Associate Attorney - Personal Injury

Associate Attorney - Personal Injury New York, NY | On-Site

EqualAccess (on behalf of a confidential client)

The Role

This search is for a full-time litigation associate attorney joining a small, growing personal injury plaintiff's practice in downtown Manhattan. The firm is founder-led, with a lean team: the owner, an experienced attorney who handles casework, training, and work review, and a full-time paralegal. The practice is building steadily, and they need someone who can carry real responsibility for assigned matters rather than support someone else carrying it.

The person stepping into this role will work directly with the owner and receive meaningful mentorship, but this is not a passive learning environment. Files move, deadlines are real, and clients expect a consistent point of contact. If you want to develop genuine litigation and trial skills inside a practice where your work is visible and your judgment is trusted, this is a good fit.

This is not a large-firm associate role. There is no sprawling team to absorb the work, and there is no buffer between you and the client.

What This Role Is, and Is Not

This role is:

• A case-ownership position, moving personal injury matters from investigation through resolution and, where warranted, trial
• A place to develop deposition, negotiation, and trial skills with responsibility matched to your experience
• A small-office environment where you will have direct access to the firm's owner and a supporting attorney who is invested in your development
• An opportunity to see how a practice is built, including how referral relationships are developed and maintained

This role is NOT:

• A document review or support position where someone else drives the cases
• A remote or hybrid arrangement, the team works together in the office
• A fit for someone who needs heavy structure and close supervision to manage a caseload
• A large firm with formal training programs, rotations, or institutional infrastructure

Required Experience & Traits

• Active New York State Bar admission in good standing, required
• Minimum of three years of litigation experience; plaintiff-side personal injury is a plus, and defense-side candidates will be considered
• Strong legal writing across pleadings, motions, discovery, and settlement demands
• Comfortable managing client relationships directly, with patience and professionalism, including clients who are injured, stressed, and unfamiliar with the legal process
• Organized, deadline-driven, and proactive about surfacing issues before they become problems
• Sound judgment and the ability to manage matters independently while staying aligned with a small team
• Genuinely interested in building trial experience and growing with the practice over time

Key Responsibilities

Case Management

• Manage assigned personal injury matters from investigation through resolution, keeping files organized, deadlines tracked, and issues flagged early
• Serve as the primary, consistent point of contact for clients throughout their matters

Litigation & Drafting

• Draft pleadings, motions, discovery requests and responses, and settlement demands
• Take and defend depositions and prepare cases for mediation and trial

Negotiation & Resolution

• Negotiate directly with insurance carriers toward resolution
• Prepare and present cases for mediation, and handle trial preparation as matters warrant

Firm & Practice Development

• Work closely with the owner, supporting attorney, and paralegal as an integrated part of a small team
• Participate in referral relationships and gain firsthand exposure to how a plaintiff's practice is built and sustained

Compensation

• Base salary of $125,000 to $150,000, commensurate with experience
• Bonus structured as a percentage of attorney fees generated
• 15 days of PTO, plus firm closure between Christmas and New Year's

Why EqualAccess

EqualAccess partners with best-in-class organizations and supports candidates beyond placement. Every candidate we place receives 3 months of post-hire coaching and career support, ensuring long-term success and growth.