Description:
Position Overview:Durrett Lang Morse LLLP is seeking a litigation associate attorney with 3–5 years of experience to join its Honolulu office. This position is ideal for an attorney seeking hands-on responsibility, meaningful client contact, exposure to sophisticated civil matters, and the opportunity to develop as an advocate within a collaborative practice.
The associate will work closely with the firm's partners, paralegals, and support staff on all phases of litigation. The preferred candidate will have experience with real property, real estate, land use, construction, or related disputes, although attorneys with strong general civil litigation backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Key Responsibilities:
Case Strategy & Management
- Manage and assist with a diverse caseload of civil litigation matters from initial assessment through resolution
- Analyze factual and legal issues and contribute to the development of case strategy, budgets, and work plans
- Maintain responsibility for court deadlines, discovery obligations, hearing dates, and other case milestones
- Communicate directly with clients regarding case status, strategy, risks, and next steps
- Coordinate with opposing counsel, experts, consultants, witnesses, and third parties
- Conduct legal research and prepare clear, well-supported legal analyses
- Draft and revise pleadings, motions, oppositions, replies, memoranda, briefs, and other substantive filings
- Prepare for and argue motions and other matters before state and federal courts, as appropriate
- Assess claims, defenses, damages, and procedural issues and provide practical recommendations
- Assist with appellate briefing and related proceedings, as applicable
- Draft and respond to interrogatories, requests for production, requests for admission, subpoenas, and other discovery
- Manage document review, productions, privilege issues, and discovery disputes in coordination with the litigation team
- Take and defend depositions and assist with witness and expert preparation
- Develop factual records through document analysis, witness interviews, and investigation
- Prepare and argue discovery motions and participate in discovery conferences, as appropriate
- Prepare for and participate in hearings, settlement conferences, mediations, and arbitrations
- Assist with trial strategy, witness examinations, exhibit preparation, motions in limine, and trial briefs
- Participate in trials and evidentiary proceedings with increasing responsibility based on experience
- Evaluate settlement opportunities and assist with negotiations and resolution documentation
Qualifications:
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school
- Active member of the Hawaiʻi State Bar in good standing
- 3–5 years of post-admission civil litigation experience
- Strong legal research, analytical, writing, oral advocacy, and communication skills
- Demonstrated experience with discovery, motion practice, depositions, and case management
- Ability to manage multiple matters and competing deadlines independently while collaborating effectively with a team
- Sound professional judgment, attention to detail, responsiveness, and commitment to client service
Preferred Experience:
- Real property, real estate, land use, construction, or development-related litigation
- State and federal court practice in Hawaiʻi
- Taking and defending depositions and arguing substantive motions
- Mediation, arbitration, trial, or evidentiary hearing experience
- Experience working with expert witnesses and managing complex discovery
- Familiarity with electronic discovery and litigation-support technology
- Knowledge of Hawaiʻi-specific real property, land use, and civil procedure issues
- In-office work structure with hybrid opportunities aligned with client, court, and case needs
- Direct partner mentorship and meaningful responsibility for substantive legal work
- Paralegal and administrative support within the litigation practice
- Opportunities for direct client contact, courtroom experience, and increasing responsibility
- Long-term professional development and practice-building opportunities