Sr Paralegal - Trial Division

If you're passionate about being part of a diverse organization that enables a Fortune 100 company with nearly $70 billion in annual sales to deliver innovative business solutions with excellence, then Nationwide's Legal team could be the place for you! At Nationwide®, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

Nationwide’s Trial Division is seeking a Sr. Paralegal to support attorneys in the management of litigation matters from case inception through resolution. This role provides comprehensive litigation support, including case management, court filings, discovery, deposition and expert coordination, trial preparation, and interaction with courts, vendors, and outside counsel. The successful candidate will be a key member of the litigation team, helping attorneys effectively manage active caseloads while ensuring deadlines, procedural requirements, and client service expectations are met.

The ideal candidate will possess significant litigation paralegal experience and be able to contribute with minimal ramp-up time. Strong knowledge of court procedures, filing requirements, discovery practices, deposition scheduling, expert coordination, and trial preparation is essential. Candidates with litigation experience from law firms, insurance defense organizations, staff counsel operations, or plaintiff firms are encouraged to apply.

This role follows Nationwide's SuccessFlex work environment. Columbus, OH is the preferred location , and candidates located in the Columbus area are strongly preferred. Candidates located in other Nationwide hub locations may be considered based on experience, qualifications, and business need.

Job Description Summary

Would you thrive in an environment where you can deliver top-quality legal services to support the mission of a Fortune 100 insurance company to protect people, businesses, and futures with extraordinary care? If you enjoy having a diverse workload, are adaptable, technologically skilled, possess strong collaboration skills and bring a team-oriented approach needed for success in a civil litigation environment, our team may be the place for you!

Nationwide Trial Division (NTD) is a national team with approximately 40 offices through four regions across the United States. Our Senior Paralegals require low to moderate guidance and oversight, have a strong working knowledge of property and casualty insurance defense and/or subrogation law, as well as strong knowledge in legal concepts, terminology, and processes. As a Senior Paralegal, you will provide pre-trial and trial support to a team of legal professionals representing clients under both commercial and personal lines insurance policies. You will support highly productive legal teams with a case volume that reflects our collective commitment to strategic and proactive file handling, innovative thinking, effective collaboration, embracing technology, and a highly organized approach to case management.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Provides direct pre-trial and trial support generally for litigated matters with varied complexity. Assists in the drafting, review, filing, and service of pleadings, motions, and at times complex motions such as motions in limine and dispositive motions, discovery, and subpoenas. Reviews and drafts documents for document production requests. Analyzes and drafts responses to incoming discovery. Reviews and summarizes medical records. Conducts legal research and writing assignments, which may include the preparation of medical chronologies, drafts impactful deposition summaries of fact and expert witnesses. Proactively assists the attorney to move case files to trial/resolution. May also attend case related events, provides trial support, and supports and/or is a change champion in technology.
• Brings a well-developed sense of organization to coordinate workflow, maintain filing and follow up system, and support the overall litigation strategy. Coordinates and schedules depositions, hearings, and meetings; and communicates with clients and expert witnesses.
• Provides administrative support to trial team(s), including the retrieval of information from our document management system, and the assembly of exhibits, binders, and appendices for depositions, court filings, hearings, and trial. Maintains working knowledge of court procedures and local rules. Reviews court dockets and retrieves case information.
• Understands and maintains confidentiality with respect to the attorney-client privilege/relationship, trial strategies, ethics rules, the identities of the plaintiff, defense clients and claims’ customers.
• Performs legal assistant and other administrative duties.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships :   Reports to Managing Trial Attorney.

Typical Skills and Experiences

Education :   Undergraduate studies in business administration, insurance, or other related area (s) preferred.

License/Certification/Designation :   Certification in paralegal studies strongly preferred and/or demonstrated insurance litigation related paralegal experience.

Experience :   Typically , five year s of experience in a paralegal capacity doing demonstrated insurance related litigation.

Knowledge , Abilities and Skills :   Has strong knowledge of each file assigned to trial team(s) and is capable of understanding the relevancy of case information. Has general knowledge of law office operations, practices, and procedures. Experience in filing and scheduling procedures of the various courts, the use of federal and state e-filing and e-Court systems. Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, and case management databases, such as Legal Files, is preferred. Understanding of both personal and commercial lines policies is preferred .  Strong verbal and written communication skills for interaction with attorneys, paralegals, court personnel, clients, and claims staff .  Strong research and organizational skills, detail oriented, focused, technologically savvy, adaptable to learning new systems and processes, and can prioritize and multi-task. Exercises independent initiative and judgment in daily tasks. Must also acknowledge and comply with all corporate and NTD policies and procedures. Complies with the private practice of law policy and the ethical rules of the state where the position is located .

Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.

Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and H uman R esource Business Partner.

Values :   Regularly and consistently demonstrates Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions

Overtime Eligibility : Eligible ( Non- Exempt )

Working Conditions: Professional law office environment . Potential for h ybrid work schedule . Occasional travel. Occasional overtime subject to approval .

ADA :   The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties .

Credit/Background Check :   Due to fiduciary accountability within this job, a valid credit and/or background check will be required as part of the selection process .

Benefits