Managing Attorney

York Law Corporation; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance bonuses

Health benefits

401(k) with employer contribution

Job summary

A leading plaintiff law firm seeks a Managing Attorney to drive trial team performance and mentor attorneys in Sacramento, California. This role involves optimizing workflows, analyzing case metrics, and coaching legal team members to ensure high-quality outcomes. The position requires strong civil litigation background, trial experience, and a commitment to operational excellence. Benefits include competitive salary and performance bonuses, along with health and retirement plans.

Qualifications

• 10-12+ years of civil litigation experience on the plaintiff’s side.
• Demonstrated ability to coach attorneys through trial and discovery.
• Supervisory/Management experience required.

Responsibilities

• Lead and optimize a plaintiff trial team specializing in civil litigation.
• Analyze case metrics to manage case direction.
• Mentor attorneys to elevate their litigation and trial skills.

Skills

Civil litigation

Trial experience

Mentorship

Negotiation skills

Organizational skills

Communication

Education

J.D. and active California Bar membership

Tools

Legal research systems

Job description

Purpose

To lead and optimize a high‑performing plaintiff trial team specializing in civil litigation. Drive exceptional case outcomes and firm profitability through strategic leadership, operational excellence, and talent development.

About Us

At York Law Firm, we advocate for victims and families in complex civil matters, especially elder abuse, wrongful death, healthcare/long‑term care negligence, and related cases. Our mission is to uncover neglect and fraud, hold bad operators accountable, and deliver justice with urgency and compassion. We combine litigation, ethical advocacy, and operational excellence to achieve meaningful results for the communities we serve.

About the Role

We’re seeking a seasoned civil litigator, a plaintiff's attorney who has tried cases, has a disciplined approach to case work up for trial success. This attorney is now ready to bring their litigation and trial experience into a managing attorney role, actively managing attorneys and analyzing case work up to drive legal team and trial success. In this role, you’ll analyze case metrics to manage case direction, mentor attorneys to elevate their litigation and trial skills. The managing attorney will partner closely with Operations to streamline workflows and improve outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Business‑Minded Plaintiff Litigation Leadership
  • Demonstrates strong business acumen in managing a contingency‑fee‑based practice, focusing on firm‑wide financial performance and operational efficiency.
  • Leverages technology to improve litigation workflows, case management, and team productivity.
  • Drives cases proactively toward trial or favorable settlement, ensuring consistent forward momentum and avoiding unnecessary delays.
  • Utilizes a strategic, value‑driven approach to discovery, identifying key information that strengthens liability, damages, and overall case value.
  • Prioritizes timely, successful case resolution by implementing systems and strategies that accelerate progress without compromising quality.
  • Sets the tone for the legal team, leading by example and maintaining accountability.
• Mentorship and Team Development
  • Model professional excellence, accountability, and mentorship.
  • Provide structured feedback, set development goals, and support training programs.
  • Hold ultimate responsibility for legal outcomes, decision‑making, and firm‑wide oversight.
  • Exercise authority over hiring, performance management, and, when necessary, termination.
  • Uphold firm values and standards. Protect the firm’s reputation and exercise sound judgment under pressure.
• Litigation Strategy & Case Leadership
  • Own case strategy from intake through trial; conduct risk assessments, budget/scoping, and settlement posture.
  • Review and refine pleadings, motions, discovery plans, and evidentiary strategy; ensure consistent, high‑quality work product.
  • First‑chair or supervise key proceedings (motions, mediations, MSCs, and trial), as needed.
• Attorney Coaching & Trial Readiness
  • Coach associates and trial attorneys on deposition planning and execution.
  • Lead trial‑skills development: openings/closings, expert work‑ups, and jury instructions.
  • Conduct regular case “readiness” reviews.
• Financial & Business Acumen
  • Own financial performance and understand firm economics.
  • Analyze cost versus return and case value versus effort.
  • Maintain awareness of contingency‑based practice, revenue, expenses, and profitability.
  • Apply a multiplier mindset to scale the business and employees.
• Quality, Research & Writing
  • Provide clear, practical legal advice grounded in thorough research and analysis.
  • Elevate written advocacy (motions, briefs, MSJs, objections) through structured feedback and templates.
• Hearings & Client Advocacy
  • Represent clients in hearings, mediations, and other proceedings; drive principled, effective negotiation strategies.
  • Maintain strong client relationships; communicate proactively on case status, risks, and next.
• People Management & Workflow Optimization
  • Collaborate with Operations to improve intake, discovery, calendaring, and trial prep workflows (SOPs, checklists, processes).
  • Partner with legal ops to leverage document management, tasking, and analytics; monitor deadlines and throughput.
  • Contribute to staffing plans, capacity management, and vendor coordination (e.g., experts, court reporters, and other vendors).
  • Mentor and train junior and senior attorneys.
  • Foster a coaching mindset and provide structured feedback.
  • Directly address and resolve conflicts with emotional intelligence.
  • Champion a positive, growth‑oriented culture.

Qualifications

• J.D. and active California Bar membership in good standing.
• 10‑12+ years of civil litigation experience on the plaintiff’s side, with meaningful trial exposure (first‑ or second‑chair) and deep deposition practice.
• Supervisory/Management experience.
• Demonstrated ability to coach attorneys through discovery, depositions, dispositive motions, and trial.
• Proven legal research and analysis; excellent written and oral advocacy.
• Strong negotiation skills and experience resolving disputes efficiently.
• Outstanding organizational, analytical, and time‑management abilities.
• Thrives in a fast‑paced, team‑led environment; fosters cross‑functional collaboration.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Judgment: Aligns case strategy with client objectives and realistic risk assessments.
• Coaching Mindset: Elevates others through structured feedback, modeling, and repeatable frameworks.
• Operational Discipline: Builds and enforces SOPs, checklists, and timelines to ensure flawless execution.
• Communication: Clear, respectful, and timely, internally, with employees, clients, courts, and counterparties.
• Integrity & Professionalism: Upholds ethical standards and cultivates trust.

Success Metrics (What Success Looks Like)

• Improved deposition and trial outcomes.
• Reduced time‑on‑desk and fewer deadline exceptions via stronger workflows and calendars.
• Measurable uplift in attorney and team performance (writing quality, hearing prep, trial readiness).
• Positive client feedback and sustained matter profitability within scoped budgets.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary (DOE); performance bonus eligible.
• Health, dental, vision, 401(k) with employer contribution.
• РТО

Why This Position Is Important

Our CEO/Lead Attorney is focused on business strategy, growth, partnerships, and community impact. The Managing Attorney ensures the litigation engine runs at a high level, owning case strategy, elevating attorney performance, and partnering with Operations to optimize workflows.

This role is vital to:

• Free the CEO/Lead Attorney to pursue firm expansion, thought leadership, and strategic initiatives.
• Standardize and scale litigation quality through coaching and disciplined execution.