Paralegal - Supreme Court and Appellate

Sidley Austin•Washington, DC

6d•$125,000 - $165,000

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 requires overtime and may involve some travel. The role supports appellate cases before the United States Supreme Court and federal and state appellate courts. Responsibilities include helping prepare, review, format, and file briefs and other appellate submissions; organizing appellate records; tracking schedules and procedural requirements; summarizing orders and opinions; coordinating submission production and filing; preparing for oral arguments; and creating demonstratives and presentation materials. The paralegal also provides legal research and citation support, including expert-level Bluebook cite-checking, verification of record citations and authorities, research using legal databases, and assistance with procedural motions and tables of authorities and contents. The role involves managing case documents and filing systems, coordinating with trial teams and other stakeholders, overseeing Project Assistants or temporary staff when appropriate, and maintaining confidentiality and effective communication.

Requirements

BA/BS degree with strong academic credentials.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and Adobe Professional.
Strong research, analytical, and written communication skills.
Submit a writing sample with the resume.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, including proofreading skills.
Good judgment and the ability to work harmoniously and effectively as part of a team.
Well-developed analytical and problem-solving skills.
Self-starter who demonstrates ownership and commitment to the role.
Ability to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality.

Nice To Haves

Paralegal Certificate from an ABA-accredited program.
Prior experience supporting appellate or complex litigation matters.
Proficiency with Relativity, Case Notebook, and other eDiscovery software.

Responsibilities

Support attorneys in all phases of appellate litigation before the U.S. Supreme Court and federal and state appellate courts.
Assist with preparing, reviewing, and filing briefs, appendices, joint appendices, and other appellate submissions.
Compile and organize appellate records, including trial court documents, transcripts, and record excerpts.
Format briefs to comply with applicable court rules, including word limits, citation format, and technical requirements.
Track briefing schedules, deadlines, and jurisdiction-specific procedural requirements.
Draft and distribute 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 oral argument preparation, including assembling moot court materials and presentation binders.
Prepare demonstratives and other presentation materials as needed.
Perform Bluebook citation and cite-checking, proofread appellate filings, and verify record citations and 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 familiarity with Supreme Court and appellate court rules and procedures.
Support complex litigation matters transitioning from trial through appeal.
Maintain 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 writing and verbally.
Perform other duties as requested or assigned.