Job Description & Details
This is a heavy-hitting litigation role for an attorney with 4-8 years of experience who is tired of being buried in a document review silo and actually wants to run depositions and see the inside of a courtroom. You'll be stepping into high-stakes business disputes where you'll own the files from day one, working closely with senior partners rather than just churning out footnotes. If you thrive in fast-paced environments and want real trial exposure without sacrificing a collaborative firm culture, this is worth a serious look.
What You'll Actually Be Doing
Your day-to-day will span the entire lifecycle of complex commercial litigation, meaning you'll be drafting aggressive motions, handling difficult written discovery, and taking and defending depositions. You won't just be researching abstract legal theories; you'll be synthesizing dense factual and technical records, prepping expert witnesses, and actively participating in mediations and trial prep. Expect to manage multiple fast-moving deadlines while keeping clients and internal teams tightly aligned on case strategy.
The Core Tech Stack
While legal tech varies, you need absolute fluency in the mechanics of California state and federal court litigation. This means deep, practical expertise in managing heavy-duty electronic discovery platforms, advanced legal research tools like LexisNexis or Westlaw, and robust case management software. Your written advocacy is your primary tool here, so pristine drafting skills for briefs, pleadings, and dispositive motions are non-negotiable.
Interview Expectations
Partners are going to test your composure under pressure, likely by asking you to walk them through a complex deposition where a witness went off the rails and how you saved the record. They are secretly looking for self-starters who don't need hand-holding, so be prepared to discuss a high-stakes motion you drafted independently and how you defended its core arguments against aggressive opposition.
Application Advice
To get past the ATS and land on the hiring partner's desk, your resume needs to explicitly mirror the language of the job description by highlighting terms like "complex litigation," "motion practice," "expert discovery," and "deposition experience." Don't just list where you've worked; quantify your wins by noting the size of the matters you've managed, your direct involvement in hearings, and your specific track record with California court filings.
