IP Litigation Legal Assistant

Benesch Law•Chicago, IL

5d•$85,000 - $110,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The IP Litigation Legal Assistant supports assigned attorneys and practice teams in delivering legal services, coordinating client, matter, document, billing, and operational support. The role calls for organization, initiative, sound judgment, discretion, responsiveness, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, client-service-driven environment. The position is based in Benesch’s Chicago office and is hybrid, with work-from-home flexibility. The assistant prepares and files intellectual property litigation documents; supports case and discovery management, deadlines, client and stakeholder coordination, calendars, billing, timekeeping, matter intake, and records; and coordinates travel and expenses. The role also provides practice-group backup and contributes to projects, process improvements, and business development support. Flexibility to work overtime, outside standard business hours, or on urgent matters is required when business needs require. Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent and at least seven years of litigation support experience in a law firm. Intellectual property or other complex litigation experience is strongly preferred. The position requires strong organization, communication, confidentiality, technical aptitude, and client-service skills, along with advanced Microsoft 365 proficiency. The salary range is $85,000–$110,000. Full-time positions are eligible for a discretionary bonus and a comprehensive benefits package.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
At least seven years of litigation support experience in a law firm environment.
Expertise in federal and state court filing procedures, electronic filing systems, and jurisdictional filing requirements.
Exceptional organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities, competing deadlines, and changing work demands accurately.
Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills and professional interaction with attorneys, clients, colleagues, and external stakeholders.
Sound judgment and ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint, and ability to collaborate on documents in SharePoint.
Technical aptitude and ability to learn and use legal, administrative, document management, billing, workflow, and business systems.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, client-service-driven environment with responsiveness and accountability.
Commitment to client service, professionalism, adaptability, and continuous improvement.
Proactive, solutions-oriented approach; ability to anticipate needs, identify issues, recommend practical solutions, and take ownership of assignments.
Flexibility to work overtime, outside standard business hours, or on urgent matters when business needs require.

Nice To Haves

Intellectual property litigation experience, including patent, trademark, copyright, or trade secret litigation, or other complex litigation experience.
Experience supporting filings before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, the U.S. International Trade Commission, or other intellectual property tribunals.
Experience with Intapp Time, Intapp Open, Emburse, Aderant, Adobe Acrobat, DocuSign, Intapp DealCloud, iManage, Litera, DocXtools, Best Authority, PACER, CM/ECF, Federal Circuit electronic filing systems, PTAB and TTAB filing systems, U.S. International Trade Commission filing systems, litigation support platforms, and related legal technology.

Responsibilities

Prepare, revise, format, redline, and proofread intellectual property litigation documents, including pleadings, correspondence, memoranda, motions, briefs, discovery materials, subpoenas, deposition notices, expert and claim construction materials, exhibit lists, pretrial and post-trial submissions, and trial documents.
Generate and maintain tables of authorities, tables of contents, appendices, exhibit indexes, and other complex document components in accordance with court, tribunal, client, and firm standards.
Maintain knowledge of e-filing procedures and requirements for federal and state courts, appellate courts, the Federal Circuit, PTAB, TTAB, the U.S. International Trade Commission, and other tribunals; make timely and accurate submissions.
Support intellectual property case management and coordinate with courts, tribunals, clients, witnesses, experts, consultants, vendors, and opposing counsel for hearings, depositions, mediations, arbitrations, claim construction proceedings, trials, and related proceedings.
Organize discovery materials, document productions, privilege logs, deposition exhibits, expert materials, hearing and trial binders, demonstratives, and other case documentation.
Monitor case deadlines and collaborate with the docket department to ensure accuracy and timely compliance.
Coordinate with attorneys, clients, opposing counsel, co-counsel, consultants, vendors, internal departments, and other stakeholders; arrange client meetings, calls, virtual meetings, conference rooms, meals, materials, and follow-up.
Manage attorney calendars, including meetings, key dates, filing deadlines, reminders, and competing priorities; use workflow tools and protocols to prioritize and track assignments.
Collaborate with attorneys, paralegals, docketing, e-filing, records, accounting, conflicts, and other business professionals to keep matters moving efficiently.
Enter, revise, review, and release attorney time entries; coordinate proforma and billing documentation review with accounting, attorneys, and other stakeholders.
Perform initial conflict checks; assist with new matter intake; open and close client matters; prepare engagement documentation; and maintain matter records in the document management system.
Create, maintain, organize, and close electronic and hard-copy client and administrative files in accordance with firm protocols.
Maintain organized case files and matter materials using naming, version control, confidentiality, and retention practices that support knowledge management and future access.
Coordinate domestic and occasional international travel, including itineraries, accommodations, ground transportation, and expense tracking; process expenses and coordinate reimbursements.
Provide backup support to practice-group team members during high-volume periods, absences, or special projects.
Participate in the practice-group support team and contribute to a collaborative, responsive, service-oriented culture.
Stay current on firm systems, technologies, workflows, templates, and best practices, including legal technology training and practice support standards.
Support special projects, process improvements, practice-group initiatives, business development support, and other administrative or operational duties as assigned.
Work overtime, outside standard business hours, or on urgent matters when business needs require.