Associate Attorney

Job Description

Overview: Help litigate one of California's most important emerging public health crises.

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Brayton Purcell LLP represents workers and families devastated by artificial stone silicosis, a rapidly growing occupational disease that has been recognized by public health agencies and regulators as a major threat to California workers. Our firm is at the forefront of groundbreaking litigation against manufacturers, distributors, and other entities responsible for exposing workers to dangerous silica dust.These are not class action lawsuits, they are individual cases being worked up from scratch with the knowledge that many of them will actually go to trial. We are an active litigation practice, with multiple cases in trial at all times.

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We are seeking attorneys at all experience levels, including recent graduates and those transitioning from other practice areas. Prior personal injury experience is not required. We provide training, mentorship, and hands-on opportunities to take depositions, write briefs, argue motions, work with leading medical and scientific experts, and help shape the law in a developing area of mass tort litigation.

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This is a rare opportunity to combine high-impact advocacy, cutting-edge science, and meaningful client work while fighting for workers suffering from a preventable and often fatal disease.

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Job Summary: Represent clients in artificial stone silicosis epidemic, and/or asbestos/mesothelioma, personal injury and wrongful death actions, engaging in duties such as writing legal documents, defending and taking depositions, attending court hearings, managing cases and advising clients, representing them in various legal proceedings. Duties are expanded as appropriate as experience is gained.Duties are required to be fulfilled either within the office, remote, or hybrid, or at various court and deposition locations.

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Essential Functions:

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Typically our associates will specialize in one or two essential functions, rather than all at once, whoever there is usually the opportunity to change from certain essential functions to others based on desired work and firm need.Currently we are most in need of trial attorneys, deposition attorneys, writing attorneys, and appellate attorneys.

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• Trial Attorneys: We are seeking associate attorneys of any level who want to 2nd chair or 3rd chair a trial in order to learn how to 1st chair trials. For anyone interested in trials, this is a once in a career opportunity to get extensive trial experience. Bi-lingual in Spanish and English is preferred, but not required.
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• Deposition Attorneys: Attorneys will be required to prepare for and attend to take and/or defend Plaintiff Trial Video Direct and/or Depositions, take defense corporate representative depositions, take and defend expert depositions. Depositions most often occur remotely via Zoom, but are sometimes in person near wherever the client lives anywhere in the country, but most often in California, especially Southern California. Attorneys must have a driver’s license, a vehicle, and the ability to travel when needed. Plaintiff injured party TVDs/depositions typically last from several days to several weeks and sometimes longer. Plaintiff heir depositions typically last from a few hours to a day. Expert depositions typically last from one to a few hours. Corporate Representative depositions typically last one to a few days. All depositions require post-deposition memo follow ups that must be completed in a timely manner. Bi-lingual in Spanish and English is preferred, but not required.
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• Writing Attorneys: Attorneys may be required to research and write oppositions to Motions for Summary Judgement.Prepare an evaluation for each Motion for Summary Judgement assigned by the evaluation due date. Timely submit the evaluation to the managing partner or senior associate assigned (each motion has an evaluation due date written on it). If it is determined that the motion is to be opposed, prepare a timely opposition, calling clients, experts and co-workers as needed. The opposition is to be submitted in a timely fashion for review by managing partner or assigned senior associate (draft submittal “due” date is written on motion). If it is determined that a dismissal is appropriate, negotiate the dismissal with the defendant and direct the staff person assigned to preparing dismissals to do so. The process is similar for oppositions to other motions. Attorneys may be required to write affirmative motions such as Motions for Preference or Motions to Compel.
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• Appellate Attorneys: We are looking for an attorney with experience in writing appeals.
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• Case Management Attorneys: The associate attorney is assigned a group of cases to oversee. A case log is provided which states the cases assigned.Review case log on a weekly basis.Analyze the strength of each defendant in each case. Design a discovery and deposition plan for each case on the log. Meet with the managing partner, or senior associate as assigned, on a bimonthly or monthly basis as needed to present analysis of cases and to confirm what offensive discovery should be pursued. Be available to answer calls from clients on your log and be available to discuss assigned cases with paralegal as needed. Respond to Percipient Witness notices promptly. Contact witnesses to ascertain how they contribute to the case and to determine if they should remain on the witness list. Prepare monthly file reviews (internal case assessments) for each of your cases. Shepard the case from filing through to being ready for trial. Bi-lingual in Spanish and English is preferred, but not required.
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• Discovery Attorneys: Attorneys may be required to respond to discovery from defendants. If so, the process is as follows: Prepare an evaluation for each set of discovery assigned by the evaluation due date. Direct that each evaluation be saved in the client directory. Timely submit the evaluation to the managing partner or senior associate as assigned (each set of discovery has an evaluation due date written on it). If it is determined that the discovery is to be responded to, prepare timely responses to discovery, calling clients and co-workers as needed.If it is determined that a dismissal is appropriate, negotiate the dismissal with the defendant and direct the staff person assigned to preparing dismissals to do so. Meet and confer with defendants regarding the discovery.Prepare opposition to motion to compel.Instead of the forgoing, attorneys may be required to manage/review/edit discovery clerks who do the process above.
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Essential Requirements of being an Associate Attorney: In addition to the above, attorneys MUST:

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• Communicate effectively in person, via email, via zoom, and via telephone with coworkers, clients, witnesses, and defense attorneys.
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• Attend meetings. Attend training sessions. Maintain computer skills, database familiarity and continuing education requirements.
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• Work 50 – 55 hour work weeks, and could occasionally be more as needed, and will certainly be more if you are on a trial team.
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• Properly and timely utilize payroll and time management software.
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• Have a Driver’s License.
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• J.D. and active bar admission (or pending admission). CA State Bar preferred, but not required.
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• Spanish-language proficiency is highly valued, but not required.
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• Strong writing, analytical, and communication skills.
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• Commitment to plaintiff-side advocacy and public justice.
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• Civil litigation experience is preferred, but not required.
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• $120k - $220k DOE
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