Lead Trial Attorney – Complex Civil Litigation (CA)

Orion Placement; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 185,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dental insurance

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Vision insurance

Job summary

Orionplacement seeks an experienced trial attorney to lead or co-counsel in sophisticated civil defense matters in California, with autonomy from intake through trial. You must be licensed to practice law in California and bring substantial civil litigation and trial experience.

This full-time, on-site role offers opportunities to manage complex cases, take and defend depositions, and contribute to strategy at all stages, while collaborating with a high-caliber litigation team.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Active California Bar license in good standing.
• 8+ years of civil litigation experience.
• Significant insurance defense, personal injury defense, or complex civil litigation experience.
• First-chair or substantial second-chair trial experience preferred.
• Extensive experience handling depositions, motion practice, hearings, and courtroom appearances.
• Excellent legal writing, research, negotiation, and oral advocacy skills.
• Ability to independently manage multiple complex, high-exposure litigation matters.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage complex civil litigation matters from intake through trial or resolution.
• Develop and execute litigation strategy throughout all phases of a case.
• Draft and argue dispositive motions, procedural motions, and other substantive pleadings.
• Take and defend depositions of parties, fact witnesses, and expert witnesses.
• Handle court appearances, mediations, arbitrations, hearings, and case management conferences.
• Prepare clients, witnesses, and experts for depositions and trial testimony.
• Serve as lead or co-counsel during trial preparation and trial proceedings.
• Negotiate settlements and develop resolution strategies with clients and insurance carriers.
• Maintain strong client relationships while collaborating with attorneys, experts, and opposing counsel.

Skills

First-chair trial experience

Trial advocacy

Legal writing

Negotiation

Client relations

Education

Juris Doctor from an accredited law school

Job description

Pay: $200,000.00 - $300,000.00 per year

Why This Is a Great Opportunity

• Take on significant responsibility managing complex, high-exposure civil litigation matters from inception through trial or resolution.
• Serve as lead or co-counsel on contested matters and make a meaningful impact in the courtroom.
• Work alongside experienced litigators on sophisticated insurance defense and civil litigation matters.
• Enjoy a hybrid 3 days in office / 2 days remote schedule, subject to client and practice needs.
• Earn quarterly performance-based bonus opportunities on top of a highly competitive compensation package.
• Receive medical, dental, vision, FSA, 401(k) with employer match, paid vacation, and paid sick leave.

Location

Woodland Hills, California. This is a hybrid opportunity with 3 days per week in the office and 2 days per week remote, subject to client and practice needs.

Note

Applicants must be licensed and in good standing with the California State Bar and have 8+ years of civil litigation experience. Significant trial experience is strongly preferred, particularly candidates with first-chair or substantial second-chair experience.

About Us

We are a boutique civil litigation defense firm representing clients across insurance defense, personal injury, construction defect, employment, business disputes, and other complex matters. Our attorneys handle sophisticated cases with a strong focus on client service, strategic advocacy, and achieving excellent results. Confidential Employer.

Job Description

• Independently manage complex civil litigation matters from intake through trial or resolution.
• Develop and execute case strategy across discovery, motion practice, trial preparation, and resolution.
• Take and defend depositions of parties, fact witnesses, and experts.
• Handle court appearances, law and motion matters, case management conferences, mediations, and arbitrations.
• Draft and argue dispositive and procedural motions.
• Prepare witnesses and experts for depositions and trial testimony.
• Participate in and lead trial preparation while serving as trial counsel or co-counsel as appropriate.
• Negotiate settlements and develop resolution strategies with clients, carriers, and opposing counsel.
• Maintain strong professional relationships with clients, insurance carriers, experts, co-counsel, and opposing counsel.
• Accurately record billable and non-billable time while meeting annual productivity expectations.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Active California Bar license in good standing.
• 8+ years of civil litigation experience.
• Significant insurance defense, personal injury defense, or complex civil litigation experience.
• First-chair or significant second-chair trial experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage complex litigation matters through trial or resolution.
• Proven deposition, motion practice, and courtroom experience.
• Excellent legal research, writing, analytical, negotiation, and oral advocacy skills.
• Ability to manage multiple high-exposure matters in a fast-paced environment.

Why You Will Love Working Here

This is an opportunity to step into a high-impact senior litigation role where your judgment, courtroom skills, and case strategy will directly influence outcomes. You'll have meaningful autonomy, sophisticated matters, strong professional support, hybrid flexibility, competitive compensation, performance bonuses, and excellent benefits.

JPC-1638

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance