What Does a Litigation Attorney Do?

A Litigation Attorney manages all phases of the litigation process from investigation and pleading to trial, settlement, and appeal. They also question witnesses, victims, and others involved in cases.

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Litigation Attorney Responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real litigation attorney resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.

Supervise and manage plaintiff's personal injury practice.
Develop litigation strategies including discovery, deposition, arbitration, and jury trial.
Draft internal memos, subpoenas and various discovery documents.
Direct and determine all aspects of plaintiff litigation and resolution strategy.
Review documents for FINRA arbitration concerning poaching of traders between inter-dealer brokers.
Respond to investigative subpoenas from U.S. government regulatory agencies requesting production of relevant client and third party material.
Coordinate with out-of-state bankruptcy counsel to ensure that such litigation are resolved timely and cost effectively for large manufacturing client.
Evaluate and analyze employee's civil complaints and relate investigation documents to prepare litigation and discovery strategy in anticipation of trial.
Argue class certification motion on behalf of plan participants in an ERISA breach of fiduciary duty matter.
Research and communicate current and potential changes and issues with Medicare and Medicaid regulations to company departments.
Litigate ERISA fiduciary liability under qualify retirement plans.
Perform research on client-specific questions regarding Medicare regulations, guidance and process.
Initiate discovery; take depositions, cross-examination witnesses.

Litigation Attorney Job Description

Between the years 2018 and 2028, litigation attorney jobs are expected to undergo a growth rate described as "as fast as average" at 6%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. So if the thought "should I become a litigation attorney?" Has crossed your mind, maybe you should take the growth rate into account. In addition, the number of litigation attorney opportunities that are projected to become available by 2028 is 50,100.

Litigation attorneys average about $52.42 an hour, which makes the litigation attorney annual salary $109,027. Additionally, litigation attorneys are known to earn anywhere from $69,000 to $172,000 a year. This means that the top-earning litigation attorneys make $116,000 more than the lowest earning ones.

It's hard work to become a litigation attorney, but even the most dedicated employees consider switching careers from time to time. Whether you're interested in a more challenging position or just looking for a fresh start, we've compiled extensive information on becoming a bankruptcy specialist, general counsel, council member, and law clerk.

Learn More About Litigation Attorney Job Descriptions

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5 Litigation Attorney Resume Examples

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Jacob Simmons Litigation Attorney Contact Information Miami, FL (740) 555-5855 jsimmons@example.com Skills Civil Litigation City Officials Pre-Trial Motions Legal Department Criminal Cases Bankruptcy Police Reports Legal Documents Administrative Agencies Counsel Employment History Litigation Attorney 2017 - Present Huron Consulting Group Miami, FL Reviewed legal documents for corporate litigation * Utilized extensive protocol to determine relevance of documents Inspected documents for privilege, assisted in creating a privilege log, performed privilege log QC Draft motions, pleadings, memoranda of law, discovery responses and requests, settlement proposals, and affidavits. Represent the company and policyholders in civil litigation involving personal injury or property damage. Associate Attorney 2013 - 2017 Private Practice Miami, FL General Civil Litigation Notary Foreclosure Litigation Family Litigation Immigration Medical Malpractice Maintained general civil practice as sole practitioner. Handled probate and guardianship matters, as well as general civil litigation matters. Provided regulatory, compliance, and legal counsel to insurers and other insurance licensees and entities. Research Attorney 2012 - 2013 LAW OFFICES OF WINN SIMS New York, NY Associate Attorney in charge of the law firm's immigration department. Correspond with opposing counsel, judges, and court clerks. Conducted criminal and civil litigation in the Magistrate and High Courts. Education Doctoral Degree Law 2009 - 2012 Hofstra University Hempstead, NY Master's Degree Law 2008 - 2009 Hofstra University Hempstead, NY Bachelor's Degree Law 2005 - 2008 The John Marshall Law School Chicago, IL


Mary Wood Litigation Attorney Contact Info Washington, DC (910) 555-9532 mwood@example.com Skills Class ActionBankruptcyCivil LitigationDiscovery ResponsesHabeas CorpusAdvise ClientsSexual AssaultFmlaPolice ReportsAdministrative Matters Employment History Litigation Attorney 2020 - Present Law.com Washington, DC Conducted and managed private law practice with emphasis on criminal and civil litigation. Prioritize client debt repayment to avoid dire consequences, such as bankruptcy or foreclosure or to reduce overall costs. Reviewed legal documents for privilege and confidentiality using both the DocuMatrix and Relativity software programs. Draft appeal concerning prior engagement of counsel, absence of key witnesses, and release waiver. Performed legal research, legal memos, case preparation, and other day to day activities in a law office Frequent public speaker on legal topics for law enforcement, civic organizations and state agencies. Associate Attorney 2013 - 2020 Epiq Systems New York, NY Reviewed documentation regarding compliance with Federal and state mortgage modification programs including QC and Privilege 2nd level review Analyze and review of electronic discovery documents involving a consumer fraud investigation. Research Attorney 2012 - 2013 Epiq Systems New York, NY Collaborated with cross-functional teams to resolve complex problems such as global regulatory compliance, competition, business development. Direct support staff in the coordination of correspondence with clients, courts, and opposing counsel. Draft legal documents and arbitration rules. Education Doctoral Degree Law 2009 - 2012 New York Law School New York, NY Master's Degree Law 2008 - 2009 Boston University Boston, MA Bachelor's Degree Law 2005 - 2008 Boston University Boston, MA


Mary Wood Litigation Attorney Washington, DC (910) 555-9532 mwood@example.com Experience Litigation Attorney2020 - Present Law.com•Washington, DC Conducted and managed private law practice with emphasis on criminal and civil litigation. Prioritize client debt repayment to avoid dire consequences, such as bankruptcy or foreclosure or to reduce overall costs. Reviewed legal documents for privilege and confidentiality using both the DocuMatrix and Relativity software programs. Draft appeal concerning prior engagement of counsel, absence of key witnesses, and release waiver. Performed legal research, legal memos, case preparation, and other day to day activities in a law office Frequent public speaker on legal topics for law enforcement, civic organizations and state agencies. Associate Attorney2013 - 2020 Epiq Systems•New York, NY Reviewed documentation regarding compliance with Federal and state mortgage modification programs including QC and Privilege 2nd level review Analyze and review of electronic discovery documents involving a consumer fraud investigation. Research Attorney2012 - 2013 Epiq Systems•New York, NY Collaborated with cross-functional teams to resolve complex problems such as global regulatory compliance, competition, business development. Direct support staff in the coordination of correspondence with clients, courts, and opposing counsel. Draft legal documents and arbitration rules. Skills Class ActionBankruptcyCivil LitigationDiscovery ResponsesHabeas CorpusAdvise ClientsSexual AssaultFmlaPolice ReportsAdministrative Matters Education Doctoral Degree Law2009 - 2012 New York Law School•New York, NY Master's Degree Law2008 - 2009 Boston University•Boston, MA Bachelor's Degree Law2005 - 2008 Boston University•Boston, MA

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Litigation Attorney Skills and Personality Traits

We calculated that 30% of Litigation Attorneys are proficient in Litigation, Law Firm, and Legal Research. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Interpersonal skills, and Problem-solving skills.

We break down the percentage of Litigation Attorneys that have these skills listed on their resume here:

Litigation, 30%
Associate litigation attorney in A-V rated firm emphasizing commercial defense, professional liability, construction, personal injury prosecution and defense.
Law Firm, 14%
Increased law firm profitability and client satisfaction by increasing size and accelerating frequency of case settlements.
Legal Research, 6%
Provided comprehensive legal research and coverage analysis, including written opinions on insurance coverage and extra contractual risks to carrier.
Civil Litigation, 4%
Defended personal injury civil litigation lawsuits and handled various insurance coverage matters and first party insurance claim evaluations.
Commercial Litigation, 3%
Represented and counseled business owners, individuals, in matters involving complex commercial litigation, mortgage foreclosure, and supplementary proceedings.
Insurance Defense, 3%
Practice consisted of client representation, specializing in insurance defense litigation with focus on physician and hospital liability.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Litigation Attorney Resume templates

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Most litigation attorneys list "litigation," "law firm," and "legal research" as skills on their resumes. We go into more details on the most important litigation attorney responsibilities here:

The most important skills for a litigation attorney to have in this position are analytical skills. In this excerpt that we gathered from a litigation attorney resume, you'll understand why: "lawyers help their clients resolve problems and issues" According to resumes we found, analytical skills can be used by a litigation attorney in order to "evaluated and analyzed employee's civil complaints and related investigation documents to prepare litigation and discovery strategy in anticipation of trial. "

Another commonly found skill for being able to perform litigation attorney duties is the following: interpersonal skills. According to a litigation attorney resume, "lawyers must win the respect and confidence of their clients by building a trusting relationship so that clients feel comfortable enough to share personal information related to their case." Check out this example of how litigation attorneys use interpersonal skills: "demonstrated effective interpersonal skills through working closely with office of general counsel and administrative appeals judges. "

Litigation attorneys are also known for problem-solving skills, which can be critical when it comes to performing their duties. An example of why this skill is important is shown by this snippet that we found in a litigation attorney resume: "lawyers must separate their emotions and prejudice from their clients’ problems and objectively evaluate the relevant applicable information" We also found this resume example that details how this skill is put to the test: "coordinate with out-of-state bankruptcy counsel to ensure that such litigation was resolved timely and cost effectively for large manufacturing client. "

In order for certain litigation attorney responsibilities to be completed, the job requires the skill "research skills." According to a litigation attorney resume, "lawyers need to be able to find those laws and regulations which apply to a specific matter, in order to provide the appropriate legal advice for their clients." As an example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies: "provided expert legal advice/research in the areas of securities law and financial services litigation; reviewed legal documents/filings. "

Another common skill for a litigation attorney to be able to utilize is "speaking skills." Lawyers must be able to clearly present and explain their case to arbitrators, mediators, opposing parties, judges, or juries, because they are speaking on behalf of their clients. A litigation attorney demonstrated the need for this skill by putting this on their resume: "represented clients in insurance coverage, commercial litigation, real estate and professional liability defense litigation cases. "

While "writing skills" is listed last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to litigation attorney responsibilities. The skill is described by this resume snippet, "lawyers need to be precise and specific when preparing documents, such as wills, trusts, and powers of attorney." Here is an example of how this skill is used, "sun valley, idaho started litigation support business providing research and writing in 1995. "

See the full list of litigation attorney skills.

We've found that 40.4% of litigation attorneys have earned a bachelor's degree. Furthermore, 4.4% earned their master's degrees before becoming a litigation attorney. While it's true that most litigation attorneys have a college degree, it's generally impossible to become one with only a high school degree. In fact, one out of every ten litigation attorneys did not spend the extra money to attend college.

Those litigation attorneys who do attend college, typically earn either law degrees or political science degrees. Less commonly earned degrees for litigation attorneys include legal research and advanced professional studies degrees or business degrees.

Once you're ready to become a litigation attorney, you should explore the companies that typically hire litigation attorneys. According to litigation attorney resumes that we searched through, litigation attorneys are hired the most by Organon, Robert Half, and Monster Products. Currently, Organon has 26 litigation attorney job openings, while there are 24 at Robert Half and 12 at Monster Products.

Since salary is important to some litigation attorneys, it's good to note that they are figured to earn the highest salaries at Perkins Coie, Sidley Austin, and Latham & Watkins. If you were to take a closer look at Perkins Coie, you'd find that the average litigation attorney salary is $200,740. Then at Sidley Austin, litigation attorneys receive an average salary of $198,119, while the salary at Latham & Watkins is $189,143.

View more details on litigation attorney salaries across the United States.

Some other companies you might be interested in as a litigation attorney include Private Practice, Law Office, and SOLO Wilderness Medical School. These three companies were found to hire the most litigation attorneys from the top 100 U.S. educational institutions.

The three companies that hire the most prestigious litigation attorneys are:

Organon26 Litigation Attorneys Jobs
Robert Half24 Litigation Attorneys Jobs
Monster Products12 Litigation Attorneys Jobs

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What Bankruptcy Specialists Do

The bankruptcy specialist is responsible for filing and documentation loan bankruptcy materials with the appropriate attorneys. They ensure full compliance with loan bankruptcy regulations and monitor accounts throughout the loan bankruptcy process to contact the appropriate party when necessary. A bankruptcy specialist might be an administrator or lawyer in a bankruptcy office and supports bankruptcy law. They are likely to evaluate state declaration and affidavits for legal progression, interact with customers and outside counsel about bankruptcy proceedings through written and verbal communication, and work with local counsel and upper management in effectively reviewing client's files.

