Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault Litigation Attorney
Chaffin Luhana LLP
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Remote
Location: Remote • 🇺🇸 United States
Visit company websiteJob Level
Mid-LevelSenior
About the role
- Handle all phases of sexual abuse and sexual assault litigation, including sensitive pleadings, trauma-informed discovery approaches, motion practice, and bellwether/trial preparation.
- Lead discovery efforts focused on institutional accountability, including identifying key documents revealing patterns of negligence, taking depositions, and written discovery.
- Depose witnesses and institutional representatives, while defending sensitive client depositions.
- Draft pleadings, motions (including those addressing statute of limitations, institutional liability, and evidentiary motions unique to sexual abuse and assault cases), discovery requests/responses and other critical litigation documents.
- Work closely with specialized expert witnesses – including psychologists, psychiatrists, institutional safety experts, and damages experts – from vetting to preparation.
- Have experience with or at least a willingness to learn the art of psychodrama to work with trauma survivors in developing their stories and emotional truths for trial under trial lawyers experienced in using this method.
- Participate in trial preparation with a focus on sensitive survivor testimony, institutional or company accountability themes, damages presentations, and pretrial filings.
- Be able to at least second chair, and preferably first chair, sexual assault trials with a proven track record of being a first or second chair of a sexual assault or abuse trial.
- Collaborate with partners and senior attorneys on high-level strategy addressing the unique challenges of sexual abuse litigation, and the training of other attorneys to support the practice.
- Capacity to manage complex, emotionally challenging legal matters both independently and as part of a trauma-informed team.
Requirements
- A Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school
- 6+ years of litigation experience preferred, ideally with some exposure to trauma-informed legal practices
- Strong legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills with sensitivity to survivor-centered approaches
- A passion for survivor advocacy and a "find-a-way" mentality in overcoming institutional barriers
- Comfortable taking initiative while maintaining appropriate emotional boundaries in sensitive cases
- Experience with complex civil litigation, institutional liability cases, or similar is a plus
- Understanding of the psychological impact of sexual trauma is valued
- Clerkship experience is a bonus, not a requirement
- Exemplifies our Core Values of Doing Good by Doing Right™: Results Driven, Excellence Without Paralysis, Compassionate and Authentic, In It Together, and Innovative Growth
- Adheres to all government and industry regulations, including settlement disbursements and the protection of regulated sensitive data
- Exceptional communication skills for interacting compassionately with survivors while maintaining professional boundaries
- Problem-solving mindset, with the ability to identify process improvements in how institutions can be held accountable
- Maintain strict confidentiality of all Confidential Information, particularly regarding survivor identities and sensitive case details
- Excellent analytical skills, with an ability to identify patterns of institutional negligence
- Superior organizational and time management skills while handling cases that may be emotionally challenging
- Ability to balance the emotional weight of this work with professional objectivity and self-care.
Benefits
- 401k Contributions: The firm offers a discretionary match up to 5%. This includes a 100% match on the first 3% of contributions and a 50% match on the next 2%, based on annual compensation.
- Charitable Donations: The Chaffin Luhana Foundation makes an annual donation to a charity of each team member’s choice.
- Medical Insurance: $503 toward monthly health premiums for team members or their families. Team members pay just $1.
- Dental Insurance: Full coverage, with only a $1 monthly contribution from the team member.
- Vision Insurance: Full coverage, with only a $1 monthly contribution from the team member.
- Health Reimbursement Account (HRA): Team members receive a $1,000 contribution from the firm in their HRA account if enrolled in the PPO health plan.
- Family / Dependent Care (DCR): Team members can contribute up to $5,000 pre-tax for dependent care.
- Flex Spending Account (FSA): Team members can contribute up to $1,000 pre-tax for medical expenses.
- Tax-free Transit Commute (TRN): Team members can contribute up to $325 per month pre-tax toward transit tickets.
- Discounted Parking (PKG): Team members can contribute up to $325 per month pre-tax toward parking.
- Paid Time Off (PTO): 15 PTO days per year, increasing to 20 days after 3 years with the firm.
- Sick Days: 3 paid sick days per year.
- Celebrate the Holidays: Office is closed for 10 public holidays.
- Office Closure: Office is typically closed between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
- Casual Dress: Enjoy our business casual dress code.
- Up to $500 annually for continued education or training.
- Free access to GreenTree SportsPlex for Pittsburgh office.
- Bonusly points for peer-to-peer recognition, redeemable for gift cards, trips, dinners, and more.
- Free team lunches and happy hours.
- Year-end discretionary bonus.
- Annual firm outing for all team members to meet up and have fun.
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard skills
litigationlegal researchlegal writingoral advocacydrafting pleadingsmotion practicediscovery requestsdepositiontrial preparationpsychodrama
Soft skills
sensitivity to survivor-centered approachesproblem-solving mindsetemotional boundariescompassionate communicationorganizational skillstime managementcapacity to manage complex legal mattersinitiativeempathyprofessional objectivity
Certifications
Juris Doctor (JD)