What are the responsibilities and job description for the Paralegal - Litigation position at Porter Hedges LLP?
Brief Description
Paralegal - Litigation Section (Houston)
Porter Hedges is seeking an experienced Paralegal to support attorneys in our Litigation Practice Group. This position will provide substantive litigation and trial support to attorneys handling complex matters involving commercial, construction, employment, intellectual property, energy, and other business disputes.
The ideal candidate will be an experienced litigation paralegal with strong organizational skills, a thorough understanding of the litigation process, and experience managing electronic discovery and litigation support technologies. This role offers the opportunity to work on sophisticated matters from case inception through trial and appeal as part of a collaborative litigation team.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
This position operates in a professional office environment. While some remote work flexibility is available, the role requires a consistent in-office presence to effectively support attorneys and professional staff members. This position regularly uses standard office equipment, including computers, phones, photocopiers, scanners, and filing cabinets, as well as a range of digital platforms for communication, project management, and document sharing.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a keyboard, mouse or touch pad, and monitor while sitting for several hours daily. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, climb or balance, stoop, kneel or crouch, and lift office supplies up to 20 pounds. Regular communication with attorneys, staff, clients, opposing counsel, and vendors is routinely required by phone, email, and video conferencing during normal business hours and occasionally extended hours when approaching a deadline.
Position Type / Expected Hours Of Work
Summary
About Porter Hedges LLP
Founded in 1981, Porter Hedges is a full-service Houston-based law firm with an office in Oklahoma City. Our team includes business and trial lawyers experienced in a wide range of legal services across a broad spectrum of industries with preeminence in the energy industry. We are known for handling sophisticated transactions and complex litigation on behalf of a diverse group of clients in established and growing industries. We represent public and private companies and are recognized for both the depth of our experience and the ability to meet our clients’ business objectives. Our team has particular experience in energy transactions, corporate M&A, commercial litigation, bankruptcy, commercial lending and finance, real estate, and construction law.
Paralegal - Litigation Section (Houston)
Porter Hedges is seeking an experienced Paralegal to support attorneys in our Litigation Practice Group. This position will provide substantive litigation and trial support to attorneys handling complex matters involving commercial, construction, employment, intellectual property, energy, and other business disputes.
The ideal candidate will be an experienced litigation paralegal with strong organizational skills, a thorough understanding of the litigation process, and experience managing electronic discovery and litigation support technologies. This role offers the opportunity to work on sophisticated matters from case inception through trial and appeal as part of a collaborative litigation team.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Assist attorneys with all phases of litigation, including case assessment, discovery, motion practice, hearings, arbitration, mediation, trial, and appeal.
- Maintain general contact with clients, court personnel, governmental representatives, vendors, experts, attorneys, and Firm personnel under attorney supervision.
- Conduct investigations and perform documentary, public records, and legal research.
- Draft legal documents, correspondence, pleadings, discovery requests and responses, subpoenas, notices, affidavits, and other litigation-related documents for attorney review.
- Prepare document productions and manage discovery processes, including collection, review, organization, and production of paper and electronically stored information (ESI).
- Coordinate and support eDiscovery activities, including document preservation, collections, processing, review workflows, privilege reviews, and production tracking.
- Establish, maintain, and manage case databases, document repositories, and litigation tracking systems.
- Utilize eDiscovery, document review, and document management platforms to organize, analyze, and retrieve case information efficiently.
- Review, organize, and analyze large volumes of case documents and data; identify key evidence, timelines, and issues relevant to litigation strategy.
- Summarize depositions, witness interviews, discovery responses, and other case materials.
- Coordinate preparation of exhibits, witness files, deposition notebooks, hearing notebooks, trial binders, and trial presentations.
- Attend depositions, hearings, arbitrations, mediations, and trials as needed to provide litigation support.
- Operate trial presentation and exhibit management software, including Sanction or similar litigation support platforms.
- Maintain accurate matter files and ensure compliance with court rules, scheduling orders, and litigation deadlines.
- Record time and prepare detailed billing entries in accordance with Firm policies and client requirements.
- Assist with special projects and perform other duties as assigned.
- High school diploma or equivalent required; Associate's degree, Bachelor's degree, or Paralegal Certificate from an ABA-approved or accredited program preferred.
- Minimum of 2 years of litigation paralegal experience in a law firm environment.
- Experience supporting complex commercial litigation matters required.
- Experience with eDiscovery platforms, document review tools, and litigation support technologies.
- Experience managing large document collections and electronically stored information (ESI).
- Trial experience and trial preparation experience required.
- Construction litigation experience is a plus but not required.
- Strong knowledge of state and federal court procedures, rules, and filing requirements.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, document management systems, and litigation support software.
- Experience with Relativity, RelOne, Everlaw, DISCO, or similar eDiscovery platforms preferred.
- Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple matters simultaneously and work effectively under tight deadlines.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a collaborative team environment.
This position operates in a professional office environment. While some remote work flexibility is available, the role requires a consistent in-office presence to effectively support attorneys and professional staff members. This position regularly uses standard office equipment, including computers, phones, photocopiers, scanners, and filing cabinets, as well as a range of digital platforms for communication, project management, and document sharing.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a keyboard, mouse or touch pad, and monitor while sitting for several hours daily. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, climb or balance, stoop, kneel or crouch, and lift office supplies up to 20 pounds. Regular communication with attorneys, staff, clients, opposing counsel, and vendors is routinely required by phone, email, and video conferencing during normal business hours and occasionally extended hours when approaching a deadline.
Position Type / Expected Hours Of Work
- Ability to work a minimum of 40 hours weekly with additional hours as needed.
- Eligible for a hybrid work schedule after 90 days (3 days in office, 2 days remote).
- Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance, plus paid time off and holidays.
- Option to participate in the Firm's 401(k) and discretionary profit-sharing program.
- Firm-paid garage parking or Firm-paid monthly METRO bus pass.
- Complimentary access to the building gym.
- Access to building amenities, including virtual Topgolf, shuffleboard, and a pool table.
Summary
About Porter Hedges LLP
Founded in 1981, Porter Hedges is a full-service Houston-based law firm with an office in Oklahoma City. Our team includes business and trial lawyers experienced in a wide range of legal services across a broad spectrum of industries with preeminence in the energy industry. We are known for handling sophisticated transactions and complex litigation on behalf of a diverse group of clients in established and growing industries. We represent public and private companies and are recognized for both the depth of our experience and the ability to meet our clients’ business objectives. Our team has particular experience in energy transactions, corporate M&A, commercial litigation, bankruptcy, commercial lending and finance, real estate, and construction law.