Associate Attorney

Prevail Recruiting; San Juan Capistrano (CA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Boutique culture

Job summary

Prevail Recruiting seeks an Associate Attorney to join its personal injury civil defense practice. The firm offers a collaborative, close-knit environment with meaningful responsibility and direct client contact.

The ideal candidate will manage cases, draft strong written work, and move matters efficiently toward resolution. The role involves handling a caseload of personal injury civil defense matters, including negligence, premises liability, motor vehicle accidents, and wrongful death, with

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in the applicable state.
• 5–10 years of civil litigation experience, with a strong preference for personal injury civil defense or insurance defense experience.
• Experience handling premises liability, motor vehicle accidents, general negligence, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, or related tort claims.

Responsibilities

• Manage personal injury civil defense matters from inception through resolution.
• Draft pleadings, motions, discovery, mediation briefs, status reports, and case evaluations.
• Conduct legal research and prepare persuasive written analysis.
• Take and defend depositions of parties, witnesses, experts, and medical providers.
• Attend hearings, conferences, mediations, arbitrations, and court appearances.
• Analyze liability, damages, causation, exposure, and settlement value.
• Develop case strategy in collaboration with partners and clients.
• Communicate regularly with clients, insurance carriers, claims professionals, opposing counsel, experts, and court personnel.
• Prepare cases for mediation, arbitration, settlement negotiations, and trial.
• Assist with trial preparation, including witness preparation, exhibits, motions in limine, and pretrial filings.
• Maintain organized case files and meet all litigation, court, and client reporting deadlines.

Skills

Litigation strategy

Legal writing

Depositions

Client communication

Case management

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Job description

A respected boutique firm is seeking an experienced Associate Attorney to join its personal injury civil defense practice. The firm is known for providing high-quality, strategic representation in a collaborative, close-knit environment where attorneys have meaningful responsibility, direct client contact, and the opportunity to make a visible impact. This is an excellent opportunity for a litigator who wants the sophistication of complex defense work without the bureaucracy of a large firm. The ideal candidate will be confident managing cases, drafting strong written work product, communicating with clients and carriers, and helping move matters efficiently toward resolution.

About the Role

The Associate Attorney will handle a caseload of personal injury civil defense matters, including general negligence, premises liability, motor vehicle accidents, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and related insurance defense matters. This is a hybrid role, offering flexibility while still requiring availability for in-person collaboration, hearings, depositions, mediations, client meetings, and trial-related needs.

Responsibilities

• Manage personal injury civil defense matters from inception through resolution.
• Draft pleadings, motions, discovery, mediation briefs, status reports, and case evaluations.
• Conduct legal research and prepare persuasive written analysis.
• Take and defend depositions of parties, witnesses, experts, and medical providers.
• Attend hearings, conferences, mediations, arbitrations, and court appearances.
• Analyze liability, damages, causation, exposure, and settlement value.
• Develop case strategy in collaboration with partners and clients.
• Communicate regularly with clients, insurance carriers, claims professionals, opposing counsel, experts, and court personnel.
• Prepare cases for mediation, arbitration, settlement negotiations, and trial.
• Assist with trial preparation, including witness preparation, exhibits, motions in limine, and pretrial filings.
• Maintain organized case files and meet all litigation, court, and client reporting deadlines.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in the applicable state.
• 5–10 years of civil litigation experience, with a strong preference for personal injury civil defense or insurance defense experience.
• Experience handling matters involving premises liability, motor vehicle accidents, general negligence, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, or related tort claims.
• Strong legal writing, research, oral advocacy, and analytical skills.
• Experience with discovery, depositions, motion practice, case evaluations, and mediations.
• Ability to manage a caseload independently while working collaboratively with a small, high-performing team.
• Strong judgment, professionalism, organization, and attention to detail.
• Client service mindset and ability to communicate effectively with carriers, claims representatives, and insureds.
• Trial or meaningful trial preparation experience preferred.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a practical, thoughtful litigator who enjoys hands-on case ownership and values a collaborative boutique environment. They should be comfortable working directly with partners, clients, and carriers while bringing sound litigation judgment, responsiveness, and a proactive approach to case management.

Why Join

This boutique woman-owned firm offers the opportunity to work in a supportive, entrepreneurial environment where attorneys are trusted with meaningful responsibility and valued as part of the firm’s long-term growth. The role is well suited for someone who wants strong mentorship, autonomy, flexibility, and a more personal culture than a traditional large‑firm setting.

Pay range and compensation package

Competitive compensation commensurate with experience, along with a benefits package and hybrid work flexibility.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The firm is committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace.