drafting, and document management skills.
• Excellent communication, organization, and time management abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple matters in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Excel; class actions and PAGA experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive support to attorneys throughout all phases of labor and employment litigation.
• Prepare, organize, and file documents with federal and state courts and administrative agencies (PACER/ECF).
• Assist with wage and hour claims, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and class actions.
• Conduct legal research and assist with drafting pleadings, correspondence, discovery requests/responses, and subpoenas.
• Finalize briefs with cite-checking and exhibits.
• Manage case files, calendars, and deadlines; ensure compliance with court rules.
• Coordinate document collection, review, and production; track discovery materials.
• Support on NLRB proceedings and arbitration-related matters.
• Assist with trial preparation, including witnesses, exhibits, and logistics.
• Communicate professionally with attorneys, clients, opposing counsel, court personnel, and vendors.

Skills

Litigation support

PAGA matters

Arbitration experience

Discovery management

Excel proficiency

Strong research

Time management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree or Paralegal Certificate

Tools

PACER/ECF

Document management software

Job description

Litigation Paralegal – Labor & Employment

Location:

Chicago

Barnes & Thornburg is seeking a Litigation Paralegal to join our Labor & Employment Litigation team in the Chicago office.

Responsibilities:

1. Provide comprehensive support to attorneys throughout all phases of labor and employment litigation, including pleadings, discovery, motion practice, hearings, arbitrations, and trial.

2. Prepare, organize, and file documents with federal and state courts and administrative agencies, including through PACER/ECF.

3. Assist with employment-related matters involving wage and hour claims, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and class and PAGA actions.

4. Conduct legal research and assist with drafting pleadings, correspondence, discovery requests and responses, and subpoenas.

5. Finalize legal briefs, including cite-checking, formatting, and preparing supporting exhibits.

6. Manage case files, calendars, and litigation deadlines to ensure compliance with court rules and scheduling orders.

7. Coordinate document collection, review, and production, including maintaining databases or spreadsheets to track discovery materials and employee records.

8. Provide support on traditional labor matters, including proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

9. Assist with arbitration-related matters, including researching arbitration panels, arbitrators, and applicable rules and procedures.

10. Assist with trial, arbitration, and mediation preparation, including witness binders, exhibits, and logistics.

11. Communicate professionally and effectively with attorneys, clients, opposing counsel, court personnel, and third-party vendors.

12. Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

1. Bachelor’s degree and/or Paralegal Certificate required.

2. 5+ years of litigation paralegal experience, preferably in labor and employment law.

3. Working knowledge of federal and state court filing procedures and rules, including PACER/ECF.

4. Experience supporting employment-related discovery, including personnel files, payroll records, and electronically stored information.

5. Strong research, drafting, and document management skills.

6. Excellent communication, organization, and time management abilities.

7. Proven ability to manage multiple matters and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

8. Meticulous attention to detail and ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

9. Experience with class actions, PAGA matters, arbitration, and Excel proficiency are preferred

We will not consider resumes submitted by external agencies or recruiters for this position. Recruiters and agencies will not be compensated for assisting Barnes & Thornburg LLP in recruiting for this position, regardless of whether such party has a recruiting contract with us.

Equal Employment and Opportunity Statement:

Barnes & Thornburg is committed to equal employment opportunity in both principle and as a matter of policy. We will recruit, hire, train, promote, compensate and provide benefits to all applicants and employees without regard to ancestry, sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, religion, religious creed, mental and/or physical disability, medical condition, military and/or veteran’s status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state and local laws. This policy applies to all recruiting, hiring, promotions, upgrades, layoffs, compensation, benefits, terminations and all other privileges, terms and conditions of employment. The firm complies fully with all federal, state and local equal employment opportunity laws.