Personal Injury Attorney PreLitigation

The Smith Law Center; Hampton (VA); On-site; USD 81,000 - 109,000; Full time

Job summary

The Smith Law Center, a Hampton, VA-based firm, seeks a Pre-Litigation Attorney to manage pre-suit personal injury matters and oversee settlement strategy. You will work with litigation attorneys to prepare cases for settlement, mediation, or trial in a fast-paced environment.

Applicants must hold an active Virginia license and bring 2–3+ years of Virginia PI experience, strong negotiation skills, and a client-focused approach.

Qualifications

• Active Virginia law license in good standing.
• Two to three-plus years of experience handling Virginia personal injury matters.
• Strong negotiation skills and sound professional judgment.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise, coach, and hold team members accountable.
• Excellent communication skills with a balance of empathy and professionalism.
• Highly organized, proactive, and able to manage a high-volume caseload with strict attention to detail and deadlines.
• Strong working knowledge of Neos (or similar legal case management systems) and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Calm under pressure, team-oriented, and committed to client service and case quality.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of personal injury matters during the pre-suit phase from intake through resolution or transfer to litigation.
• Supervise and support pre-litigation case managers, providing legal guidance and accountability to case flow expectations.
• Evaluate liability, damages, insurance coverage, and treatment progression to determine case strategy and timing.
• Review, revise, and approve pre-suit settlement demands to ensure accuracy, completeness, and strategic positioning.
• Negotiate directly with insurance adjusters to pursue timely and favorable resolutions aligned with client goals and firm value thresholds.
• Serve as the legal escalation point for client questions, concerns, and settlement discussions.
• Coordinate with Litigation Attorneys to transition cases into suit when appropriate, ensuring organized records, evaluations, and demand history.
• Enter, update, and maintain case data in our case management system with accuracy and attention to deadlines.
• Handle trials for cases that can be resolved through the General District Court and, if necessary, appeals of those cases to the Circuit Court

Skills

Negotiation skills

Supervision/Coaching

Communication skills

Organization / Time management

Attention to detail

Virginia personal injury knowledge

Caseload management

Neos familiarity

Microsoft Office Suite

Tools

Neos

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Smith Law Center has fought for the seriously injured since 1949. For more than 75 years, we’ve stood with individuals and families after life-changing accidents, securing justice in traumatic brain injury, catastrophic, and other serious injury cases. We are a trial-driven team known for results in the courtroom and compassion with clients. From our renovated offices in historic Hampton, VA, we blend decades of experience with modern technology to deliver life-changing outcomes. At our core, we are mission-driven: relentless in pursuit of justice, grounded in empathy, and united by the belief that every client deserves to be heard. Why This Role Matters Clients trust us to handle every detail of their case while they focus on recovery. As a Pre-Litigation Attorney, you will manage pre-suit personal injury matters, oversee settlement strategy, and ensure cases are actively advanced toward resolution or litigation. You will supervise pre-litigation case managers and work directly with litigation attorneys to prepare cases for settlement, mediation, or trial. This role is ideal for a Virginia-licensed attorney who can balance legal judgment, efficiency, and client-focused advocacy. Notice to Candidates Qualified applicants will be invited to complete a short Prevue assessment. This brief online survey is not a legal test — it helps us understand your communication style and working approach to ensure that you are a good fit for the team.

What You Will Do

• Manage a caseload of personal injury matters during the pre-suit phase from intake through resolution or transfer to litigation
• Supervise and support pre-litigation case managers, providing legal guidance and accountability to case flow expectations
• Evaluate liability, damages, insurance coverage, and treatment progression to determine case strategy and timing
• Review, revise, and approve pre-suit settlement demands to ensure accuracy, completeness, and strategic positioning
• Negotiate directly with insurance adjusters to pursue timely and favorable resolutions aligned with client goals and firm value thresholds
• Serve as the legal escalation point for client questions, concerns, and settlement discussions
• Ensure settlement proceeds are timely received and properly handled through final distribution and closing
• Coordinate with Litigation Attorneys to transition cases into suit when appropriate, ensuring organized records, evaluations, and demand history
• Enter, update, and maintain case data in our case management system with accuracy and attention to deadlines
• Handle trials for cases that can be resolved through the General District Court and, if necessary, appeals of those cases to the Circuit Court

Qualifications

• Active Virginia law license in good standing
• Two to three-plus years of experience handling Virginia personal injury matters
• Strong negotiation skills and sound professional judgment
• Demonstrated ability to supervise, coach, and hold team members accountable
• Excellent communication skills with a balance of empathy and professionalism
• Highly organized, proactive, and able to manage a high-volume caseload with strict attention to detail and deadlines
• Strong working knowledge of Neos (or similar legal case management systems) and Microsoft Office Suite
• Calm under pressure, team-oriented, and committed to client service and case quality

Compensation

$95,000 per year