Elder Abuse Trial Attorney Full-time (on-site)
Location: Sacramento, CA (In-person)
Reports to: Partner
Salary Range (DOE): $150,000-$240,000 + Discretionary Bonus
About the PositionYork Law Firm is seeking an Elder Abuse Trial Attorney with 2-10 years of California civil litigation experience who wants to develop into a confident, capable civil trial attorney. This position is intended for an attorney who enjoys litigation case work-up and wants meaningful experience developing cases, conducting discovery, taking depositions, arguing motions, preparing witnesses, and building cases for presentation to a jury.
The attorney will represent victims and families in Elder Abuse, Neglect, Wrongful Death, financial exploitation, and related matters. The role requires intellectual curiosity, strategic thinking, disciplined preparation, resilience, professional courage, and a genuine interest in learning how each phase of litigation contributes to trial readiness and client results.
The successful candidate has experience with executing and integrate the litigation plan to connect liability, causation, damages, written discovery, ESI, depositions, experts, motion practice, witness preparation, settlement leverage, and trial themes. The attorney should want increased responsibility, courtroom exposure, embraces the civil litigation cadence and is motivated to work toward trying civil cases to a jury.
Key ResponsibilitiesTrial-Ready Case Strategy- Develop and implement case theories and persuasive narratives that can be understood by clients, opposing counsel, mediators, judges, and jurors.
- Identify the liability, causation, damages, evidentiary, and procedural issues that must be developed and proved.
- Analyzes discovery and evidence through the lens of trial readiness, learn to anticipate defenses, litigation risks, and the next steps required to move cases toward trial.
Offensive Discovery and Evidence Development- Create and execute organized discovery plans with senior counsel.
- Use written discovery, documents, ESI, subpoenas, depositions, experts, and motions to uncover facts, collect evidence, test defenses, and develop admissible evidence.
- Conduct and defend depositions of lay, professional, corporate representative, and expert witnesses at a level appropriate to experience.
- Prepare meet-and-confer correspondence and discovery motions when necessary to address obstruction, incomplete responses, or delay.
Law and Motion and Courtroom Advocacy- Research, draft, oppose, and assist with argument of substantive and procedural motions.
- Prepare thoroughly for court appearances, evidentiary issues, witness examinations, anticipate defense strategy, and oral argument.
- Remain composed under pressure, accept feedback, and adapt strategy when testimony, rulings, evidence, or case circumstances change.
- Pursue progressively greater responsibility for hearings, arbitrations, trial assignments, and courtroom advocacy.
Ownership, Cadence, and Accountability- Proactively move assigned matters forward rather than waiting for opposing counsel, the court, or other team members to create momentum.
- Maintain command of deadlines, discovery status, next steps, litigation risks, expert needs, client needs, and trial-readiness gaps.
- Take responsibility for work quality, raise risks early, follow through on commitments, and respond strategically to defense delay tactics.
Client and Team Collaboration- Learn each client's story, harms, losses, and goals and help translate them into a complete damages presentation.
- Communicate candidly and compassionately with clients about the litigation process, progress, and significant developments.
- Collaborate effectively with attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, consultants, medical professionals, experts, and public agencies.
- Contribute to a high-performance litigation team by seeking feedback, sharing information, and protecting firm and client standards.
Trial Preparation and Professional Development- Assist with trial themes, exhibit organization, witness preparation, motions in limine, evidentiary plans, demonstratives, jury instructions, and witness direct and cross-examination outlines.
- Continuously improve legal writing, oral advocacy, deposition, evidence, storytelling, negotiation, and trial skills.
- Approach each assignment as part of the larger trial strategy, not as an isolated litigation task.
Qualifications- Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and a four-year college degree.
- Active membership in good standing with the State Bar of California.
- Minimum four years of civil litigation experience in California state or federal courts; candidates with up to ten years of experience are encouraged to apply.
- Strong legal research, analytical writing, discovery, law-and-motion, and case-management skills.
- Experience taking or defending depositions and appearing at hearings; jury trial, arbitration, or second-chair trial experience is preferred but not required.
- Experience in elder law, business litigation, personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, or other complex civil litigation is preferred.
- Commitment to ethical conduct, professional standards, continuous learning, accountability, and development into a civil trial attorney.
Work Culture and ValuesWe are building a team of trial lawyers, not file handlers. We value preparation, intellectual curiosity, disciplined execution, professional courage, truthfulness, collaboration, accountability, and service to clients. Our attorneys are expected to take ownership, lean into difficult litigation challenges, accept coaching, continuously improve their advocacy skills, and find professional satisfaction in uncovering evidence and holding wrongdoers accountable through the civil justice system.
Benefits- Health, dental, and vision benefits.
- 401(k) with employer contribution available after one year of employment.
- Car allowance after one year of employment.
- Paid time off.
- Professional development opportunities and training support.
- Eligibility for bonuses based on individual and team contribution.
Additional Requirements- Reliable transportation, a valid California driver's license, and a clean, insurable driving record.
- Ability to lift, carry, and move items weighing up to 25 pounds and perform typical office-related physical tasks as needed.
- Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a lawful background check after a conditional offer of employment.
Salary: DOE $150,000-240,000 + Discretionary Bonus
