Paralegal, State Litigation

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 320,000 students in 500+ schools and employing over 46,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life.  In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity.  Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

The CPS Law Department provides a full array of legal services to the Chicago Board of Education and the various departments and divisions of Chicago Public Schools. The State Litigation Unit (“State Lit”) represents the Board in civil suits filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County and also handles administrative matters and provides client counseling. Matters include personal injury cases ranging from slip and falls to sexual assault and death cases, mechanics liens, property tax appeals, construction cases, whistleblower claims, limited employment matters, breach of contract claims, debarments, bid protests, and FOIA litigation.

Job Summary: 

Reporting to the Deputy General Counsel for Litigation, the Paralegal provides paralegal support to assigned attorneys and general support across the Law Office. This role is of a confidential nature and has regular access to Law Office and other CPS Departments’ confidential files, data, and information, including confidential student and employee information. This is a full-time, non-exempt position that will be paid for time worked on an hourly basis.

The Paralegal will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Assisting attorneys with filing pleadings and in preparation of and during hearings, arbitrations, mediations, and trials, including preparing witness folders, exhibits, subpoenas, courtesy copies, and provides technology assistance

• Providing support with operational and administrative tasks related to workers’ compensation matters

• Representing the District at Administrative Hearings for City Building Department Citations

• Gathering information and documents from various departments and District systems relating to threatened litigation and pending litigation matters

• Assisting with discovery by drafting requests and preparing responses, and collecting, organizing, reviewing, summarizing and redacting a variety of records

• Maintaining and updating the state litigation docket and scheduling court reporters for depositions, hearings, mediations, and arbitrations

• Maintaining and organizing electronic case files in the Matter Management System following Unit and legal protocols

• Performing legal research on Westlaw and cite-checking briefs

• Assisting with cross-functional work and new initiatives

• Other duties as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Paralegal must possess the following qualifications: 

Required Education and Experience: 

• Associate degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum of five (5) years of administrative support or clerical work experience; or 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum of three (3) years of administrative support or clerical work experience

• Minimum of two (2) years of work experience in a legal environment is required 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Exceptional attention to detail with the ability to maintain accuracy while balancing multiple time-sensitive priorities 

• Excellent organizational skills; demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize a large volume of files in a dynamic, complex, fast-paced environment to meet and manage competing deadlines

• Ability to track and adhere to strict timelines and ensure all filings and other legal documents are submitted by required deadlines

• Able to take ownership of, and independently manage, tasks, timelines and systems, following tasks through to completion with little or no follow-up; knows when to ask questions

• Ability to maintain confidentiality related to sensitive information, videos, and documents

• Clear, effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills (speaking, writing, listening)

• Ability to define problems, analyze data, and outline valid conclusions and action steps

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to interact positively and professionally at all times with team members, other Law Department staff, executive offices, internal clients and external partners

• Strong typing skills and proficiency using Microsoft Word, Excel, Google Suite, and CM/ECF and Odyssey E-filing software

• Solid working knowledge of legal terminology and court procedures

• Proficiency or ability to quickly gain proficiency using CPS and legal systems and applications (i.e., Oracle, PeopleSoft, SSM, Aspen, Matter Management System, docket management, document review, e-discovery) 

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.