Remote Patent Prosecution Paralegal

About the Company

Zirtual provides experienced virtual paralegal support to law firms across practice areas and states, serving both transactional and litigation needs. Its US-based paralegals work as important partners to attorney teams and are supported by an Account Supervisor who helps with coordination, quality feedback, delegation, and relationship management.

Role Summary

This remote position is for an experienced litigation paralegal who can support a sophisticated federal litigation practice on an independent contractor basis. The work is expected to average about 40 hours per month at the start, with room to increase over time. The schedule is flexible, though candidates who can overlap with Eastern Time business hours are preferred.

The paralegal serves as the primary contact for assigned client(s), works independently with law firms, and is expected to deliver accurate, timely, high-quality legal support. The role requires steady communication with clients and Account Supervisors, daily time entry, and adherence to Zirtual best practices. Work hours are based on client agreements, and all rates and client-specific details are shared in a Statement of Work when a client is assigned.

Core Responsibilities

Responsibilities will vary by client and practice area, but the role generally focuses on federal litigation support and related administrative coordination.

• Handle discovery tasks such as collecting, organizing, producing, and tracking documents.
• Support document review tools, including Reveal or similar eDiscovery platforms.
• Prepare routine federal court filings and supporting documents, such as notices of appearance, pro hac vice motions, corporate disclosure statements, extension requests, attorney declarations, exhibits, and related materials.
• Build and maintain claim charts, technical exhibits, patent claim records, and similar litigation files.
• Coordinate with expert witnesses by managing document transfer, organization, and tracking.
• Arrange depositions, including scheduling and exhibit management.
• Keep case files, evidence collections, and litigation databases well organized.
• Maintain correspondence records for client communication, opposing counsel communication, and other external exchanges.
• File documents electronically through federal ECF systems.
• Track deadlines, court calendars, and docketing obligations.
• Prepare, proofread, format, and quality-check legal documents, tables, exhibits, and court filings.
• Draft subpoenas and coordinate service with process servers and other vendors.
• Support attorneys with case management, litigation workflow, and trial preparation as needed.

Requirements

Applicants are expected to bring deep federal litigation experience and the ability to work independently in a remote setting.

• At least 10 years of federal court litigation experience.
• Hands-on experience with federal ECF filing systems and PACER.
• Experience using Reveal eDiscovery software or an equivalent document review system.
• Experience with Compulaw or a similar docket management platform.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills, including advanced formatting and table-building.
• Excellent organization, accuracy, and attention to detail.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fully remote environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Experience

• Background in patent litigation is strongly preferred.
• Experience creating claim charts and handling technical exhibits is preferred.
• Exposure to expert witness coordination and complex discovery is preferred.
• Trial preparation experience is preferred.

Compensation and Contract Terms

The selected candidate will be paid as a 1099 independent contractor. Compensation is client-specific and will be detailed in a Statement of Work for each assignment. Zirtual does not promise a minimum number of hours or client assignments, and joining the contractor network only makes the candidate eligible for matching with suitable client opportunities.

Work Style and Communication Expectations

The company is looking for someone who can take initiative, improve processes, stay organized across multiple priorities, and collaborate comfortably in a conversational environment. Paralegals are expected to communicate proactively with clients and Account Supervisors, respond within agreed turnaround times, keep client profiles current, and enter time daily using the provided tool. Availability should align with agreed client business hours, but 24/7 availability is not required.

Fraud and Recruitment Safety Notice

Zirtual warns applicants about impersonation and phishing attempts. The company states that it will never request payment or ask for sensitive financial information such as bank details, credit card numbers, or social security numbers. It also says it does not provide equipment and does not ask candidates to pay for equipment. Authentic recruiter emails are sent only from an @zirtual.com address. If any outreach looks suspicious, contains odd grammar, or asks for unusual information, candidates should avoid responding and should report it to [email protected].