Litigation Associate

Job Title: Litigation Attorney
Location: Paramus, New Jersey
Job Type: Full-Time
Department: Litigation Practice Group

JOB SUMMARY

DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin, LLP, a mid-size, full-service firm within New Jersey, seeks a talented, hands-on Junior Associate Attorney to join our litigation practice group. This position is ideal for an attorney with 1-3 years of experience who is a self-starter craving early responsibility for handling client matters, who is eager to develop their litigation skills in a multi-faceted practice that focuses on public entity defense and representation of government entities, governance and regulatory matters, labor and employment litigation, civil rights and constitutional law, commercial and business litigation, among others. The successful candidate will work both independently, in team settings and closely with senior litigation partners while gaining exposure to all facets of the practice of law in a litigation setting.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Litigation Tasks

• Handle a broad range of litigation matters in an active, multi-disciplinary litigation practice, including business and commercial litigation, public entity defense, labor and employment, government entity tort claim defense, civil rights/constitutional law, environmental and regulatory law.
• Assist in all phases of litigation, including drafting legal briefs, pleadings, discovery requests, legal research memoranda and motions, as well as appearances in court, at depositions and, ultimately, trial.
• Draft and review legal documents, correspondence, and discovery materials, including through use of best practice ESI techniques for collection, analysis and production of data.
• Conduct original fact gathering from discovery materials, key witnesses and clients, interview of fact witness, deposition preparation and synthesis of material facts with applicable law.

Client Representation

• Represent clients in depositions, court conferences, and hearings.
• Participate in client meetings and maintain effective communication throughout the litigation process.
• Support trial preparation, including witness preparation and exhibit organization.

Specialized Practice Areas

Our firm maintains a broad, inter-disciplinary litigation practice that includes, but is not limited to the following practice areas:

• Business and complex commercial litigation.
• Appellate practice, regulatory law and public entity governance.
• Representation and defense of public entities in tort, environmental, property damage, civil rights/constitutional law, regulatory, and labor and employment matters.
• Support ancillary public entity functions, including public entity governance, land use, transportation, redevelopment, eminent domain/condemnation, and real property tax appeals.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Bar Admission

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Admission in good standing to practice law in New Jersey at the state and federal level.

Experience Requirements

• 1-3 years of litigation experience in a clerkship, government or law firm setting.
• Experience in New Jersey practice.

REQUIRED SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

Technical Skills

• Strong legal research, writing, and analytical abilities.
• Familiarity with e-discovery tools and platforms.
• Knowledge of legal research tools such as Westlaw.

Professional Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a drive towards excellence in the practice of law at a high level.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage cases independently and work collaboratively within a team.
• Self-starter who maintains a strong focus on our professional duty to zealously advocate for the client’s interest and attention to a lawyer’s professional duties under the relevant principles of attorney ethics.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Understanding of civil procedure and litigation processes.
• Familiarity with representation of private and public sector clients within our key areas of practice focus.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to engage with clients, colleagues, adversaries and courts on both a verbal and written level.
• A work ethic that reflects the client’s interests and the key values of our profession.

ABOUT DECOTIIS, FITZPATRICK, COLE & GIBLIN, LLP

Founded in 1986, DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin, LLP, has become a leader in the New Jersey government, legal, and business communities. Our firm is a 50-plus-attorney, full-service firm headquartered in Paramus, New Jersey. We specialize in delivering innovative solutions with an unparalleled ability to collaborate across practice groups. Our attorneys practice in a wide variety of areas, including litigation, environmental law, labor and employment, commercial real estate, redevelopment, municipal law, government and regulatory affairs, construction law, health care, insurance, education law, public finance, tax, and corporate and business law.

We emphasize practical legal thinking and consistently focus on helping our clients achieve their objectives and get things done. Many of our attorneys have decades of experience working in government roles, including the State Attorney Generals' Office, Prosecutor's Offices, and the U.S. Attorney's Office, while others worked in-house for Fortune 100 legal departments. The background of our attorneys, combined with our legal and business experience, provides our firm with the ability to offer superior representation to our clients.

As a client-centered firm, we value our relationships with clients and the trust they place in us. We strive to provide legal counsel that is unmatched in expertise, responsiveness, and cost-effectiveness for every client, in every matter, every time.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin, LLP, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Pay: $100,000.00 - $125,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Doctorate (Required)

License/Certification:

• Bar Admission in NJ (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Paramus, NJ 07652