Litigation Associate Attorney

Palm Beach County Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators (PBCALA); North Palm Beach, Northern (FL, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Kitroser Lewis & Mighdoll, a boutique law firm in North Palm Beach, FL, seeks an experienced Litigation Associate Attorney to handle a broad civil docket from inception through resolution. The ideal candidate writes well, researches thoroughly, and advocates effectively, managing cases independently with teamwork across the firm.

Role includes mentoring, potential path to partnership, and a mix of in-office and hybrid work after one year based on performance and needs.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active Florida Bar member.
• Minimum 7 years of civil litigation experience.
• Experience with pleadings, motion practice, discovery, depositions, hearings, and trial preparation.
• Ability to manage multiple matters with deadlines independently.
• Strong research, writing, analytical, and advocacy skills.
• Estate Planning/Trusts/Elder Law exposure preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage a diverse civil litigation caseload through all stages.
• Communicate with clients on case strategy, developments, and deadlines.
• Develop case strategy, identify issues, assess risk, and provide recommendations.
• Prepare pleadings, motions, and discovery materials for depositions, hearings, and trials.
• Prepare witnesses for depositions and coordinate with experts.
• Attend in-person or remote hearings, mediations, arbitrations, and trials.
• Lead or participate in settlement negotiations and evaluate offers.
• Maintain timekeeping and meet billing hour requirements.
• Collaborate with partners, staff, and clients to manage workloads.
• Pursue professional development in Trusts and Estates.

Skills

Legal writing

Legal research

Oral communication

Organization

Case management

Independent work

Team collaboration

Tech proficiency

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Tools

Clio Manage

Clio Grow

NetDocuments

Adobe Acrobat

Kofax

LexisNexis

Microsoft 365

Job description

Full-Time (8:30 am – 5:00 pm) | North Palm Beach, Florida 33408

A hybrid work option may be available following one year of continuous service, subject to performance, demonstrated independence, and the needs of the firm at that time.

ABOUT THE FIRM:

Kitroser Lewis & Mighdoll is a respected boutique law firm headquartered in North Palm Beach, Florida, serving clients throughout Palm Beach County. Our practice focuses on Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Administration, Guardianship, Medicaid and Special Needs Planning, and related litigation. We have built a strong reputation within the local legal community for sophisticated counsel and exceptional client service, and our firm's vision is to become our community's trusted legal advisors to the individuals and families we serve throughout every stage of life.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Litigation Associate Attorney to join our growing team. The ideal candidate is a skilled legal writer, researcher, and advocate with sound judgment, strong initiative, and a prepared, professional approach to the practice of law. The ideal candidate can independently manage a caseload from inception through final resolution, communicate effectively with clients, third parties, and collaborate closely with attorneys, paralegals, and administrative staff in a fast-paced environment.

A minimum of 7 years of substantive civil litigation experience is required, along with demonstrated litigation experience and strong research, writing, analytical, and advocacy skills. Prior experience in Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Administration, Guardianship Administration, Elder Law, or related Trusts and Estates matters is preferred but not required. The firm will provide practice-specific training, CLEs, resources, and mentorship for an accomplished litigator looking to expand into these areas.

This is a long-term opportunity within a collaborative firm, offering meaningful pathways for career advancement, increased responsibility and autonomy, client development, and leadership, including future partnership considerations based on performance, professional growth, business generation, and a demonstrated commitment to the firm and its values. We expect a Litigation Associate Attorney to bring a high degree of independence, accountability, and ownership to the role from the outset.

RESPONSIBILITIES (Include, but are not limited to):

• Independently manage a diverse civil litigation caseload from initial consultation and case strategy through discovery, mediation, trial, and final resolution
• Communicate proactively and professionally with clients regarding case strategy, developments, deadlines, and other relevant aspects of their legal matter(s)
• Develop case strategy, identify legal and factual issues, assess risk, and provide practical recommendations on the progression and resolution of matters
• Prepare, draft and review pleadings, motions, petitions, memoranda of law, discovery requests and responses, and other litigation related documents and/or materials to prepare and participate in depositions, hearings, mediations, and trial with prioritization to emergency matters, including emergency guardianship proceedings, injunctions, and other legal matters requiring expedited court intervention
• Prepare witnesses and clients for depositions, hearings, mediations, and trial, and coordinate with experts and other professionals as needed
• Prepare for and attend in-person and remote hearings, depositions, mediations, arbitrations, evidentiary proceedings, and trials, advocating effectively on behalf of clients
• Lead or participate in settlement negotiations and evaluate settlement offers while advising clients of potential risks, benefits and outcomes
• Own case deadlines, court requirements, discovery obligations, and other critical dates in accordance with firm and team/firm calendaring protocols
• Coordinate professionally with opposing counsel, court personnel, financial advisors, accountants, tax professionals, care professionals, experts, and other third-parties
• Prepare and e-file pleadings and other court documents in Florida state courts via the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, ensuring compliance with procedural requirements and deadlines
• Delegate assignments to paralegals and administrative staff, provide clear direction, and review and/or approve work product while retaining ultimate responsibility for assigned matters
• Collaborate with partners, fellow attorneys, paralegals, and administrative staff to manage caseloads, workflow, and client needs
• Assess and manage appellate issues, or coordinate with appellate counsel as needed
• Maintain complete, accurate, and contemporaneous time-keeping records, meeting the firm's minimum annual requirement of 1,600 billable hours and 200 non-billable hours for a total of 1,800 hours (subject to adjustment based on workload and firm needs
• Review and edit Retainer Agreements, as appropriate; monitor retainer and escrow balances in coordination with the intake and billing teams; and communicate with clients regarding outstanding fee obligations and retainer replenishment requirements to ensure compliance with the terms of the applicable Retainer Agreement.
• Pursue ongoing professional development and practice-area training, including building proficiency in Trusts and Estates and Elder Law
• Participate in client development, professional networking, and community involvement to support growth of the firm's Litigation and Trusts and Estates practices and to build an individual book of business

REQUIREMENTS:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school
• Active member in good standing with The Florida Bar
• Admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts in Florida - preferred but not required
• Minimum of 7 years of civil litigation experience, including independently managing matters through multiple stages of litigation
• Demonstrated experience with pleadings, motion practice, discovery, depositions, hearings, mediations, and trial preparation
• Exceptional legal research, writing, analytical, and advocacy skills
• Strong organizational and case-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple matters, competing priorities, and critical deadlines independently
• Sound professional judgment and the ability to take initiative, exercise appropriate independence, and proactively identify and resolve issues
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a strong commitment to client service and professionalism
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively with attorneys, paralegals, and administrative staff in a fast-paced environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Outlook, Excel, and Teams
• Experience with legal practice-management or document-management systems, legal research platforms, and other legal technology is preferred; the firm currently uses Clio Manage and Clio Grow, NetDocuments, Adobe Acrobat and Kofax, and LexisNexis, and will provide training on firm-specific systems as needed