Senior Civil Trial Attorney

Senior Civil Trial Attorney

HRforGrowth® is engaged as the talent acquisition partner to conduct this search on behalf of a client organization that is hiring for this role. HRforGrowth is not the employer for this position. HRforGrowth identifies, evaluates, and presents top-tier candidates through its global talent acquisition practice; all employment decisions — including final selection, offer terms, compensation, and conditions of employment — are made solely by the hiring organization.

Our Client is seeking a Senior Civil Trial Attorney with 8–10 years of civil litigation defense experience and substantial first-chair trial expertise to join its Fullerton, California office. The ideal candidate will have a proven record of successfully taking complex civil defense matters through trial and verdict, strong knowledge of California civil procedure and evidentiary rules, and the ability to independently manage a high-exposure caseload. This is a senior-level opportunity offering meaningful courtroom responsibility, client exposure, and long-term career growth.

Location

Fullerton, CA 92831

Job Type

Full-Time/Hybrid / Semi-Remote (following initial in-office period)

Compensation

$200,000 – $250,000 per year

Key Responsibilities

• Litigation management: Handle all phases of civil litigation from case evaluation through trial, verdict, and appeal.
• Trial advocacy: Serve as first-chair trial counsel, conducting jury and bench trials, hearings, mediations, and arbitrations.
• Motion practice: Draft and argue dispositive motions, including Motions in Limine.
• Discovery: Manage complex discovery, depositions, and case-development strategies.
• Expert witness management: Identify, retain, and prepare expert witnesses for deposition and trial.
• Client communication: Provide clients with updates, risk assessments, and strategic recommendations.
• Maintain comprehensive case documentation and litigation calendars.

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Active license and good standing with the California State Bar.
• Minimum 8–10 years of civil litigation defense experience.
• Proven first-chair trial experience in California State Superior Courts.
• Minimum of 6 jury trials and 3 bench trials taken to verdict.
• Strong knowledge of California Evidence Code and civil procedure.
• Exceptional legal research, writing, negotiation, and oral advocacy skills.
• Ability to independently manage complex, high-exposure litigation matters.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in public entity defense, government tort litigation, municipal law, or civil rights defense.
• Background in personal injury defense or law enforcement defense.
• Strong interest in complex, high-exposure civil litigation.

Core Competencies

• Superior courtroom presence and trial advocacy.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent legal research and writing skills.
• Effective negotiation and dispute-resolution skills.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple complex matters under demanding deadlines.

Work Arrangement

• Initial two weeks require in-office attendance at the Fullerton office.
• Transition to hybrid/semi-remote arrangement thereafter.
• Mandatory court appearances and periodic in-person meetings required.
• Candidates must reside locally and reliably attend office and California courts.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Retirement Plan with Company Match

Compensation & Career Growth

• Salary: $200,000 – $250,000 annually, depending on experience.
• Senior-level opportunity with substantial courtroom advocacy responsibility.
• Long-term professional development within a high-performance litigation environment.

Equal Employment Opportunity

In its recruiting and search practices, HRforGrowth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity, and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals. HRforGrowth evaluates and presents candidates to its clients without regard to any protected characteristic.

HRforGrowth endeavors to advise the hiring organization to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local equal employment opportunity laws — including those enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) — in its hiring decisions, terms of employment, and workplace practices.