Description

Associate Attorney — Litigation

Law Offices of Maximilian A. Stovall | Reno, Nevada
$100,000 Base Salary + 15% of Collected Receivables

The Law Offices of Maximilian A. Stovall is looking for an attorney to join our Reno office.

Our practice is intentionally broad.  We primarily handle civil litigation, criminal defense, and appellate work, and we are more interested in finding a good lawyer and a good fit for our office than someone from a particular practice area.

We welcome applications from attorneys at different stages of their careers.  Civil litigation experience is useful but not required.  Attorneys coming from criminal law, family law, insurance defense, government practice, commercial litigation, personal injury, appellate practice, or another litigation-heavy background are encouraged to apply.

What the Job Looks Like

This is not a position where an attorney will spend several years carrying someone else's briefcase.  Our attorneys have substantial responsibility for their own cases, including client communication, case strategy, discovery, negotiations, substantive motions and briefs, hearings, depositions, and trial or appellate preparation.

Depending on the attorney's background and interests, the position may involve civil litigation, criminal cases, appellate work, or a combination of those areas.  

Typical responsibilities include:

Managing an individual caseload with attorney and staff support;
Communicating directly with clients and participating in case strategy;
Drafting substantive motions, briefs, pleadings, and discovery;
Taking and defending depositions when appropriate;
Appearing in Nevada state courts;
Handling negotiations and dispute-resolution proceedings;
Preparing cases for trial and appeal;
Working collaboratively with other attorneys; and
Occasionally covering hearings or other work for another attorney when necessary.
Our cases take us throughout Nevada, so some travel is expected.

Compensation and Work Expectations

Compensation begins with a guaranteed base salary of $100,000 per year, plus 15% of the attorney's collected receivables.  We would require the equivalent of 1,200 collected billable hours at your hourly rate (so attorneys who ordinarily work on contingency or flat fee casework should still feel comfortable meeting that hourly requirement).  Compensation is not capped, and we would expect compensation would realistically be about $165,000 per year.

We deliberately keep our production expectations lower than the traditional large-firm model.  Our practice includes hourly, flat-fee, contingency, and other arrangements, so we care more about productive work, responsible case management, and results than mechanically counting every hour.  We also require pro bono work, professional development, business development, community involvement, and contributions to the firm and will develop a low number of hours per year to meet that target with you and your caseload.

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for an attorney who:

Is licensed and in good standing with the Nevada Bar, or will be eligible for admission;
Can navigate an ordinary case in their field of expertise from beginning to end;
Writes well;
Exercises sound judgment;
Communicates effectively with clients, staff, opposing counsel, and courts;
Is organized and capable of taking ownership of files;
Is willing to learn unfamiliar areas of law when necessary;
Knows when to act independently and when to ask for another attorney's input; and
Is someone we actually enjoy working with.

We are deliberately not requiring experience in one particular practice area.  We would rather hire a capable attorney with good judgment and the right personality than pass on that attorney because their prior cases do not perfectly match ours.

Our Office

We take our cases seriously without taking ourselves too seriously.  We are a small, collaborative, and informal office.  There is no unnecessary hierarchy, no requirement to wear a suit while sitting behind a desk, and no value placed on pretending to be busy simply for appearances.  Attorneys are given substantial independence, but other attorneys are available to discuss strategy, difficult legal issues, or unusual problems when needed.

The position is based primarily in our Reno office, with a genuinely flexible and hybrid schedule.  Attorneys may work from home when their responsibilities permit, although everyone is expected to participate as part of the office and be physically present when cases, clients, meetings, or court appearances require it. 

Benefits

Benefits include:

401(k) with employer matching;
Flexible scheduling;
Hybrid work / work-from-home flexibility;
Paid continuing legal education;
Paid Nevada Bar dues;
Firm-paid expenses reasonably necessary to perform the job; and
Opportunities for increased compensation and responsibility as the attorney develops.

Applying

All applications will be treated confidentially.  We will not contact your current or former employers without your permission.  Please submit a résumé and a short (and totally informal) introduction telling us what you are currently doing, what kinds of legal work you enjoy, and what you would like your next position to look like.  A formal cover letter is unnecessary.  We would much rather hear, in your own words, what you have been doing, what kind of lawyer you are, and what you would like to do next.

Law Offices of Maximilian A. Stovall
Reno, Nevada