Vault Law Resource Center

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.