Associate

Sanchez Maselli Trial Attorneys; Woodcliff Lake (NJ); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dental insurance

401(k) with employer match

Gym and wellness membership

Bar dues & CLE

Job summary

Sanchez Maselli Trial Attorneys in Woodcliff Lake, NJ, seeks an Associate Attorney with zero to three years of civil defense litigation experience to join our Woodcliff Lake office. This is a true litigation role, handling pleadings, discovery, depositions, motions, and trial prep under partner supervision.

You will work directly with the partners, gaining early responsibility and a clear path to first-chair opportunities as you develop trial skills in state and federal court matters.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Admitted to practice in New Jersey; New York, Pennsylvania and/or Florida admission is a plus.
• Zero to three years of experience; civil litigation experience is preferred, particularly in personal injury or insurance defense.
• Strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills.
• Comfortable managing multiple deadlines and communicating directly with clients, adjusters, opposing counsel, and the court.
• Judicial clerkship experience, prior litigation experience, or trial advocacy or moot court experience in law school is a plus.
• A willingness to take on responsibility early and learn by doing.

Responsibilities

• Manage an active caseload of civil defense matters in the New Jersey Superior Court and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, with the opportunity to handle matters in other states as well.
• Prepare and respond to written discovery, including interrogatories, notices to produce, and requests for admissions.
• Take and defend depositions of parties, fact witnesses, and experts.
• Research and draft motions, including motions to dismiss, motions to compel, and motions for summary judgment, and argue them in court.
• Attend case management conferences, arbitrations, mediations, and settlement conferences.
• Prepare litigation reports, budgets, and evaluations for insurance carriers and corporate clients.
• Work with retained experts, investigators, and vendors.
• Assist with trial preparation and participate in trials.

Skills

Strong legal writing

Legal research

Analytical skills

Multitasking

Client communication

Education

Juris Doctor

Job description

Sanchez Maselli Trial Attorneys is a civil defense litigation firm headquartered in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, with additional offices in New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida. We defend businesses, property owners, public entities, transportation companies, and their insurers in personal injury, premises liability, employment, motor vehicle, construction, rideshare, commercial and professional liability matters in state and federal courts. We are a firm of trial lawyers, and we are growing. Learn more about us at smlawfirm.com.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an Associate Attorney with zero to three years of experience to join our Woodcliff Lake office. This is a true litigation role, not a document review or research-only position. From the outset, the associate will carry a caseload of active defense matters under the supervision of the firm’s partners and will handle the day-to-day work of moving those cases forward: pleadings, written discovery, depositions, motion practice, court appearances, and reporting to clients.

Because we are a newly formed and growing firm, the associate will work directly with the partners rather than through layers of senior associates. That means early responsibility, direct feedback on your work, and a clear path to first-chairing depositions, arguing motions, and trying cases as your skills develop.

What You Will Do

• Manage an active caseload of civil defense matters in the New Jersey Superior Court and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, with the opportunity to handle matters in other states as well
• Prepare and respond to written discovery, including interrogatories, notices to produce, and requests for admissions
• Take and defend depositions of parties, fact witnesses, and experts
• Research and draft motions, including motions to dismiss, motions to compel, and motions for summary judgment, and argue them in court
• Attend case management conferences, arbitrations, mediations, and settlement conferences
• Prepare litigation reports, budgets, and evaluations for insurance carriers and corporate clients
• Work with retained experts, investigators, and vendors
• Assist with trial preparation and participate in trials

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school
• Admitted to practice in New Jersey; New York, Pennsylvania and/or Florida admission is a plus
• Zero to three years of experience; civil litigation experience is preferred, particularly in personal injury or insurance defense
• Strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills
• Comfortable managing multiple deadlines and communicating directly with clients, adjusters, opposing counsel, and the court
• Judicial clerkship experience, prior litigation experience, or trial advocacy or moot court experience in law school is a plus
• A willingness to take on responsibility early and learn by doing

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary range of $100,000 to $130,000, depending on experience, with billable hour bonuses
• Dental insurance
• 401(k) with employer match
• Gym and wellness membership through Wellhub
• Bar dues, continuing legal education, and professional development support