Litigation Associate Attorney

LITIGATION ASSOCIATE

Romano & Sumner, PLLC is a boutique law firm based in Sugar Land, Texas focused on fiduciary litigation, probate, guardianship, and estate planning. We are seeking a Litigation Associate with 2–6 years of litigation experience to join our team. This position offers meaningful responsibility from day one. Associates manage contested probate, trust, guardianship, and fiduciary litigation matters directly, working alongside partners on complex disputes. You will have real courtroom, deposition, and client-facing experience —not just research and drafting support.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage contested and uncontested matters from inception through resolution, with partner involvement on complex strategy;
• Draft and review pleadings, motions, briefs, discovery requests and responses, and related litigation documents;
• Conduct legal research and analysis to develop and support litigation strategy;
• Appear in court and advocate on behalf of clients;
• Propound and respond to written discovery; prepare discovery objections;
• Prepare for and conduct depositions, including drafting outlines and witness examinations;
• Assist with trial preparation, including pretrial motions, exhibit organization, witnesspreparation, and trial logistics;
• Maintain client relationships and manage day-to-day client communications;
• Coordinate with attorneys, paralegals, and support staff to keep cases moving efficiently.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school;
• Licensed and in good standing with the State Bar of Texas;
• 2–6 years of litigation experience;
• Experience in probate, guardianship, trust litigation, or fiduciary matters preferred;
• Strong drafting ability — pleadings, motions, and discovery;
• Confident oral advocate; comfortable arguing before a judge without close supervision;
• Organized and deadline-driven; able to manage a full caseload independently;
• Understands that billing discipline and collected fees are central to a sustainable practice.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary: $130,000–$165,000, depending on experience
• Performance-based bonus tied to collected fees
• Health insurance and other firm benefits
• Substantial courtroom, deposition, and direct client responsibility early in your career
• Clear expectations and consistent feedback from experienced litigators
• Genuine path to growth and advancement within the firm

Our Culture

At Romano & Sumner, we put the right people in the right seats. We hire deliberately because we are building a team for the long term — not filling a seat. Our attorneys operate with clearly defined roles and significant autonomy. You are expected to own your work, communicate directly, take accountability for outcomes, and improve continuously. The partners are accessible, but they are not running your cases for you.

We value integrity, coachability, personal accountability, and a strong work ethic. The attorneys who succeed here Get It, Want It, and Have the Capacity to Do It. They solve difficult problems, serve clients at a high level, and hold themselves to a standard — without being told to. Associates are evaluated on clearly defined and measurable performance expectations, including production and collections. We believe transparency and honest feedback are how people actually develop.

This position is not a fit for candidates who prefer a highly supervised role, limited client contact, or minimal courtroom exposure. If you want to be handed work and told what to do, this isn't the right place. If you want meaningful responsibility and room to grow, it might be. Candidates who advance will complete a behavioral assessment as part of our evaluation process.