Legal Assistant - Litigation (Chicago)

At Taft, we work as one team, driven and committed to helping our clients succeed. A full-service law firm with more than 1,250 attorneys and over 2,000 on our team, we have the collaborative approach, advanced technological resources, and depth of services that make us a preeminent law firm.

Taft is currently seeking a Litigation Legal Assistant to join our team in our Chicago office.

We are seeking a Litigation Legal Assistant with 5+ years’ experience to support our Chicago office. A Legal Assistant serves clients by providing administrative support to attorneys and paralegals.  All Taft employees operate under a “Client First” philosophy—in all things, we seek to provide exceptional services to our clients.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Provides proactive administrative support for Litigation attorneys and paralegals. May assist in other practice areas, as needed.
  • Displays strong attention to detail.
  • Exhibits outstanding client service orientation in greeting guests, responding to work requests, scheduling meetings, and conducting telephone conferences.
  • Maintains strict confidentiality of matters and information.
  • Responds to requests with a sense of urgency and effectively prioritizes work.
  • Interacts with court personnel, attorneys and staff in a professional manner to obtain and provide data, answer questions, and resolve problems.
  • Prepares and reviews letters and memoranda according to Firm standards using word processing and document management systems.
  • Proactively monitors deadlines and docket entries.
  • Processes requests for payment and reimbursements.
  • Creates, maintains and retires files in accordance with Taft’s Information Governance Policy.
  • Assists in managing client contacts, emails, and print documents as well as processing mail.
  • Clearly communicates in a concise, professional manner.
  • Transcribes dictation.
  • Files documents with courts electronically.
  • Drafts documents and filings.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

  • Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office programs is required.
  • Proficiency with Kofax/Nuance, InTapp, LMS+, iManage, or equivalent programs preferred.
  • Knowledge of the litigation process and general court operations.
  • Ability to read and identify pleadings and other documents related to a litigation matter.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • Ability to reason and apply common sense understanding to resolve problems and carry out instructions furnished verbally or in writing.
  • Ability to occasionally work more than 40 hours per week.
  • Organize a large volume of documents by saving to various document management systems.
  • Prepare, edit, format and proofread a variety of documents (correspondence, pleadings, discovery).
  • Maintain calendars to track deadlines and status of cases, coordinate and schedule meetings, depositions, conference calls and sends calendar invites and reminders.
  • Experience in E-filing documents with various courts.

Education and Experience:

  • 5+ years’ Litigation legal assisting experience in a law firm or other legal setting.
  • Education beyond high school or coursework related to the legal industry preferred.
  • Ability to read, understand and interpret complex documents such as pleadings and other documents related to a litigation matter.

Interested candidates should apply here.

Taft offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life, long-term disability, flexible spending, 401K, Paid Time Off, paid holidays, bonus, and more. The salary range for this position is $32.97/hr. – $45.05/hr.  Actual compensation offer to candidate may vary from posted information based on work experience, education, and/or skill level.


Taft is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The information in this posting presents general duties, tasks, and responsibilities but is not intended to be an exhaustive listing. Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP participates in E-VERIFY.