Vault Law Resource Center

Litigation

Overview

In a litigation practice, lawyers represent clients in a range of disputes, which can be either civil or criminal. Depending on the case, litigators will counsel clients through the pleadings stage, at trial, in alternative dispute resolution, or during internal investigations. Among the tasks that a litigator may perform are researching issues and writing memorandums; doing such discovery work as completing document review, drafting and responding to pleadings, engaging in meet and confers, and taking or defending depositions; preparing for and going to trial; conducting internal investigations; drafting and submitting amicus briefs on behalf of a client or organization, etc. Litigation is a broad career path that offers opportunities to work in a various areas, including—but not limited to—antitrust, appellate, bankruptcy, criminal law, environmental law, general commercial, insurance, housing, human rights, labor and employment, media, patents and intellectual property, product liability and mass torts, securities, white collar, and more. Those within large law firms will often practice general commercial litigation through which they advise companies on their litigation matters. At some law firms, litigators will operate as generalists, taking on a range of matters and not specializing in a specific subspecialty. Many litigators apply to become judicial law clerks to gain insight into the judicial process.

Top Ranked Firms

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Practice Area Q&A’s

Holwell Schuster Goldberg logo
Q&A Madison Gardiner
Q&A Priyanka Timblo

Madison Gardiner & Priyanka Timblo

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Jones Day firm logoQ&A Jacqueline Pasek

Jacqueline Pasek

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Kirkland & Ellis firm logo
Evelyn Cai
Grace Brier

Evelyn Cai & Grace Brier

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Kobre Kim logoQ&A Jacob Kirkham

Jacob Kirkham

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Latham logo
Q&A Jessica Saba
Q&A Laura Washington

Jessica Saba & Laura Washington

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MoloLamken LogoWalter Hawes Headshot

Walter H Hawes IV

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Q&A company Morrison Foerster
Q&A Erin Bosman
Q&A Victor Lopez

Erin Bosman & Victor Lopez

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Q&A company Paul, Weiss
Q&A Brad S. Karp
Q&A Erin J. Morgan

Brad S. Karp & Erin J. Morgan

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Q&A company Sidley Austin LLPQ&A Karim Basaria

Karim Basaria

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Susman Godfrey firm logo
Q&A Steven Seigel
Q&A Krisina Zuñiga

Steven Seigel & Krisina Zuñiga

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White & Case firm logoQ&A Jacqueline Chung

Jacqueline Chung

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Wilkinson Stekloff firm logo
Q&A Roxana Guidero
Q&A Deon McCray

Roxana Guidero & Deon McCray

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Kobre Kim logoHeadshot of a man

Daniel Zaheer

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Paul, Weiss firm logo
J Carey headshot
Janghorbani headshot

Jessica Carey & Jaren Janghorbani

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Susman Godfrey firm logo
Krysta Pachman headshot
Ryan Caughey headshot

Krysta Kauble Pachman & Ryan Caughey

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Weil LogoChantale Fiebig headshot

Chantale Fiebig

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Wilkinson Stekloff firm logo
Pirzada headshot
Caroline Li headshot

Pirzada Ahmad & Caroline Li

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At a boutique, the work feels more impactful, the stakes are higher, and the responsibility comes earlier. … Like clerking, boutiques place a premium on substance.

— Deon McCray , Wilkinson Stekloff LLP

I love trial work because it is fundamentally about storytelling—weaving the facts and law together into a narrative that is intended to persuade. I also love trial work because it involves working closely with people: witnesses, clients, and team members alike.

— Priyanka Timblo , Holwell Shuster & Goldberg LLP

I would recommend taking Evidence, Federal Courts, an advanced course on civil procedure, and a Securities Regulation course (even if you’re not interested in transactional work or securities because a lot of our clients are public companies that are subject to SEC regulation; it’s helpful to know the lingo).

— Victor Lopez , Morrison & Foerster LLP

Get involved in skills-based classes or activities, like moot court or mock trial, and devote the time and energy to those activities to make them as educational—and fun—as possible. I joined a mock trial competition during my 1L year in law school. I really enjoyed it and continued to compete in mock trial competitions throughout law school, which are absolutely some of my favorite memories.

— Grace Brier , Kirkland & Ellis LLP

A major misconception is that corporate litigation is cold and impersonal. Behind each case are people, their work, their passions, and their livelihoods. Corporate litigation matters are deeply personal to those involved because of the years of hard work and reputations earned over decades that are often at stake.

— Jacob Kirkham , Kobre & Kim LLP

No two cases are alike, which requires associates to constantly employ a wide range of skills. Attorneys must frequently shift between managing complicated discovery disputes, engaging with clients, drafting briefs, and fielding calls from opposing counsel or the government. The firm’s small teams also require associates to think big and small simultaneously.

— Walter H Hawes IV , MoloLamken LLP

The best part of this job is the variety it offers; working at a quality firm like Latham, handling high-profile matters, whether in entertainment or other areas, is quite remarkable. The work we do has impact.

— Laura Washington , Latham & Watkins LLP

The adrenaline rush that comes along with starting a direct or cross-examination—knowing that no matter how well-prepared I am (and we always are), I’m never quite sure how it’s going to go—simply can’t be beat.

— Jacqueline Pasek , Jones Day

We are also, first and foremost, trial lawyers; every case is prepared as if it will go to trial. So litigation associates at the firm have ample opportunities for hands-on courtroom experience, working alongside the best trial lawyers in the country.

— Brad S. Karp , Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

The process of building trust and preparing a witness whose reputation or license is at stake is deeply personal and rewarding to me, and it remains a core component of my practice and a source of job satisfaction.

— Karim Basaria , Sidley Austin LLP

Specialization can act at times like legal blinders; I believe very strongly that maintaining a non-patent practice helps sharpen legal skills, gives new perspective on how to attack what appears to be well-settled law, and improves your overall skill set as a trial lawyer.

— Steven Seigel , Susman Godfrey LLP

It can be harder to build a book of business in litigation because your clients may not be repeat customers in the same way that they would be if you were a deal lawyer. … This means that it is even more essential as a litigator to focus on being a good lawyer and a great advocate, as it is your reputation and the positive experiences that your existing clients can attest to that will open the door to more opportunities to advocate for others.

— Jacqueline Chung , White & Case LLP

Advice from Vault Law

Advice card Practice Area Insights: Just What Is "General Commercial Litigation?"

Practice Area Insights: Just What Is "General Commercial Litigation?"

By Vault Law Editors

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