What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Litigator position at postmanlaw?
About Us:
At Postman Law we are dedicated to creating a workplace where passionate professionals can make a real difference. Our team of experienced personal injury attorneys and case staff work together to advocate for individuals who have been wronged or injured. We guide clients through every step of their journey to ensure they receive the justice and compensation they deserve. Our mission is to achieve exceptional results for our clients, drive innovation in the practice of law, and pursue unparalleled excellence in everything we do.
Purpose:
We are seeking an experienced Lead Litigator to play a central role in pre-litigation strategy and active litigation for high-value personal injury cases. This position combines hands-on case management with leadership responsibility, including oversight and mentorship of a team of litigation attorneys aimed to consistently increase case value, settlement leverage, and trial readiness firm wide. It is a senior, high-impact role for a trial lawyer who knows how to identify big cases early, push defendants into high-dollar settlements, and take cases to trial when necessary. This is a full-time role in our Chicago office.
Key Responsibilities:
Pre-Litigation & Case Valuation
- Assist with identifying and assigning cases, including identifying high-exposure, high-upside cases at the earliest stages of intake and pre-litigation
- Conduct aggressive, data-driven case evaluations focused on maximizing recoverable value
- Assist with setting and enforcing minimum settlement value targets designed to anchor negotiations and drive results
- Shape pre-litigation strategy to position cases for fast, favorable resolution or immediate litigation leverage
- Partner with pre-litigation teams to maximize value and streamline transition to litigation when appropriate
Litigation
- Independently manage a select docket of high-value litigation cases, including complex and catastrophic injury matters
- Lead cases through all phases of litigation: pleadings, discovery, depositions, motion practice, mediation, and trial
- Serve as trial counsel or second chair on major cases as needed
- Oversee, mentor, and provide strategic guidance to a team of litigation attorneys
- Review pleadings, motions, and settlement strategies prepared by team members to ensure quality and consistency
- Drive litigation strategy firm-wide, including best practices for case valuation, settlement positioning, and trial readiness
Leadership & Collaboration
- Act as a senior legal resource for litigation and pre-litigation teams
- Assist in training and development of litigation attorneys, including trial skills and case strategy
- Work closely with firm leadership to align litigation outcomes with business and growth objectives
Qualifications:
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
- Active license and good standing with the Illinois bar
- Significant trial experience in personal injury litigation; catastrophic injury, wrongful death, or complex liability case experience preferred.
- Demonstrated history of large settlements and/or verdicts
- Strong case valuation and negotiation skills
- Proven ability to manage complex litigation and lead legal teams
- Excellent written and oral advocacy skills
- Experience supervising and/or mentoring other attorneys
Compensation & Incentives:
We offer a competitive compensation structure commensurate with experience and designed to reward performance, leadership, and results. Exact compensation structure will be tailored to the candidate’s experience, book of business, and demonstrated results.