Senior Paralegal

We are currently seeking a creative, organized, and analytical Senior Paralegal to join our Legal team in our Chicago office. Under the direction of the VP Legal, you will be responsible for supporting in-house attorneys and outside counsel in investigations, discovery and resolution of disputes, including commercial and class action litigation, fair housing and employment disputes, construction and development litigation, contract and other business disputes. Working with key stakeholders both within our corporate office as well as on-site, this role will be accountable for the preparation of litigation responses and position statements, handling of certain claims, preparing contracts and reports, overseeing file and database maintenance, and other activities.

• Organized, Flexible, and Adaptable. You have a keen eye for detail and pride yourself on delivering quality work. You multitask well, re-prioritize accordingly, and meet deadlines consistently. You keep your cool during stressful situations, remain resilient, and quickly find solutions in order to meet the changing needs and priorities of the business.
• A Collaborator and Trusted Team Player. You enjoy partnering with others —whether internal or external— and build constructive working relationships that foster cooperation in order to get work done and deliver great results. You are united with teammates and follow through on commitments.
• A People Person. Building professional and high quality relationships with vendors and area businesses comes naturally to you. 
• Creative. You like thinking outside the box to come up with smart solutions to new challenges, and you embrace the opportunity to live in the gray.
• A Strong Communicator. Your writing and speaking skills are clear and effective, helping you connect well with others. Through your past experience, you’ve also built skills that help you effectively persuade and gain the support of others.
• Motivated. You invest extra energy to reach your goals.
• Energetic and Positive. You are an outgoing, gregarious brand ambassador who motivates and excites others to elevate their performance.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Work collaboratively across EQR departments and functions to establish and update a strategic plan that maximizes value and enhances returns for every asset within the portfolio.
• Participate in investigation of claims and matters in suit and pre-litigation, which may include independent oversight of certain matters, as well as responding to discovery, administrative claims and other litigation-related requests and responses.
• Responsible for managing electronic discovery performed by the Company or outside counsel, including documentation collection and initial review; manage discovery databases and develop other methods for tracking data collected in connection with discovery and other litigation-related inquiries; and assist in developing strategies for effective and efficient management of litigation claims.  
• Responsible for gathering information and drafting correspondence, position statements and other written responses to attorneys and governmental agencies.
• Oversee responses for grievances, wage claims, and other similar litigation related tasks.
• Participate in the administration of the Company’s litigation matters, including tracking litigation holds and the Company’s matter management system.
• Perform online research using electronic research resources.
• Proactively participate in compliance-focused projects and activities.
• Maintain regular and timely communications with internal and external clients.
• Train junior staff members, as necessary.

• Bachelor’s degree with at least 7 years of  law firm or in-house experience required.
• Paralegal certificate preferred.
• Ability to effectively and objectively communicate and work with internal and external customers, as well as strong organizational skills and a keen eye for detail.
• Must be comfortable working autonomously and multi-tasking in a fast paced environment with changing deadlines. 
• Familiarity and previous experience with Microsoft Excel and Google Applications (Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Sheets) preferred.
• Strong Excel skills required.

Working for Equity Residential means being part of a community – employees and residents – striving to provide the best in apartment living, speaking boldly about new ideas for innovation, and inspiring creativity in the ways we live and work. Our portfolio of high-quality properties in urban growth markets – New York City, Boston, Washington DC, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Denver – provides homes where people most want to live, work and play. We've got the best people in the business, and our experience shows in our dedication to our residents and in how much we value each other as colleagues. That’s why our employees say they are proud to work at Equity, a company that gives our residents a place where they can “Live Remarkably,” and offers a culture where our employees have the opportunity to make their mark.

We recognize everyone has different needs outside of work. That’s why, in addition to a competitive benefits package (apartment discount, medical, dental, and vision coverage, and paid time off), we offer many unique options to employees, like family-friendly programs (New Parent Leave, adoption benefits, and more) and paid time off for community service projects. To learn more, view our Total Wellbeing page here.

Being a part of our Legal Services Team means that each day will be unique, requiring an ability to prioritize, take initiative, and employ a diverse set of skills. Expect to be challenged with a variety of assignments, from litigation-related tasks to compliance projects to drafting and analyzing documents.  We are a team that values collaboration and a “get it done" attitude.