Managing Attorney

About the role

To lead and optimize a high-performing plaintiff trial team specializing in civil litigation. Drive exceptional case outcomes and firm profitability through strategic leadership, operational excellence, and talent development.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates strong business acumen in managing a contingency-fee-based practice, with a focus on firmwide financial performance and operational efficiency.
• Leverages technology to improve litigation workflows, case management, and team productivity.
• Drives cases proactively toward trial or favorable settlement, ensuring consistent forward momentum and avoiding unnecessary delays.
• Owns case strategy from intake through trial; conduct risk assessments, budget/scoping, and settlement posture.
• Review and refine pleadings, motions, discovery plans, and evidentiary strategy; ensure consistent, high-quality work product.
• First-chair or supervise key proceedings (motions, mediations, MSCs, and trial), as needed.
• Attorney Coaching & Trial Readiness: Coach associates and trial attorneys on deposition planning and execution. Lead trial-skills development: openings/closings, expert work-ups, and jury instructions. Conduct regular case "readiness" reviews.
• Financial & Business Acumen: Own financial performance and understand firm economics. Analyze cost versus return and case value versus effort. Maintain awareness of contingency-based practice, revenue, expenses, and profitability. Apply a multiplier mindset to scale the business and employees.
• Quality, Research & Writing: Provide clear, practical legal advice grounded in thorough research and analysis. Elevate written advocacy (motions, briefs, MSJs, objections) through structured feedback and templates. Represent clients in hearings, mediations, and other proceedings; drive principled, effective negotiation strategies.
• Hearings & Client Advocacy: Maintain strong client relationships; communicate proactively on case status, risks, and next steps.
• People Management & Workflow Optimization: Collaborate with Operations to improve intake, discovery, calendaring, and trial prep workflows (SOPs, checklists, processes). Partner with legal ops to leverage document management, tasking, and analytics; monitor deadlines and throughput. Contribute to staffing plans, capacity management, and vendor coordination (e.g., experts, court reporters, and other vendors). Mentor and train junior and senior attorneys. Foster a coaching mindset and provide structured feedback. Directly address and resolve conflicts with emotional intelligence. Champion a positive, growth-oriented culture.

Qualifications

• J.D. and active California Bar membership in good standing.
• 10-12+ years of civil litigation experience on the plaintiff's side, with meaningful trial exposure (first- or second-chair) and deep deposition practice.
• Supervisory/Management experience.
• Demonstrated ability to coach attorneys through discovery, depositions, dispositive motions, and trial.
• Proven legal research and analysis; excellent written and oral advocacy.
• Strong negotiation skills and experience resolving disputes efficiently.
• Outstanding organizational, analytical, and time-management abilities.
• Traits a fast-paced, team-led environment; fosters cross-functional collaboration.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Judgment: Aligns case strategy with client objectives and realistic risk assessments.
• Coaching Mindset: Elevates others through structured feedback, modeling, and repeatable frameworks.
• Operational Discipline: Builds and enforces SOPs, checklists, and timelines to ensure flawless execution.
• Communication: Clear, respectful, and timely, internally, with employees, clients, courts, and counterparties.
• Integrity & Professionalism: Upholds ethical standards and cultivates trust.

Success Metrics (What Success Looks Like)

• Improved deposition and trial outcomes.
• Reduced time-on-desk and fewer deadline exceptions via stronger workflows and calendars.
• Mechanically uplift in attorney and team performance (writing quality, hearing prep, trial readiness).
• Positive client feedback and sustained matter profitability within scoped budgets.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary (DOE); performance bonus eligible.
• Health, dental, vision, 401(k) with employer contribution.