Complex Litigation Attorney (3–8 Years) — Smithtown, Long Island

Lieb at Law, P.C. is hiring a litigation associate to join our boutique firm in Smithtown, Long Island office. We practice in state and federal courts, arbitration, and administrative proceedings throughout New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, with cases in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, New Jersey, and Connecticut. We also handle matters in other jurisdictions through local counsel or pro hac vice admission. We are particularly interested in attorneys based in Nassau or Suffolk County who can commute to Smithtown each workday. This position is fully on-site; remote and hybrid schedules are not available. The practiceWe represent plaintiffs and defendants in complex civil and commercial matters throughout New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, in state and federal courts, arbitration, and administrative proceedings.Attorneys work across business and ownership disputes, employment litigation, real estate and brokerage matters, construction and contract disputes, contested trust and estate matters, civil rights, and appeals. The caseload includes hourly and contingency matters. We have also launched Napkin Litigation™, a field of practice focused on business conflicts where the functional reality does not match the formal documentation. These disputes involve informal ownership arrangements, incomplete agreements, compensation promises, missing records, and conduct that differs from written terms. This work requires attorneys to reconstruct what happened, determine what the parties agreed to, trace assets, evaluate ownership and control, and identify the available claims and remedies. A single dispute may involve contract, corporate, employment, real estate, and fiduciary law. For attorneys who enjoy complicated factual records and questions that cross practice areas, this is a substantial part of the work. How attorneys spend their timeThe following is an approximate average based on our current associates’ work. Individual workloads vary with experience, assignments, and case deadlines.• 35% — Motion practice, briefs, legal research, and appeals: Analyzing legal issues and drafting motions, oppositions, replies, appellate briefs, and memoranda.• 16% — Discovery, depositions, and evidence: Preparing and responding to discovery, reviewing productions, addressing deficiencies and privilege issues, preparing witnesses, and taking or defending depositions.• 11% — Court, hearing, arbitration, and agency work: Preparing for and appearing at conferences, arguments, hearings, arbitrations, and administrative proceedings.• 10% — Investigation and case assessment: Interviewing clients, analyzing documents and communications, reconstructing events, and evaluating claims and defenses.• 7% — Pleadings and early case development: Drafting complaints, answers, counterclaims, amended pleadings, and initial case strategies.• 7% — Client advice and litigation strategy: Explaining risk, evaluating options, and recommending next steps.• 7% — Case and procedural management: Reviewing orders, monitoring deadlines, determining procedural requirements, and coordinating filing, service, and follow-up.• 4% — Negotiation and settlement: Evaluating settlement positions, preparing demands or submissions, and negotiating with adversaries.• 3% — Other professional and internal responsibilities: Training, billing compliance, professional development, and limited firm initiatives. Workload and expectationsAn associate typically has approximately 25–35 assigned matters, at different stages and not all active at once. Depending on the role, attorneys typically work on approximately four to nine matters during a working day. The annual expectation is approximately 1,800 qualifying client-matter hours. Substantive work on both hourly and contingency matters counts. Attorneys are expected to understand their assigned cases, manage competing deadlines, complete assignments, record time contemporaneously, and keep shared systems current. Partners review work and provide direct substantive feedback. Attorneys must be able to explain their analysis and recommendations. Relevant experienceNew York admission and 3–8 years of law firm litigation experience are required. Commercial and employment litigation backgrounds are particularly relevant. We will also consider contested trust, estate, probate, and fiduciary litigators with experience analyzing financial records, tracing assets, evaluating disputed intent, and addressing ownership or fiduciary obligations. Experience in every practice area is not required. Admission in New Jersey, Connecticut, or federal court is helpful. Compensation and benefits• Base salary: $125,000–$175,000, depending on experience and demonstrated ability.• Performance bonus opportunity based on collectibles.• Three weeks of paid time off and most federal holidays.• Health insurance and a 401(k).• Support for bar admissions and professional development. ApplyRead the full position description:https://www.liebatlaw.com/careers/litigation-attorney-smithtown-ny Email your resume, cover letter, and legal writing sample to careers@liebatlaw.com with the subject “Litigation Attorney Application.” In your cover letter, explain the type of legal work you want to do, the responsibility you are seeking, and where you would commute from.