Litigation Associate - Liability Defense

Leoforce; New York (NY); On-site; USD 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Leoforce is seeking a mid-level Litigation Associate for its New York office with experience in insurance defense or general liability. You will manage defense docket matters, including premises liability and motor vehicle defenses, across all phases from inception to resolution.

Ideal candidates have NY State Court practice knowledge, strong writing and advocacy skills, and the ability to work independently while coordinating with partners on strategy and reporting.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of litigation experience, ideally in insurance defense or general liability.
• Strong familiarity with New York State Court practice and procedure.
• Experience handling premises liability, motor vehicle or personal injury, and general negligence or tort-based claims.
• Prior deposition experience (taking and defending).
• Comfortable appearing in court and managing motion practice.
• Strong legal writing and oral advocacy skills.
• Ability to manage a caseload with increasing independence.
• Active membership in the New York State Bar (required).
• Based in NYC or willing to commute to the office.

Responsibilities

• Manage litigation matters from inception through resolution.
• Handle all phases of litigation, including pleadings, discovery, depositions, motion practice, and settlement negotiations.
• Conduct court appearances in New York State Courts (conferences, motion hearings, etc.).
• Take and defend depositions of fact and expert witnesses.
• Draft and argue motions, including dispositive and discovery motions.
• Collaborate with partners on case strategy and client reporting.
• Communicate with clients, insurers, and opposing counsel as appropriate.
• Maintain docket management and ensure compliance with deadlines.

Skills

Litigation

Legal writing

Oral advocacy

Court appearances

Deposition experience

Caseload management

New York Bar

Education

NY Bar membership

Job description

Litigation Associate - Liability Defense

6926420

Location: New York,NY, US

Date Posted: 09-18-2026

Job Description

Experience

Mid Level

Salary

$200,000 - $300,000 per year

Job Details

We are seeking a mid-level Litigation Associate to join the New York office. The ideal candidate will have experience in insurance defense or general liability litigation, with a strong working knowledge of New York State Court practice.

This attorney will manage a docket of defense litigation matters with an emphasis on premises liability, motor vehicle accident defense, and related general liability claims.

Responsibilities

• Manage litigation matters from inception through resolution
• Handle all phases of litigation, including pleadings, discovery, depositions, motion practice, and settlement negotiations
• Conduct court appearances in New York State Courts (conferences, motion hearings, etc.)
• Take and defend depositions of fact and expert witnesses
• Draft and argue motions, including dispositive and discovery motions
• Collaborate with partners on case strategy and client reporting
• Communicate with clients, insurers, and opposing counsel as appropriate
• Maintain docket management and ensure compliance with deadlines

Requirements

• 5–7 years of litigation experience, ideally in insurance defense or general liability
• Strong familiarity with New York State Court practice and procedure
• Experience handling:
• • Premises liability matters
  • Motor vehicle / personal injury defense
  • General negligence or tort-based claims
  • Prior deposition experience (taking and defending)
• Comfortable appearing in court and managing motion practice
• Strong legal writing and oral advocacy skills
• Ability to manage a caseload with increasing independence
• Active membership in the New York State Bar (required)
• Based in NYC or willing to commute to the office

A bit about us

This is an opportunity with a long-established, full-service law firm with more than a century of history and a strong presence in major U.S. markets. The firm represents public and privately held companies, nonprofits, governmental entities, and individuals across a wide range of industries.

Its litigation practice is highly regarded for handling complex, high-exposure matters across commercial litigation, insurance defense, intellectual property, bankruptcy and restructuring, corporate disputes, and other sophisticated litigation matters.

The firm combines deep institutional experience with a modern, collaborative approach—bringing together attorneys across disciplines to deliver efficient, strategic, and practical solutions for clients. Attorneys are supported by strong internal resources while maintaining meaningful responsibility and client exposure.

Why join us

Our most impressive fact? As a company of over 200, we maintain a 10+ year average tenure! Once you join the team, you'll stick around!

• Highly competitive pay
• Strong Benefits + Bonus program
• Cohesive team units with strong upward mOur Clientlity and team work

Why this role

This is a strong opportunity for a mid-level litigator who wants to step into a hands-on, courtroom-active litigation role within a stable and well-resourced platform.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Take ownership of active litigation matters rather than remaining in a narrow support role
• Gain consistent New York State Court litigation experience
• Work directly with partners on a diverse defense-side docket
• Handle meaningful responsibility in premises liability, motor vehicle accident, and general liability matters
• Join a collaborative environment that values attorney autonomy and case ownership
• Be part of a platform with long-term stability, strong client relationships, and a nationally recognized reputation

This role is particularly well-suited for an associate coming from an insurance defense background who is looking for broader responsibility, stronger platform resources, and continued courtroom exposure.

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