Docketing Specialist

OHagan Meyer • Chicago, IL

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

O’Hagan Meyer, a national insurance defense litigation firm with more than 400 attorneys across 26 offices, is seeking a full-time Docketing Specialist for its Chicago, Illinois office. The role is responsible for calendaring court dates, tracking deadlines, and maintaining dockets across multiple jurisdictions. It also provides regular reports of response dates and supports special projects and research assignments in collaboration with legal support staff and other firm docket specialists.

The Docketing Specialist handles docketing for state, federal, appellate, bankruptcy, and administrative matters. The position requires analyzing pleadings and court orders, calculating deadlines under applicable procedural rules, monitoring court queues for updates that require immediate action, managing high-volume and expedited requests, and maintaining accurate case records and docket histories. The specialist also supports quality control, prepares reports and deadline summaries, advises attorneys and legal staff on procedural deadlines, and contributes to docketing software, workflow, and procedure improvements.

The position is based in the Chicago office and offers a flexible hybrid schedule. The firm describes its environment as collegial and collaborative, with direct client interaction and significant responsibility on complex legal matters.

Requirements

• 4–6 years of progressive docketing experience, with a background in docketing or litigation support and administration in a high-volume setting.
• Strong understanding of the litigation process and federal, state, and local court rules and procedures.
• Strong understanding of docketing software.
• Proficiency in Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Office, including Outlook and Excel.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail, organization, and time management.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of Illinois state and federal court rules and procedures is strongly preferred.
• Multi-state docketing experience.
• Experience with CourtAlert.
• Familiarity with eFileIL and the Cook County Clerk’s online case search.
• Paralegal certificate or other legal education.

Responsibilities

• Perform litigation docketing for state, federal, appellate, bankruptcy, and administrative matters.
• Docket matters in Cook County and collar county courts; the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Central, and Southern Districts of Illinois; the Illinois Appellate and Supreme Courts; and the Seventh Circuit.
• Apply applicable procedural rules when calculating deadlines, including the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure, Illinois Supreme Court Rules, Cook County Circuit Court rules and General Orders, and N.D. Ill. Local Rules.
• Support docketing for other offices, states, and practice areas, applying each jurisdiction’s rules for service, response periods, and court holidays.
• Analyze pleadings and court orders independently to determine applicable deadlines.
• Calculate deadlines involving multiple service methods, continuances, and stipulations; research procedural rules, statutes, and local rules when deadlines are unclear.
• Monitor court queues for updates requiring immediate action.
• Manage high-volume docket requests, including expedited and high-priority requests, with exceptional accuracy.
• Perform quality control review of docket entries in collaboration with legal support staff.
• Process complex case transfers, consolidations, removals, remands, appeals, and related proceedings.
• Maintain accurate case records and docket history, and prepare reports and deadline summaries.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on court rules and procedural deadlines for attorneys and legal staff.
• Coordinate with attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, and litigation teams on procedural issues.
• Participate in testing and implementing docketing software, system enhancements, standard operating procedures, and workflow improvements.
• Stay current on rule changes affecting litigation deadlines.
• Support special projects and research assignments in collaboration with legal support staff and other firm docket specialists.

Benefits

• Flexible hybrid schedule.
• Formal mentorship, training, and development programs for associates.
• Competitive compensation and several annual bonus programs.
• 401(k) plan with employer contribution.
• Health insurance, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Life insurance.
• Flexible spending accounts for dependent care and/or health care expenses.
• Paid parental leave program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed