Litigation Associate

Partners Legal Search; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Partners Legal Search is seeking a Commercial Litigation Associate for its Salt Lake City office to handle sophisticated business disputes for national and regional clients.

You will work across all phases of complex litigation in state and federal courts, with exposure to discovery, depositions, motion practice, hearings, settlement negotiations, and trial preparation. Midlevel opportunity with direct client interaction and case ownership.

Qualifications

• J.D. from ABA-accredited law school.
• 4–6 years of commercial or business litigation experience.
• Utah Bar admission or ability to obtain timely admission.
• Substantial experience handling complex litigation in state and federal courts.
• Strong discovery and motion practice experience.
• Experience taking and defending depositions.
• Excellent legal writing and oral advocacy skills.
• Trial preparation and settlement negotiation experience preferred.
• Strong academic credentials.
• Excellent interpersonal and client-service skills.
• Ability to thrive in a sophisticated, busy, and collaborative litigation environment.

Responsibilities

• Handle complex business and commercial litigation matters.
• Manage written and document discovery.
• Draft pleadings, dispositive motions, briefs, and other court filings.
• Take and defend depositions.
• Prepare witnesses for testimony.
• Appear at hearings and status conferences.
• Argue motions in state and federal court.
• Participate in settlement conferences and negotiations.
• Assist with trial strategy and preparation.
• Conduct sophisticated legal research and analysis.
• Work directly with clients on case strategy and developments.

Skills

Litigation experience

Oral advocacy

Legal writing

Deposition experience

Motion practice

Trial prep

Client interaction

Education

J.D. from ABA-accredited law school

Job description

Our Am Law 100 client is seeking a Commercial Litigation Associate to join its Salt Lake City office. This is an excellent opportunity for a midlevel litigator looking to take on meaningful responsibility while handling sophisticated business disputes for national and regional clients.

The associate will work across all phases of complex litigation in state and federal courts, with substantial exposure to discovery, depositions, motion practice, hearings, settlement negotiations, and trial preparation.

Role Overview

The associate will play an active role in managing complex commercial disputes, including:

• Handling complex business and commercial litigation matters
• Managing written and document discovery
• Drafting pleadings, dispositive motions, briefs, and other court filings
• Taking and defending depositions
• Preparing witnesses for testimony
• Appearing at hearings and status conferences
• Arguing motions in state and federal court
• Participating in settlement conferences and negotiations
• Assisting with trial strategy and preparation
• Conducting sophisticated legal research and analysis
• Working directly with clients on case strategy and developments

At the midlevel, this role provides the opportunity to move beyond supporting matters and take on greater case ownership, strategic responsibility, and direct client interaction.

Candidate Profile

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school
• 4-6 years of commercial or business litigation experience
• Utah Bar admission or ability to obtain timely admission required
• Substantial experience handling complex litigation in state and federal courts
• Strong discovery and motion practice experience
• Experience taking and defending depositions
• Excellent legal writing and oral advocacy skills
• Trial preparation and settlement negotiation experience preferred
• Strong academic credentials
• Excellent interpersonal and client-service skills
• Ability to thrive in a sophisticated, busy, and collaborative litigation environment

Why This Is a Great Opportunity

• Join a nationally recognized Am Law 100 litigation platform
• Work on sophisticated commercial disputes for leading clients
• Take on meaningful case ownership at the midlevel
• Gain significant deposition, motion, hearing, and trial-preparation experience
• Direct interaction with clients and experienced litigators
• Strong mentorship and professional development
• Collaborative and collegial team environment
• Excellent platform to deepen your litigation experience, develop client relationships, and grow your own practice over time