Associate Litigation Attorney

A law firm seeks a motivated Associate Litigation Attorney to join its Buffalo, NY office, focusing on defending healthcare providers, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and individual practitioners, in medical malpractice and related professional liability actions. This role offers immediate client interaction and contributes to a supportive environment that includes medical, dental, vision, HSA/FSA options, PTO, retirement contributions, disability coverage, and voluntary benefit programs.

Duties

• Defend civil actions against healthcare institutions and professionals, drafting pleadings, motions, and responses tailored to medical malpractice and professional liability disputes

• Conduct legal research on medical malpractice statutes, regulatory frameworks, and case law to inform defense strategies

• Prepare and oversee discovery: coordinate document production, craft interrogatories, and manage deposition logistics for fact witnesses and expert witnesses

• Participate in depositions and hearings, presenting arguments, examining witnesses, and collaborating with experts on medical causation issues

• Engage in settlement negotiations and pretrial conferences, advocating for cost-effective resolutions while protecting client interests

• Communicate directly with clients—healthcare administrators, risk managers, and medical staff—to provide updates, clarify case posture, and advise on liability exposure

• Work alongside senior attorneys to devise case strategies, draft detailed memoranda, and assess risk in high-stakes defense matters

• Monitor and manage case calendars, ensuring adherence to filing deadlines, statute of limitations, and court-ordered conference dates

• Collaborate with paralegals and support staff to organize exhibits, maintain accurate case files, and track billing for client transparency

Requirements

• Minimum of one to five years of civil litigation experience, with a preference for exposure to professional liability, medical malpractice, or healthcare-related defense work

• Admission to the New York State Bar (or pending admission) and in good standing

• Demonstrated proficiency in written advocacy, including drafting persuasive motions and legal briefs under tight timelines

• Strong analytical aptitude to dissect medical records, identify legal issues, and develop creative defense arguments

• Excellent verbal communication skills, capable of articulating complex legal concepts to nonlegal stakeholders (e.g., medical professionals, clients, and expert witnesses)

• Self-starter mentality: ability to manage individual caseloads while seeking guidance from senior partners when needed

• Proven organizational skills and attention to detail, ensuring meticulous case management and adherence to procedural requirements

Education

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school, with coursework or clinical exposure to civil litigation or healthcare law preferred

Certifications

• Active New York State Bar membership (or pending admission)

• Admission to U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York (preferred)

• Any specialized training in medical malpractice defense or professional liability (e.g., CLE certificates in healthcare litigation) is advantageous

Skills

• Legal research: proficient with Westlaw, LexisNexis, or equivalent platforms to locate and analyze relevant authorities

• Drafting: ability to create clear, concise courtroom documents, including complaints, motions, and discovery responses

• Trial preparation: experience assembling exhibits, preparing witness outlines, and coordinating with expert witnesses for testimony

• Negotiation: skill in mediating pretrial settlements and navigating complex insurer negotiations to arrive at favorable outcomes

• Client relations: strong interpersonal ability to build trust with healthcare clients, explaining litigation milestones, and managing expectations

• Time management: the capacity to juggle overlapping deadlines, track multiple case developments, and ensure prompt follow-through

• Collaboration: a teamwork mindset to partner with senior attorneys, paralegals, and administrative staff for comprehensive case support

Benefits

• Medical insurance contribution (Highmark BCBS PPO/POS plans with multiple options, including HDHP/HSA-qualified plans)

• Dental insurance (including orthodontic coverage)

• Vision insurance

• Health Savings Account (HSA) eligibility and Healthcare/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

• Paid time off, encompassing vacation, sick, and personal leave

• 401(k) retirement plan with guaranteed safe harbor contribution and profit-sharing opportunities

• Term life and AD&D insurance

• Short-term and long-term disability coverage

• Additional voluntary benefits (Specified Disease, Hospital, and Accident plans)

• Employee Assistance Program, including mental health support

• Legal work discount program

This firm maintains offices in Buffalo and Albany, New York. This large firm has over sixty attorneys, and the firm's hiring philosophy is to hire attorneys with unique and nontraditional experience. The firm's basic practice areas are business law, finance, banking, and commercial real estate. These areas branch out and include mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, securities, labor and employment, business litigation, medical malpractice defense, trusts, estate law, immigration, franchising, environment and energy law, private equity, and family businesses.