Remote Patent Prosecution Paralegal

About the Company

Zirtual provides experienced US-based virtual paralegals to law firms across transactional and litigation practices. The company focuses on supporting attorneys with practice-area-specific assistance while promoting a balanced approach to work.

Role Summary

This is a remote, independent-contractor paralegal role supporting a sophisticated federal litigation practice. The assignment is expected to average about 40 hours per month at the start, with room to expand. Candidates should be comfortable working independently and should be available during Eastern Time business hours as agreed with each client, though 24/7 availability is not required.

The paralegal serves as the primary contact for assigned client(s), works directly with law firms, and coordinates closely with the Account Supervisor for questions, plan updates, quality feedback, and collaboration support. The work is matched to the client’s practice area and state, and the exact pay rate and any role-specific additions are provided in a Statement of Work when a client is assigned.

Core Duties

• Handle discovery workflows end to end, including collecting, organizing, producing, and tracking documents.
• Support and administer document review tools such as Reveal or similar eDiscovery platforms.
• Prepare common federal court filings and related paperwork, including notices of appearance, pro hac vice motions, corporate disclosure statements, extension requests, attorney declarations, and supporting exhibits.
• Build and maintain claim charts, technical exhibits, patent-claim materials, and other litigation documents.
• Work with expert witnesses on document gathering, transfer, organization, and tracking.
• Coordinate depositions, including scheduling and exhibit management.
• Keep case files, evidence repositories, and litigation databases orderly and current.
• Manage correspondence records, including client communications and opposing counsel exchanges.
• Carry out electronic filing in federal court through ECF systems.
• Track deadlines, calendars, and docketing obligations.
• Proofread, format, and quality-check legal documents, tables, exhibits, and filings.
• Draft subpoenas and coordinate service with process servers and other vendors.
• Assist attorneys with case workflow, matter management, and trial preparation as needed.

Experience Needed

The role calls for a seasoned litigation paralegal with at least 3 years of experience performing the responsibilities listed above, and the general expectation for this division is a minimum of 3 years in similar work. For this specific assignment, the preferred profile is someone with 10 or more years of federal court litigation experience.

Working Style

This position is best suited to someone who is highly organized, detail-focused, proactive, and comfortable juggling several priorities at once. The ideal person enjoys improving processes, uses technology confidently, and can communicate clearly in a fast-moving, collaborative environment.

Requirements

• At least 10 years of experience in federal court litigation.
• Hands-on experience with federal court filing systems such as ECF and PACER.
• Experience using Reveal eDiscovery software or a similar document review platform.
• Experience with Compulaw or another comparable docketing system.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills, including advanced formatting and table creation.
• Excellent organization and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently in a fully remote setting.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Experience

• Background in patent litigation is strongly preferred.
• Experience preparing claim charts and handling technical exhibits is preferred.
• Experience coordinating expert witnesses and complex discovery matters is preferred.
• Trial preparation experience is preferred.

Terms and Conditions

The selected paralegal will be engaged as a 1099 independent contractor. Zirtual does not promise a fixed number of hours or client assignments. Joining the contractor network means you may be considered for opportunities that fit your background and interests, rather than receiving a guaranteed placement.

Compensation and Benefits

Pay is determined through a client-specific Statement of Work, which also notes any area-specific additions. The posting does not state a fixed salary amount. No equipment is provided by Zirtual, and candidates are not asked to pay for equipment. The recruitment process is free, and applicants should be cautious about impersonation scams.

Fraud Awareness

Official recruiter emails from Zirtual come only from an @zirtual.com address. The company will never request payment, banking details, credit card information, or social security numbers during hiring. If suspicious outreach is received, it should be ignored and reported to [email protected].