Description:

Seraph Legal is a small, rapidly growing consumer rights law firm in Tampa. We're hiring an experienced civil litigator to take cases from intake through trial or arbitration.

You will represent consumers against:

Lenders engaged in usurious, unlawful, or predatory lending (including RICO claims)
Debt collectors engaged in unlawful collection practices (FDCPA, FCCPA)
Credit reporting agencies and furnishers engaged in false or defamatory credit reporting (FCRA)
Similar bad actors, as they arise

Most cases are individual actions; some are state-wide or nation-wide class actions. As time allows, we also handle other matters on a limited basis, such as product mislabeling.

You will own a substantial docket from day one. That means running your cases, not just working on them: drafting and arguing dispositive motions, taking and defending depositions, handling mediations, and first-chairing hearings, arbitrations (primarily JAMS and AAA), and trials in state and federal court. The ability to manage many matters at once, prioritize, and switch gears quickly is essential.

You will also need a great "bedside manner" with clients and be able to explain case information to people who often lack any legal sophistication. You will need to help prepare them for depositions, hearings, etc. and help allay natural anxieties about that.

Occasional local travel (usually within a two-hour drive of Tampa) will be required for mediation conferences and similar appearances. While not all cases will be litigation-tracked, and some may settle relatively quickly, the emphasis of this position is on taking cases with ideal fact patterns and plaintiffs as far as possible.

Consumer protection experience is a plus, not a requirement. We can teach you the FCRA. We can't teach you seven years of judgment in a courtroom.

What we offer:

Competitive base salary plus a substantial production bonus, paid quarterly
Fully company-paid health insurance
Retirement plan with 3% employer match. Note, we offer a Simple IRA retirement plan, not a 401(k). However, Indeed had no tag for Simple IRA, so, here we sit.
Paid time off, including all federal holidays
Hybrid schedule, with a minimum of two days per week in the office
The chance to work alongside some of the best consumer attorneys in Florida, and to build a practice in an area where demand keeps growing
Multiple company-paid "happy hours" each year, ranging from Rays games to fine dining to... not-so-fine dining

Who We're Looking for:

At least seven years of litigation experience, with meaningful first-chair time in hearings, depositions, and at least some trials or arbitrations (required)
Admitted to practice in Florida and in good standing with The Florida Bar (required)
Admission to the Middle District of Florida, or the ability to obtain it promptly
Admission in other states is a big plus. California is the biggest plus of all.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to write and speak persuasively
Comfort working independently with minimal supervision, and the judgment to know when to ask
Spanish fluency is helpful but not required
The right personality to fit in with a hard-working, but fun, team

Experience matters here, but so do work ethic, drive, and the desire to keep getting better. So do common sense, the ability to learn a new practice area quickly, and a knack for Sherlock Holmes-style deductive reasoning. Our cases turn on details that other people miss. If you've spent seven years on the defense side and want to switch sides, we'd like to hear from you. NO RECRUITERS. Please. Seriously.