Paralegal - Supreme Court and Appellate

Sidley Austin LLP • Washington, DC

4d • $89,000 - $121,000

About The Position

The litigation paralegal will support all aspects of large-scale, complex litigation primarily within the Supreme Court and Appellate group. The position will require overtime and may involve some travel.

Requirements

• BA/BS with strong academic credentials
• At least five years of paralegal experience at a medium or large law firm, or equivalent experience in academia, including work toward and completion of an advanced degree
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office applications and Adobe Professional
• Strong research, analytical and written communication skills
• A writing sample must be submitted with the resume
• Excellent organizational skills
• Excellent attention to detail and proofreading skills
• Good judgment
• Works harmoniously and effectively with others as part of a team
• Well-developed analytical and problem-solving skills
• A self-starter who shows ownership and commitment to the role
• Exercises discretion and maintains confidentiality

Nice To Haves

• Paralegal Certificate from an ABA accredited program
• Prior experience supporting appellate or complex litigation matters
• Proficient in the use of Relativity, Case Notebook and other eDiscovery software

Responsibilities

• Support attorneys in all phases of appellate litigation, including matters before the United States Supreme Court and federal and state appellate courts
• Assist with preparation, review and filing of briefs, appendices, joint appendices and other appellate submissions
• Compile and organize appellate records, including trial court documents, transcripts and record excerpts
• Format briefs in strict compliance with applicable court rules, including word limits, citation format and technical requirements
• Track briefing schedules, deadlines and jurisdiction-specific procedural requirements
• Draft and distribute high-level summaries of appellate orders and opinions to the Supreme Court and Appellate group
• Coordinate printing, binding, service and electronic filing of appellate submissions
• Assist with preparation for oral arguments, including assembling moot court materials and presentation binders
• Prepare demonstratives and other presentation materials as needed
• Perform expert-level Bluebook citation and cite-checking, including proofreading briefs and other appellate filings with exceptional precision and attention to detail
• Verify record citations and confirm accuracy of quoted authorities
• Conduct legal and procedural research using Westlaw, LexisNexis, PACER, and related tools
• Assist with drafting procedural motions and preparing tables of authorities and contents
• Maintain in-depth familiarity with Supreme Court and appellate court rules and procedures
• Support complex litigation matters transitioning from trial through appeal
• Maintain organized tracking systems for filings, deadlines and case developments
• Coordinate with trial teams to obtain and organize materials relevant to appellate review
• Manage electronic and hard copy documents using Firm-specific technology
• Prepare and process electronic filings using PACER, CM/ECF and other court-specific systems
• Maintain databases of briefs, opinions and key authorities
• Coordinate with attorneys, business professionals, vendors and court personnel regarding appellate matters
• Delegate tasks to and oversee Project Assistants and temporary staff when appropriate
• Maintain proficiency in technology relevant to appellate practice
• Communicate clearly and effectively in written and verbal formats
• Perform other duties as requested or assigned

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level