Associate Attorney

Big Cases. A Close Team. Room to Become a Great Litigator. An active Arizona Bar license is required. You have the fundamentals. Now you want the experience that will take you further. At Tyson & Mendes, our Scottsdale team is looking for an Associate Attorney with 3+ years of solid litigation experience, preferably in insurance defense, who is ready to take on sophisticated work, develop greater independence, and learn from highly experienced litigators. Our Scottsdale office offers something increasingly difficult to find: the connection and visibility of a smaller team combined with the technology, training, clients, and resources of a national litigation firm. Remote work opportunities are available. If you are ready for more responsibility and want experienced leaders who will help you grow into it, we would love to meet you. Work That Will Make You a Better Litigator This is not a practice where associates simply move files from one deadline to the next. Our Scottsdale attorneys handle sophisticated matters involving general liability, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, premises liability, professional liability, bad faith, employment, and other complex civil litigation. As an associate, you will have opportunities to develop practical experience with discovery, depositions, motion practice, case strategy, client communication, mediation, expert work, and trial preparation. As your skills and judgment develop, so will your responsibility. Learn From Lawyers Who Know How to Win Cases One of the greatest advantages of this opportunity is the leadership around you. Our Scottsdale office is led by Sitar Bhatt, Scottsdale and Seattle Branch Office Managing Partner, an experienced Arizona litigator whose practice includes general liability, personal injury, premises liability, professional liability, employment, and bad faith litigation. Sitar also chairs Tyson & Mendes' Young Professionals Group, reflecting his investment in the development of attorneys earlier in their careers. You will also have the opportunity to learn from Lynn Allen, Equity Partner and Southwest Regional Managing Partner, who brings more than 30 years of insurance defense and trial experience. Lynn has served as lead counsel in jury trials, arbitrations, appeals, and complex litigation involving wrongful death, products liability, premises liability, insurance coverage, bad faith, employment, and other significant matters. Together, they offer associates something valuable: access to leaders with different perspectives, deep litigation experience, and a genuine understanding of how lawyers develop. Small Team Means Greater Visibility Our Scottsdale office has the feel of a boutique practice. You can know the partners you work with. They can know your strengths, your goals, and where you need more experience. Your work is visible, your contribution matters, and there are opportunities to become an important part of the team as you grow. At the same time, you have the infrastructure of a national litigation firm behind you. That means sophisticated clients, professional development, litigation support, training, technology, and colleagues across the country who can be tapped for knowledge and experience. You get the connection of a smaller team with the resources of a much larger one. Technology That Helps You Practice Smarter The practice of law is changing, and we believe the tools attorneys use should change with it. Tyson & Mendes continues to invest in AI enabled legal tools, modern research resources, case management technology, and systems designed to help attorneys work more effectively and capture their time more efficiently. Technology cannot replace great judgment or great advocacy. It can give attorneys more time to develop both. Learn a Different Approach to Litigation Our associates also have access to Tyson & Mendes' Trial Academy, APEX methodology, and our nationally recognized approach to Stopping Nuclear Verdicts®. These are not simply concepts to learn in training. They are strategies and frameworks our attorneys can apply to the cases they are actually handling. You will have the opportunity to develop your own judgment and style as a litigator while learning from attorneys who have already spent years in courtrooms developing theirs. Who Will Thrive Here? We are looking for an Arizona attorney with 3+ years of substantive litigation experience. Insurance defense experience is strongly preferred. You already understand the fundamentals of litigation. You can manage deadlines, handle discovery, produce strong written work, communicate professionally with clients and opposing counsel, and take responsibility for moving your assignments forward. You are also ready for more. You want deposition experience. You want to strengthen your motion practice. You want greater involvement in strategy. You want to understand the entire case rather than only your piece of it. And eventually, you want to be the attorney someone trusts to take that case into a courtroom. You are proactive, responsive, curious, and receptive to feedback. You can work independently, but you also know when to ask questions and take advantage of the experience around you. Flexibility Without Losing the Team Remote work opportunities are available for this position, but flexibility does not mean practicing in isolation. You will remain connected to a collaborative Scottsdale team and have access to experienced attorneys when you need to strategize, ask questions, or get another perspective. We care about the quality of your work, your responsiveness to clients and colleagues, your growth as an attorney, and the contribution you make to the team. You Have the Foundation. Let’s Build on It. You do not need another job where you spend the next few