Litigation Associate (Garden City)

Job Description

Job Description

Gerber Ciano Kelly Brady LLP is seeking an associate attorney with 3-5 years of litigation experience located in Downstate New York to support the firm’s New York defense practice. This position offers an opportunity for a litigator to take on a significant role handling complex matters in a collaborative, forward-thinking law firm environment.

The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in defense litigation and strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills, along with meaningful courtroom experience. Candidates should ideally come from a background handling matters such as insurance defense, professional liability, product liability, labor law, premises liability, motor vehicle accidents, or general liability, though experience in all areas is not required. This role requires initiative, sound judgment, a strong work ethic, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Responsibilities include:

• Handling all phases of New York defense litigation, including discovery, motion practice, and trial preparation

• Drafting legal documents including pleadings, motions, discovery requests and responses, and legal memoranda

• Conducting legal research and preparing comprehensive reports and legal analyses

• Participating in and leading court conferences, depositions, hearings, and trial proceedings as appropriate

• Managing case strategy and deadlines while ensuring compliance with client and carrier guidelines

• Maintaining accurate time records and billing entries

Required Skills / Qualifications:

• 3-5 years of litigation experience, preferably in a law firm setting

• Experience in defense litigation, ideally involving areas such as insurance defense, professional liability, product liability, labor law, premises liability, motor vehicle accidents, or general liability

• Admission to practice in New York (additional bar admissions in NJ, CT, or PA are a plus)

• Strong legal writing, research, and analytical skills

• Strong communication skills, professionalism, and a demonstrated work ethic

• Ability to manage multiple matters and meet deadlines consistently

• Trial experience is a plus

• Federal court or appellate experience is a plus, but not required

Why Gerber Ciano Kelly Brady LLP

At Gerber Ciano Kelly Brady, we're building something different. We believe in a new legal services model — one unrestrained by the traditional billable hour and driven instead by exceptional client service, innovative technology, creativity, efficiency, and unparalleled value. Our mission is to create a community of legal service providers who are passionate about what they do and committed to doing it better.

We approach our work through teamwork, continuous process improvement, alternative service models, and cutting-edge technology. While professional licensing requires us to be a law firm, nothing says we have to act like one. Our team is composed of diverse individuals from a wide range of socio-economic, cultural, geographic, and educational backgrounds — and we believe that diversity of perspective is one of our greatest strengths.

 

Our Values

We put our people first and communicate openly. We share goals, success, and accountability — no individual agendas. We treat everyone with respect and humility. We maximize every opportunity, embrace change, and always look for yes. We nurture creativity, growth, and a little weirdness — because a great team is also a great community.