In-House Staff Litigation Attorney

Hillsbar; Odessa (FL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits package

Paid time off

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

City of Plant City seeks an experienced In-House Litigation Staff Attorney with a focus on collections and creditor's rights in Florida. The role requires handling litigation from inception through resolution, defending and pursuing actions, and coordinating with the General Counsel and internal teams.

In-house or law firm creditor experience is valued. The position is based in Odessa, Florida, with duties primarily in-office and limited travel within the Tampa Bay region for court appearances

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school required.
• Active Florida Bar license in good standing.
• 1–3 years of Florida litigation experience, with collections/creditor's rights exposure.
• In-house experience appreciated but not required.
• Strong written and oral advocacy skills.
• Solid legal research abilities and clear communication of findings.
• Ability to manage a caseload independently.
• Experience assessing risk and shaping litigation strategy.
• Excellent negotiation and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement legal strategies to protect the company’s interests and minimize risk.
• Represent the company in pre-suit and litigation matters in Florida courts and collaborate with outside counsel as needed.
• Manage all aspects of litigation including pleadings, discovery, motions, depositions, hearings, trials and appeals.
• Negotiate settlements and participate in ADR processes as appropriate.
• Oversee enforcement of judgments and post-judgment remedies in Florida.
• Supervise Florida bankruptcy, foreclosure and probate proceedings where the company has an interest.
• Ensure compliance with laws and company policies and provide Florida regulatory guidance.
• Maintain detailed case files and provide regular updates to senior leadership.

Skills

Litigation experience

Advocacy

Research skills

Negotiation

Risk assessment

Independent work

Case management

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school

Job description

We are seeking an experienced In-House Litigation Staff Attorney with a strong background in collections and creditor's rights to join our legal team. The attorney selected for this position will be responsible for handling litigation matters involving the company in the state of Florida, including pursuing collections actions and defending against claims, with a primary focus on creditor's rights. The ideal candidate will have prior litigation experience, a proven track record of representing creditors in a law firm or in-house setting, excellent advocacy skills, and the ability to manage cases from inception through resolution.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work closely with the Company’s General Counsel, Legal Department Manager, and internal business and legal team to develop and implement legal strategies to protect the company’s interests, assess and minimize risk, provide legal guidance on Florida matters, and manage outside counsel when necessary.
• Represent the company in pre-suit and litigation matters filed on behalf of the company in Florida state and federal courts, including breach of contract cases arising from non-payment on accounts. In conjunction with the General Counsel, the employee will also represent the company in defense of claims filed against the company, occasionally collaborating with outside legal counsel on a successful defense strategy.
• Handle all aspects of litigation, including pleadings, discovery, motions, depositions, hearings, trials, and appeals, as well as settlement negotiations.
• Negotiate payment arrangements and settlements and participate in alternative dispute resolution processes.
• Oversee the enforcement of judgments in Florida, including coordinating with internal teams and external parties to ensure the successful collection of awarded amounts and managing post-judgment remedies.
• Oversee Florida bankruptcy, foreclosure and probate proceedings in which the Company has an interest at stake.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and company policies, and provide guidance on Florida related regulatory and compliance related matters as requested.
• Maintain detailed case files and provide regular updates to senior leadership.

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law in Florida state courts and in good standing with the Florida Bar. Admission to practice law in other states is a plus, but not required.
• 1-3 years of litigation experience in Florida courts, preferably including a background in collections, consumer finance and creditor's rights, with experience handling litigation related to debt recovery, breach of contract, and enforcement of judgments.
• Prior in-house experience is a plus but not required.
• Strong written and oral advocacy skills.
• Strong research skills, with the ability to effectively communicate findings and proposed strategies.
• Ability to work independently and efficiently manage a caseload.
• Experience with assessing risk and developing litigation strategy based on the risk of litigation.
• Excellent negotiation skills and problem-solving abilities.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, and retirement options.
• Paid time off and flexible work arrangements.
• Opportunity for professional growth within a dynamic legal team.

Location:

• The company is based in Odessa, Florida. This position is primarily in office.
• Travel within the Tampa Bay region for court appearances and case management purposes is common, with occasional travel to other regions in Florida.