Senior Civil Trial Attorney

About the role

The ideal candidate will be joining a Fullerton, California office of a client organization seeking a Senior Civil Trial Attorney with 8–10 years of civil litigation defense experience and substantial first-chair trial expertise.

Responsibilities

• Litigation management: Handle all phases of civil litigation from case evaluation through trial, verdict, and appeal.
• Trial advocacy: Serve as first-chair trial counsel, conducting jury and bench trials, hearings, mediations, and arbitrations.
• Motion practice: Draft and argue dispositive motions, including Motions in Limine.
• Discovery: Manage complex discovery, depositions, and case-development strategies.
• Expert witness management: Identify, retain, and prepare expert witnesses for deposition and trial.
• Client communication: Provide clients with updates, risk assessments, and strategic recommendations.
• Maintain comprehensive case documentation and litigation calendars.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Active license and good standing with the California State Bar.
• Minimum 8–10 Years Of Civil Litigation Defense Experience.
• Proven first-chair trial experience in California State Superior Courts.
• Minimum of 6 jury trials and 3 bench trials taken to verdict.
• Strong knowledge of California Evidence Code and civil procedure.
• Exceptional legal research, writing, negotiation, and oral advocacy skills.
• Ability to independently manage complex, high-exposure litigation matters.

Qualifications

• Preferred Qualifications: Experience in public entity defense, government tort litigation, municipal law, or civil rights defense. Background in personal injury defense or law enforcement defense. Strong interest in complex, high-exposure civil litigation.

Skills

Superior courtroom presence and trial advocacy. Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Excellent legal research and writing skills. Effective negotiation and dispute-resolution skills. Ability to prioritize and manage multiple complex matters under demanding deadlines.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Retailment Plan with Company Match

Pay

$200,000 – $250,000 annually, depending on experience.

Schedule

Initial two weeks require in-office attendance at the Fullerton office. Transition to hybrid/semi-remote arrangement thereafter. Mandatory court appearances and periodic in-person meetings required. Candidates must reside locally and reliably attend office and California courts.