Litigation Attorney

Pay Scale: $140,000–$180,000 per year (base pay)

Additional compensation: In addition to base salary, attorneys are eligible to earn commission under the terms of their compensation agreement.

Work arrangement: On-site

The Role

Our litigation attorneys work in a pod model: Each pod pairs a Team Lead and experienced Associates with dedicated support staff (e.g., paralegals, litigation assistants), backed by firm-wide calendar, records, and settlement functions. As Team Lead, you own the outcomes of your team's portfolio. You set the strategy on every case, decide which to build and which to resolve, and make sure the work to get there is assigned and done. You personally handle the work only the most experienced attorney on the team can: Expert discovery, the key depositions, the high-value mediations, the complaints, and trial.

You also lead the team. You run team meetings and one-on-ones, set the demand cadence, coach the Associates, review everything filed, and report weekly to litigation leadership. Team Leads who build strong teams and move large portfolios are the firm's next generation of litigation leadership.

Responsibilities

• Review every new case with the team, set its strategy and goals, and identify the work to be done
• Prioritize the portfolio: Build the high-value cases and resolve the ones that should settle
• Conduct the introductory call with every new client and own the relationship on the team's largest cases
• Draft complaints and ensure the correct parties are named within the statute of limitations
• Own expert discovery: Designate and manage experts, take defense expert depositions, and defend your own
• Take and defend the key depositions in each case, including high-value plaintiffs, defendants, and witnesses
• Prepare and attend high-value mediations; negotiate and settle within delegated authority
• Prepare and try cases, with the Associates supporting
• Set and track the team's weekly demand cadence, and prepare demands on the largest files
• Review everything filed with the court and ensure the team's compliance with the firm's AI use policy
• Lead the team: Team meetings, one-on-ones, coaching, conflict resolution, and a weekly status report to litigation leadership

Qualifications

Required

• Juris Doctor and an active license to practice law in the state in which this role sits
• Five or more years of civil litigation experience, including at least three years of plaintiff-side personal injury
• Experience as lead counsel owning personal injury files start to finish, including sole responsibility for setting settlement value
• Experience preparing cases for trial
• Expert discovery experience: Taking defense expert depositions and defending your own experts
• Mediation experience as the attorney driving the process end to end
• Demonstrated ability to lead by example, delegate, follow through, and develop less experienced attorneys
• Strong negotiation skills and a deep understanding of how personal injury cases are valued and how value is created

Preferred

• Trial experience as first or second chair
• Prior experience leading a team of attorneys and support staff
• Daily use of a case management platform (e.g., Salesforce, Filevine)

Benefits

• Benefits package: medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• FSA or HSA option, depending on the selected medical plan
• 401(k) with 2% match after 90 days
• Paid time off (PTO) policy and paid holidays
• Ongoing mentorship, leadership support, and professional development and career advancement opportunities
• Bar dues and MCLE coverage

At Sweet James, we don't just offer jobs - we build careers. If you're ready to join a firm that values excellence with an unwavering passion for life changing results, we'd love to hear from you.