Civil Litigation Defense Attorney

Who we are

Z&A (Zupkus & Angell, P.C.) is a women-owned civil litigation, defense-focused law firm based in Denver, Colorado. Our Firm fosters an inclusive work environment based on mutual respect, support, and open communication. We encourage initiative, creativity, professionalism, and legal scholarship from our entire Team, enabling exceptional service. We use the latest collaboration technology and tools to create and foster efficiency and effectiveness in the work we do.

These values make Z&A the optimal place for qualified candidates to practice law—a place where the traditional and all too common negative standards of law firm culture are recognized for what they are: Inappropriate, ignoble, and long in need of replacement. If you want more from your career and your life than what a traditional firm offers or would allow, read on.

Who you are

· You are a professionally and interpersonally skilled associate attorney experienced in bad faith, personal injury, premises liability, insurance coverage, employment and/or construction defect litigation;

· You are a confident, motivated, self-driven, and independent professional looking to advance your professional career.

· You are organized, detail-oriented, analytical, and adaptable. You are engaged by developing creative and bespoke solutions.

· You value technology as a tool not an obstacle.

· You understand the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and beyond.

· You are inspired by change and want to disrupt the status quo.

What you have

· Outstanding communication skills and can communicate solutions, obstacles, and ideas clearly, consistently, and professionally.

· A strong work ethic, which allows you to work independently and multi-task to accomplish defined goals.

· The ability to steer and maintain a full litigation workload, with a consistently growing ability to plan and execute defense strategies in complex cases, including management of expert witnesses and third-party practice;

· Exceptional brief writing skills;

· Attention to detail;

· Critical thinking capabilities, with a mindset that produces innovative solutions;

· The ability to communicate effectively in-person, via video, over the phone, and in writing.

· Versatile problem-solving abilities;

· Self-motivation and independence;

· Adaptability in a fluid and dynamic work environment;

· A passion for excellence in the practice of law;

· An active license in good standing with the Colorado State Bar;

· At least 4 years of litigation experience (substantive career experience prior to the practice of law is also viewed favorably);

· High proficiency with many of the following tools: Westlaw, Pacer, Clio, SharePoint, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Nuance Power PDF, Microsoft 365

What you will do

· Trial and arbitration preparation and participation;

· Active participation in case development and investigation;

· Analysis of complex legal issues, and preparation of arguments;

· Drafting motions and other documents in Federal and District Courts and arbitration proceedings;

· Preparation and participation in depositions and preparatory sessions therefor;

· Attending court proceedings and conducting oral argument in procedural, discovery, pre-trial, and other substantive hearings;

· Drafting reporting and analytical correspondence to clients and counsel; and

· Preparing mediation statements and attending settlement conferences.

Who you will work with

You will work alongside our Team of accomplished attorneys and legal and administrative professionals. You will coordinate and lead your own Litigation Teams to drive the litigation process forward and advocate for the Firm’s clients.

What you will earn

Z&A has a non-traditional attorney compensation structure, designed to ensure that hard-working attorneys are compensated for every hour they bill. Z&A maintains no billable-hour requirement and trusts attorneys on the Team to perform the work necessary to progress their caseload, paying them for each hour they spend doing so. This structure promotes flexibility and allows each attorney to determine their own schedule and workload. An attorney billing between 1700 and 2000 hours a year can expect to earn between $110,000 and $140,000 in compensation. Benefits include 168 hours of paid holiday- and personal-time off per year; firm-paid 401k contributions; 100% employer-paid high-quality health and dental insurance; life insurance; optional vision and short-term disability insurance at employer-sponsored rates. Flexible and non-traditional scheduling are available.

As a cloud-based firm, Z&A operates under a hybrid remote/in-office model.

How you will grow

Z&A is a growing firm that seeks to disrupt the current civil litigation defense industry and change the way law is practiced and law firms are run in Colorado. We believe—and are continuing to prove, year after year—that a better work environment, better professional relationships, and better management consistently produce the best work and best results for our clients. You will be an integral part of a Team that is working to push the limits of what a small Firm is capable. You will be given the opportunity to hone your legal, professional, business development, and interpersonal skills while working alongside the core team developing and growing the Firm. You will have the support to develop outside-the-box solutions to traditional and contemporary legal challenges. You will have the opportunity to work with a brilliant and high-achieving legal team, and as your career with the Firm develops, you will receive support and guidance toward achieving your own professional goals.

How to apply

Please visit www.zalaw.com/hiring to submit your materials. Please make sure that your cover letter addresses the following topics:

• Why you chose the legal profession;
• Your ideal work environment;
• Your relationship with technology;
• The proudest moment in your legal career; and
• Something about yourself outside of the legal profession.

We want to thank you for considering submitting your materials for this position.

Z&A is a unique place to work. We thrive on the power of our Team, and we truly believe that happy people do great work. We look forward to getting the chance to meet you.