We looked at the average litigation attorney annual salary and compared it with the average of a bankruptcy specialist. Generally speaking, bankruptcy specialists receive $73,529 lower pay than litigation attorneys per year.

While the salaries between these two careers can be different, they do share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both litigation attorneys and bankruptcy specialists positions are skilled in litigation, foreclosure, and probate.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. A litigation attorney responsibility is more likely to require skills like "law firm," "legal research," "civil litigation," and "commercial litigation." Whereas a bankruptcy specialist requires skills like "relief," "pacer," "msp," and "bankruptcy court." Just by understanding these different skills you can see how different these careers are.

Bankruptcy specialists receive the highest salaries in the finance industry coming in with an average yearly salary of $47,222. But litigation attorneys are paid more in the professional industry with an average salary of $128,467.

On average, bankruptcy specialists reach similar levels of education than litigation attorneys. Bankruptcy specialists are 0.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 51.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

What Are The Duties Of a General Counsel?

A general counsel, also called a chief legal officer, is the chief lawyer in the legal department of an organization. The counsel represents an enterprise for any pending legal matters. They work proactively to lessen possible problems associated with legalities and potential risks. They have to monitor practices and the people within the law firm for misconduct. They also perform dominant roles in regulation, ethics, public affairs, and legislation. It is common for them to serve as the public spokesperson of the company during the publicity of legal matters.

Now we're going to look at the general counsel profession. On average, general counsels earn a $16,221 higher salary than litigation attorneys a year.

A similarity between the two careers of litigation attorneys and general counsels are a few of the skills associated with both roles. We used resumes from both professions to find that both use skills like "litigation," "law firm," and "legal research. "

But both careers also use different skills, according to real litigation attorney resumes. While litigation attorney responsibilities can utilize skills like "insurance defense," "family law," "mediation," and "insurance coverage," some general counsels use skills like "juris," "risk management," "ethics," and "human resources."

General counsels may earn a higher salary than litigation attorneys, but general counsels earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $135,018. On the other side of things, litigation attorneys receive higher paychecks in the professional industry where they earn an average of $128,467.

When it comes to the differences in education between the two professions, general counsels tend to reach similar levels of education than litigation attorneys. In fact, they're 3.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 51.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

How a Council Member Compares

Law clerks are employees in a legal firm who handle clerical tasks for the office. They handle the office's official phone lines, answering incoming calls, and making outgoing calls. They also field office correspondence, often receiving incoming mail and distributing them to their addressees. They manage office documents and ensure that they are correctly filed and labeled in their respective storage bins. Law clerks help make office life more comfortable because they make sure that the office is running well. They also manage appointments and office calendars.

The council member profession generally makes a lower amount of money when compared to the average salary of litigation attorneys. The difference in salaries is council members making $66,893 lower than litigation attorneys.

There are many key differences between these two careers as shown by resumes from each profession. Some of those differences include the skills required to complete responsibilities within each role. As an example of this, a litigation attorney is likely to be skilled in "litigation," "law firm," "legal research," and "civil litigation," while a typical council member is skilled in "public policy," "finance committee," "community outreach," and "alumni."

When it comes to education, council members tend to earn higher education levels than litigation attorneys. In fact, they're 9.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 49.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Description Of a Law Clerk

Law clerks tend to earn a lower pay than litigation attorneys by about $53,111 per year.

While their salaries may vary, litigation attorneys and law clerks both use similar skills to perform their jobs. Resumes from both professions include skills like "litigation," "law firm," and "legal research. "

While some skills are shared by these professions, there are some differences to note. "mediation," "insurance coverage," "excellent client," and "discovery motions" are skills that have shown up on litigation attorneys resumes. Additionally, law clerk uses skills like legal memos, summary judgment, demand letters, and client intake on their resumes.

In general, law clerks make a higher salary in the professional industry with an average of $98,674. The highest litigation attorney annual salary stems from the professional industry.

The average resume of law clerks showed that they earn similar levels of education to litigation attorneys. So much so that the likelihood of them earning a Master's Degree is 1.1% more. Additionally, they're less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 24.1%.

Updated October 2, 2020