General Liability / Transportation Litigation Attorney

Wilson Elser - Attorneys•Orange County, California, CA

4h•$155,000 - $250,000•Hybrid

About The Position

At Wilson Elser, we are redefining what it means to work at a national law firm. With more than 1,400 attorneys across 46 offices nationwide, we are recognized among the top 100 law firms by The American Lawyer and ranked #36 in the National Law Journal’s survey of the nation’s largest law firms. Our continued success is built on a culture of collaboration, innovation, client service, and mutual respect. We are committed to fostering an environment where attorneys are empowered to grow their careers, contribute meaningfully, and thrive professionally. Our firm is committed to attracting and retaining professionals who value each other and the service we provide by embracing teamwork, collaboration, client service, and innovation. If you are a motivated attorney looking for a long-term opportunity where you can grow, take ownership of your work, and be valued as part of a collaborative team, we invite you to apply for our General Liability / Transportation Litigation Attorney position in our Los Angeles or Orange County office. This position may be structured at the Associate or Senior Attorney level, depending on experience. We welcome candidates with 3+ years of litigation experience, as well as more senior attorneys who are comfortable independently managing complex defense matters. This position offers a flexible hybrid working arrangement. This is an excellent opportunity for attorneys with litigation experience who are looking to grow their careers and take on increased responsibility in a busy and sophisticated defense litigation practice. The role focuses on defending clients in general liability, transportation, premises liability, catastrophic injury, construction-related injury, hospitality/recreation liability, products liability, trucking, auto defense, and other complex civil defense matters. Attorneys earlier in their careers will have the opportunity to build on their litigation foundation through meaningful case work, mentorship, court appearances, depositions, motion practice, mediations, and direct client interaction. More senior candidates will have the opportunity to take on greater autonomy, manage complex matters, develop case strategy, work closely with clients and carriers, and gain hands-on trial experience. The ideal candidate will have strong litigation experience, excellent analytical and writing skills, and the ability to manage cases from inception through resolution as part of a collaborative team.

Requirements

JD from an ABA-accredited law school
Admitted to practice in California
3+ years of litigation experience required
Defense litigation experience strongly preferred
Experience with general liability, transportation, catastrophic injury, premises liability, construction-related injury, hospitality/recreation liability, products liability, trucking, auto defense, and/or other complex civil defense matters welcome
Experience drafting discovery, pleadings, dispositive motions, and pretrial motions required
Experience handling court appearances, depositions, mediations, and expert discovery preferred
Experience cross-examining plaintiffs, fact witnesses, and/or experts preferred
Trial or second-chair trial experience a plus
Superior analytical, writing, and communication skills
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage competing deadlines
Ability to work independently while also contributing to a collaborative team environment

Nice To Haves

Trial or second-chair trial experience a plus

Responsibilities

Draft pleadings, motions, briefs, legal memoranda, discovery, and other legal documents
Handle court appearances, depositions, mediations, and other litigation events
Manage a litigation caseload as part of a collaborative team, with level of independence based on experience
Develop case strategy, evaluate liability and damages, and work toward efficient resolution of matters
Communicate with clients, carriers, experts, opposing counsel, and witnesses
Prepare status reports, case evaluations, and other client-facing updates
Collaborate with attorneys across offices and practice areas, contributing to a cohesive and supportive team environment
For senior candidates, independently manage complex matters and help mentor more junior attorneys, as appropriate