years doing exactly what you are doing today. You need challenging cases. Greater responsibility. Excellent lawyers to learn from. Modern resources. And enough room to discover just how good you can become. Bring us the foundation you have built. We will give you opportunities to build on it. RESPONSIBILITIES Develop compelling case strategies that cut through emotional arguments and drive results Set a higher standard—challenge mediocrity and push for excellence in every aspect of your work Independently manage court appearances, depositions, motion practice, and trials Collaborate seamlessly with attorneys and staff at all experience levels Maintain consistent and professional communication with clients Build and nurture relationships with existing and prospective clients Mentor and provide guidance to junior attorneys, contributing to team growth and success REQUIREMENTS Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA-accredited law school Active bar license in the state of Arizona 1–8 years of solid litigation experience, including case strategy, depositions, and trial preparation Ability to independently manage a full caseload, from discovery through trial Familiarity with litigation timekeeping and billing systems Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint Self-motivated with strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication abilities Professional appearance and demeanor COMPENSATION PACKAGE The base salary for this position ranges from $90,000-130,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications Attorneys are eligible for an annual billable hours bonus ranging from $10,000 and then aggregating with $7,500 for every additional tier Comprehensive benefits coverage offered, including plans available at zero employee cost (average annual employer contribution for health/vision/dental/life coverage is $700-$1,700) Employees benefit from a 401(k) program that includes a 100% match on the first 3% contributed and a 50% match on the following 4-5% Student loan repayment assistance or 529 college savings plan (full-time attorneys after one year with the firm)$100-$200/month Paid parental leave at base pay Employees receive a monthly technology reimbursement of $60 BENEFITS Employee Assistance Program throughHealthAdvocate Comprehensive in-house training and leadership development opportunities Firm Provided CLE Programs and Paid Bar License Renewal Fees Flexible vacation policy for attorneys Defined pathway to partnership Internal diversity and inclusion programs, such as the Women’s Initiative and Young Professionals Initiative Firm-wide charitable giving program Numerous social and off-site events each year to enrich your relationships with your colleagues Flexible Work Model: Remote, hybrid, or onsite options available We're one of the fastest-growing civil defense firms in the country—known for breaking the mold of the traditional law firm. Our dynamic, diverse team of trial attorneys delivers exceptional results, from landmark cases like Howell v. Hamilton Meats to numerous defense verdicts across the nation. But we don't stop at great legal work—we invest in our people. With specialized training in our proven defense methods, clear paths to leadership, and robust professional development, we empower attorneys to grow their careers, build their personal brands, and become leaders in the field. OK, now for the legal copy (we are a law firm, after all). It is Tyson & Mendes' policy to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit-based factors. By the way, if you read all of this, congratulations – we can already tell your attention to detail is exceptional. NOTICE TO APPLICANTS/EMPLOYEES OF TYSON & MENDES: Please take notice that the Firm collects certain information about you. For more information on the Firm’s policies, please refer to the document provided here. We're one of the fastest-growing civil defense firms in the country—known for breaking the mold of the traditional law firm. Our dynamic, diverse team of trial attorneys delivers exceptional results, from landmark cases like Howell v. Hamilton Meats to numerous defense verdicts across the nation. But we don't stop at great legal work—we invest in our people. With specialized training in our proven defense methods, clear paths to leadership, and robust professional development, we empower attorneys to grow their careers, build their personal brands, and become leaders in the field. We understand inclusion isn't easily quantified in numbers and data. However, some of the DEI programs in which we are involved, along with clients and prospective clients, ask us to report our diversity metrics. In order to aid our efforts in that regard, please complete the form below, which seeks information about the ways in which you identify. Submission of this information is voluntary and your application will not be adversely affected if you decline to respond. Please visit our survey here: To ensure fairness and evaluate your authentic abilities, Tyson & Mendes requires that all interviews and assessments be completed independently and without the use of AI or external tools. By continuing in the process, you confirm that your responses are your own. U.S. Standard Demographic Questions We invite applicants to share their demographic background. If you choose to complete this survey, your responses may be used to identify areas of improvement in our hiring process. How would you describe your gender identity? Select... 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As set forth in Tyson & Mendes LLP's Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law. If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows: A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability. 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