Paralegal, State Litigation

Chicago Public Schools; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 34,440 - 55,104; Full time

Job summary

Chicago Public Schools is seeking a Paralegal to provide support to assigned attorneys in the Law Department. This full-time, non-exempt role involves confidential access to student and employee information and time‑based compensation.

You will assist with pleadings, hearings, and discovery, manage case files in the Matter Management System, and perform legal research using Westlaw. Proficiency with CPS systems and e‑filing is required.

Qualifications

• Associate degree (or Bachelor's) with 3+ years (or 5+ years) of administrative support experience.
• Minimum of two years in a legal environment is required.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to manage time-sensitive priorities.
• Excellent organizational and file management skills in a dynamic setting.
• Ability to handle confidential information and communicate clearly.

Responsibilities

• Assist attorneys with filing pleadings and hearings, including witness folders and exhibits.
• Support workers’ compensation matters and related administrative tasks.
• Represent the District at administrative hearings for City Building Department citations.
• Gather documents from multiple departments for threatened or ongoing litigation.
• Assist with discovery, draft requests, organize and review records.

Skills

Attention to detail

Time management

Effective communication

Confidentiality

Team collaboration

Education

Associate degree

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

CM/ECF

Odyssey e-filing

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Google Suite

Job description

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 320,000 students in more than 500 schools and employing over 46,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world‑class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student‑centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

The CPS Law Department provides a full array of legal services to the Chicago Board of Education and the various departments and divisions of Chicago Public Schools. The State Litigation Unit (“State Lit”) represents the Board in civil suits filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County and also handles administrative matters and provides client counseling. Matters include personal injury cases ranging from slip and falls to sexual assault and death cases, mechanics liens, property tax appeals, construction cases, whistleblower claims, limited employment matters, breach of contract claims, debarments, bid protests, and FOIA litigation.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Deputy General Counsel for Litigation, the Paralegal provides paralegal support to assigned attorneys and general support across the Law Office. This role is of a confidential nature and has regular access to Law Office and other CPS Departments’ confidential files, data, and information, including confidential student and employee information. This is a full‑time, non‑exempt position that will be paid for time worked on an hourly basis.

Responsibilities

• Assisting attorneys with filing pleadings and in preparation of and during hearings, arbitrations, mediations, and trials, including preparing witness folders, exhibits, subpoenas, courtesy copies, and providing technology assistance.
• Providing support with operational and administrative tasks related to workers’ compensation matters.
• Representing the District at administrative hearings for City Building Department citations.
• Gathering information and documents from various departments and district systems relating to threatened litigation and pending litigation matters.
• Assisting with discovery by drafting requests and preparing responses, and collecting, organizing, reviewing, summarizing and redacting a variety of records.
• Maintaining and updating the state litigation docket and scheduling court reporters for depositions, hearings, mediations, and arbitrations.
• Maintaining and organizing electronic case files in the Matter Management System following unit and legal protocols.
• Performing legal research on Westlaw and cite‑checking briefs.
• Assisting with cross‑functional work and new initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Associate degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum of five (5) years of administrative support or clerical work experience; or Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum of three (3) years of administrative support or clerical work experience.
• Minimum of two (2) years of work experience in a legal environment is required.
• Exceptional attention to detail with the ability to maintain accuracy while balancing multiple time‑sensitive priorities.
• Excellent organizational skills; demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize a large volume of files in a dynamic, complex, fast‑paced environment to meet and manage competing deadlines.
• Ability to track and adhere to strict timelines and ensure all filings and other legal documents are submitted by required deadlines.
• Able to take ownership of, and independently manage, tasks, timelines and systems, following tasks through to completion with little or no follow‑up; knows when to ask questions.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality related to sensitive information, videos, and documents.
• Clear, effective verbal and non‑verbal communication skills (speaking, writing, listening).
• Ability to define problems, analyze data, and outline valid conclusions and action steps.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to interact positively and professionally at all times with team members, other law department staff, executive offices, internal clients and external partners.
• Strong typing skills and proficiency using Microsoft Word, Excel, Google Suite, and CM/ECF and Odyssey e‑filing software.
• Solid working knowledge of legal terminology and court procedures.
• Proficiency or ability to quickly gain proficiency using CPS and legal systems and applications (i.e., Oracle, PeopleSoft, SSM, Aspen, Matter Management System, docket management, document review, e‑discovery).

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to: Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency — Employees must live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part‑time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.