Civil Rights Attorney

About the role

This Jobot Job is hosted by: MJ Gillette.

A bit about us: Jones Mayer is a premier California public sector law firm serving cities, counties, law enforcement agencies, public entities, and governmental clients throughout the state. The firm is highly regarded for its work in municipal law, police litigation, civil rights defense, government tort liability, code enforcement, and complex public sector litigation. With a strong reputation in high-stakes civil rights and law enforcement litigation, the firm regularly represents public agencies and officers in matters involving constitutional claims, Section 1983 litigation, excessive force allegations, unlawful arrest claims, Monell liability, qualified immunity, and related civil rights defense matters. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced civil rights litigation attorney who is confident handling sophisticated, high-exposure cases and serving as a trusted litigation advisor to public entity and law enforcement clients.

Responsibilities

• Manage civil rights litigation matters from inception through resolution, including case evaluation, discovery, depositions, motion practice, expert work, mediation, trial preparation, trial, and post-trial motions.
• Defend public entities, municipalities, law enforcement agencies, and individual officers in Section 1983 and related civil rights matters.
• Develop case strategy, evaluate liability and exposure, and advise clients regarding litigation risks, defenses, and resolution options.
• Prepare and argue motions, including dispositive motions, motions for summary judgment, motions involving qualified immunity, discovery motions, motions in limine, and post-trial motions.
• Take and defend depositions of parties, percipient witnesses, law enforcement personnel, experts, and other key witnesses.
• Lead trial preparation, including witness preparation, exhibit preparation, expert coordination, jury instructions, verdict forms, and trial briefs.
• Serve as first chair in civil rights, public entity, law enforcement, or related civil litigation trials.
• Represent clients in court appearances, mediations, settlement conferences, hearings, pre-trial conferences, and trials.
• Maintain regular communication with clients regarding case status, litigation strategy, risk assessment, and significant developments.
• Work collaboratively with attorneys, clients, experts, and support staff while also managing matters independently.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of litigation experience, with significant experience handling Section 1983 civil rights litigation.
• First-chair trial experience on Section 1983 matters required, with a minimum of 5 trials.
• Experience defending public entities, municipalities, law enforcement agencies, officers, or government clients strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of constitutional law, civil rights defense, Monell liability, qualified immunity, government tort liability, and related defenses.
• Excellent legal research and writing skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong deposition, motion practice, trial preparation, and courtroom advocacy experience.
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Admission to the State Bar of California required.