Senior Trial Attorney (First Chair)

Justia, Inc.; Northern, New York (KY, NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & Vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Disability coverage

Paid time off & holidays

Job summary

The Ward Law Group seeks an accomplished Senior Trial Attorney to lead cases as first chair in New York state and federal courts. You will own high-exposure matters from pre-trial through verdict, collaborating with a case management team to maximize value in depositions, motions, and trial.

You will mentor associates, demonstrate strong CPLR knowledge, and travel as needed across the NY metro and upstate to achieve compelling results.

Qualifications

• J.D. from ABA-accredited law school and admission to NY State Bar in good standing.
• Minimum of eight (8) years of civil litigation experience with a trial-focused role.
• Verifiable record of cases tried to verdict as first chair or lead second chair.
• Strong command of CPLR, New York trial practice, and New York rules of evidence.
• Extensive deposition experience, including experts and adverse medical witnesses.
• Excellent written advocacy — motions, briefs, and trial memos.
• Willingness to travel to courthouses in the NY metropolitan area and upstate.

Responsibilities

• Try cases to verdict as first chair in NY state and federal courts.
• Own a trial-ready docket and manage high-value matters from assignment through resolution.
• Drive discovery and motion practice, including depositions and dispositive motions.
• Build the trial record with expert witnesses, damages models, and demonstratives.
• Evaluate liability and settlement posture; participate in mediations and conferences.
• Mentor and supervise associates, reviewing their work and developing the next generation.
• Maintain client communications about posture, risk, and expectations throughout litigation.

Skills

Trial advocacy

Deposition experience

Oral arguments

Legal research & writing

Travel willingness

Education

J.D. from ABA-accredited law school

NY Bar admission in good standing

Job description

Company Description

Join an Award-Winning Plaintiff Personal Injury Law Firm

At The Ward Law Group, our mission is simple:

Changing Lives. One Client at a Time.

Recognized as one of the Best Places to Work for consecutive years, we are committed to building a team of exceptional legal professionals who are passionate about advocating for injured clients, delivering outstanding results, and making a meaningful impact every day.

We believe our people are our greatest asset. We foster a collaborative, innovative, and high-accountability culture where trial attorneys are empowered to think strategically, advocate fearlessly, and pursue the best possible outcomes for every client. We prepare every case as if it will go to trial and value attorneys who embrace courtroom advocacy, continuous learning, and professional excellence.

If you are a first-chair Plaintiff Personal Senior Injury Trial Attorney who thrives in the courtroom, enjoys taking complex cases to verdict, and is committed to maximizing client recoveries while working alongside an elite litigation team, we invite you to join The Ward Law Group.

Our Core Values

Faith – We act with integrity, honesty, and purpose in everything we do.

Accountability – We take ownership of our work, our commitments, and the results we deliver for our clients.

Leadership – We lead by example, advocate with confidence, mentor others, and continuously strive for excellence inside and outside the courtroom.

Loyalty – We build lasting relationships through trust, respect, and an unwavering commitment to our clients, teammates, and community.

Service to Our Clients – We provide compassionate, responsive, and results-driven legal representation while aggressively pursuing maximum recovery for every client.

Service to Our Teammates – We foster a culture of collaboration, respect, knowledge sharing, and mutual support because we achieve the best results when we work together.

Service to Our Community – We are committed to making a positive impact by serving and strengthening the communities where we live and work.

At The Ward Law Group, trial attorneys have the opportunity to litigate meaningful cases, work with an experienced support team, continue developing their courtroom skills, and play a direct role in changing lives—one client at a time.

Job Description

We are seeking an accomplished Senior Trial Attorney to try cases first chair in New York State and federal courts. This is not a settlement-desk role. You will own a docket of high-exposure matters from the moment they are trial-ready through verdict, and you will be measured on the results you obtain in front of juries.

The right candidate has already stood up and delivered openings, crossed defense experts, and taken verdicts. You will work alongside a case management team that handles intake, treatment coordination, and pre-suit negotiation so that your time is spent where it creates the most value: in depositions, in motion practice, and in the courtroom. You will also serve as a force multiplier, mentoring associates who are building toward their own first chairs.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Try cases to verdict. Serve as first chair on jury and bench trials in New York Supreme Court and, where applicable, federal court — voir dire through verdict.
• Own a trial-ready docket. Manage a caseload of high-value matters, setting and executing the litigation strategy for each from trial assignment through resolution.
• Drive discovery and motion practice. Take and defend depositions of parties, treating physicians, and retained experts; draft and argue dispositive and in limine motions; handle preliminary conferences, compliance conferences, and appearances before the court.
• Build the trial record. Identify, retain, and prepare expert witnesses; develop damages models and demonstrative evidence; prepare witnesses and clients for testimony.
• Evaluate and negotiate. Assess liability, damages, and settlement posture with candor; represent the firm at mediations, settlement conferences, and framed-issue proceedings; make disciplined recommendations on when to try and when to resolve.
• Mentor and supervise. Second-chair and train associate attorneys, review their work product, and help develop the next generation of trial lawyers within the firm.
• Protect the client relationship. Communicate clearly and consistently with clients about case posture, risk, and expectations throughout the litigation.
• Maintain professional standards. Comply with all New York Rules of Professional Conduct, court rules, and firm policies, including timely case reporting and accurate file documentation.

Required

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school and admission in good standing to the New York State Bar.
• Minimum of eight (8) years of civil litigation experience, with substantial time in a trial-focused role.
• A verifiable record of cases tried to verdict as first chair or lead second chair.
• Demonstrated command of the CPLR, New York trial practice, and the New York rules of evidence.
• Extensive deposition experience, including experts and adverse medical witnesses.
• Strong written advocacy — motions, briefs, and trial memoranda that do not require rewriting.
• Sound judgment on case valuation and the ability to make defensible try-or-settle recommendations.
• Willingness to travel to courthouses throughout the New York metropolitan area and, as needed, upstate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Plaintiff-side personal injury experience, including motor vehicle, premises liability, construction (Labor Law §§ 200, 240, 241), and catastrophic injury matters.
• Verdicts or settlements in excess of policy limits, or in the seven figures.
• Familiarity with New York No-Fault practice and lien resolution.
• Conversational or fluent Spanish, or experience serving a bilingual client base.
• Experience supervising or training junior litigators.
• Membership in NYSTLA, AAJ, or comparable trial bar organizations.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Professional development and continuing education support
• Collaborative, growth-oriented team environment
• Medical, dental & vision
• Hospital plans
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Company paid Basic Life and AD&D as well as voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Company paid short and long-term disability
• Health & Dependent Care Spending Accounts (HSA & DCFSA)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Assistance
• Paid time off and paid holidays

Join Our Team

At The Ward Law Group, every role contributes to changing lives.

If you're looking for an opportunity to grow your litigation career, maximize client recoveries, and work alongside a high-performing legal team, we'd love to hear from you.

The Ward Law Group is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at The Ward Law Group via-email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written Statement of Work in place for this position from The Ward Law Group HR/Recruitment will be deemed the sole property of The Ward Law Group. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by The Ward Law Group as a result of the referral or through other means.

At The Ward Law Group, we recognize our people are our strength. We are an equal opportunity (M/F/Disability/Veterans) and consider all applications without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other status protected by applicable law. We value our people, their varying perspectives and are committed to fostering an environment where they can bring their whole selves to work.

In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, employment is contingent upon verification of identity and authorization to work in the United States. All persons hired will be required to complete Form I-9 and provide acceptable documentation as required by law.