Specialist, Court Procedures

Goodwin Procter Boston; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life and disability insurance

Retirement and savings plan

Emergency back-up care

Paid vacation and holidays

Professional development opportunities

Employee wellness programs

Job summary

Goodwin Procter Boston is seeking a detail‑oriented procedural specialist to join the Global Operations Team. You’ll guide court filings, manage deadlines, and coordinate with attorneys and PTAB colleagues to ensure compliant, timely submissions.

Responsibilities include drafting and reviewing filings, coordinating with CM/ECF and USPTO P‑TACTS platforms, mentoring junior staff, and maintaining internal guides to support consistent procedures across federal and state courts and PTAB matters.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 2–3 years in a major law firm, clerk’s office, or equivalent.
• Experience with federal and state court filings.
• Experience with PTAB/IPR matters; USPTO P-TACTS preferred.
• Strong independent work ethic with teamwork in a litigation setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide procedural guidance on court rules, filings, and deadlines.
• Prepare, review, and file documents in federal/state courts and PTAB proceedings.
• Coordinate filing service and communicate with court personnel and PTAB reps.
• Manage deadlines and workflow with docketing and case teams.
• Develop and share internal guides; mentor junior staff.

Skills

Self-motivated and collaborative

Detail-oriented problem solver

Deadline management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

CM/ECF

State e-filing systems

USPTO P-TACTS

Job description

Join Goodwin’s Global Operations Team, and make a real impact on a global scale. At Goodwin, we work with some of the world’s most successful and innovative investors, entrepreneurs and disruptors in the life sciences, private equity, real estate, technology and financial industries, and where they converge. As part of the Global Operations Team – all business professionals at the firm – you’ll collaborate with colleagues from varied backgrounds and experiences, fostering an environment where cross‑functional learning, networking, and collaboration are at the core of what we do. Here, we’re not just supporting a law firm; we’re partnering with attorneys and clients to deliver cutting‑edge solutions in high‑stakes litigation and dispute resolution, world‑class regulatory compliance and advisory services, and complex transactions. Our commitment to integrity, ingenuity, agility, and ambition drives us, and we’re proud to have been recognised as the “Best Business Team” by The American Lawyer. This is your opportunity to grow professionally in a dynamic, global environment, surrounded by forward‑thinking peers.

The Court Procedures Team is an integral part of the Litigation Department, providing critical support to litigators on the procedural aspects of their cases. The team serves as a centralized resource for guidance on court rules, filing requirements, and procedural strategy across federal and state courts at both the trial and appellate levels, while also executing all court filings efficiently and accurately.

What You Will Do:

Provide Procedural Guidance

• Respond to workflow requests from attorneys and professional staff, offering detailed and authoritative advice on court rules, procedural mechanisms, filing requirements, and deadline calculations.
• Advise case teams on proper procedural strategies to accomplish stated litigation objectives in federal, state, appellate, and PTAB matters.
• Research and resolve complex procedural and deadline‑related issues across multiple jurisdictions.

Support and Execute Filings

• Prepare, review, coordinate, and execute court filings in federal and state trial and appellate courts, including electronic filing through applicable platforms (e.g., CM/ECF and state e‑filing systems).
• Prepare and file documents in PTAB proceedings, particularly IPR matters, using the USPTO’s P‑TACTS system.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable formatting, citation, confidentiality, and service requirements for both court and PTAB filings.
• Coordinate service of filings on opposing counsel and other required parties.
• Communicate with court personnel and, at the direction of supervising attorneys, with PTAB representatives regarding procedural matters.

Manage Deadlines and Workflow

• Respond to complex questions regarding procedural deadlines for district court, appellate, and PTAB matters, coordinating closely with docketing and case teams to ensure timely and accurate submissions.
• Independently prioritize assignments and manage a dynamic workload in a deadline‑driven environment.

PTAB & IP Litigation Support

• Develop and maintain proficiency in PTAB rules, procedures, and timelines, particularly for IPR proceedings.
• Build expertise in IP‑specific procedural requirements across trial and appellate jurisdictions.
• Participate in training of staff on PTAB matters.

Develop Resources & Share Knowledge

• Contribute to the creation and maintenance of internal guides, checklists, and reference materials to support procedural consistency and knowledge sharing.
• Mentor junior team members by sharing knowledge of court and PTAB procedures and best practices.
• Promote quality control practices, including compliance reviews, use of checklists, and proofreading to ensure error‑free submissions.

Build Relationships

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with court personnel, PTAB representatives, attorneys, support staff, clients, and external vendors.
• Engage professionally and discreetly in all communications.

Assist with Firm Defense Matters

• Assist with document review pertaining to firm defense and client file transfers as needs arise and time allows.

Who You Are

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of relevant experience in a major law firm, clerk’s office, agency, or similar legal environment.
• Experience with federal and state court filings required.
• Experience with PTAB proceedings, particularly IPR matters, and familiarity with USPTO P-TACTS strongly preferred.
• Self-Motivated and Collaborative: You work independently with confidence while thriving in a team-oriented litigation environment. You balance autonomy with responsiveness to attorneys and colleagues.
• Detail-Oriented Problem Solver: You possess strong familiarity with federal and state civil and appellate rules, and ideally PTAB procedures. You excel at identifying procedural issues, analyzing them thoroughly, and communicating sound conclusions clearly and authoritatively.
• Experience with electronic filing platforms (e.g., CM/ECF, state e‑filing systems, and USPTO P‑TACTS) is strongly preferred.
• Effectively manage multiple assignments simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline‑driven environment.
• Enthusiastic about expanding your expertise in court and PTAB procedures and sharing that knowledge with colleagues.
• Committed to meeting filing deadlines and supporting case teams, including occasional extended hours, and aspire to be a trusted procedural subject matter expert.
• Flexible schedule required, including participation in after‑hours e‑filing rotation and willingness to work outside normal business hours as necessary to meet court and PTAB deadlines.
• Minimal travel may be required.

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Life and disability insurance

Retirement & Savings Plan

Emergency back‑up child and adult care

Paid vacation, sick time off, and holidays

Professional development and career advancement opportunities

Employee recognition and reward programs

Employee wellness and assistance programs

Employee discounts and perks

This position is eligible for overtime: Yes

The Target Salary Range For This Position Varies By Location And Is Commensurate With Relevant Experience: $85,000.00 $100,000.00

Professional career paths at Goodwin offer you more – and less – than you might expect. You’ll find less hierarchy and more meritocracy. You’ll have more chances to work across departments and offices, and fewer roadblocks to getting the job done. We believe people are happiest when they’re not limited by a ‘that’s how we’ve always done it’ approach, so we encourage a more imaginative and collaborative working environment.

Our Global Operations Team – what we call our GO Team – brings a level of professionalism, enthusiasm and commitment to work each and every day.

Goodwin embraces responsible and ethical use of AI in the Hiring Process.