Litigation Associate, Auto and Trucking Defense

Litigation Associate, Auto and Trucking Defense | Tampa, FL | $125,000 to $200,000 | Auto (Trucking and Transportation)

Physics is rarely on the defense side in a trucking case. An 80,000 pound vehicle meets a sedan, and the jury's sympathy is settled before the first witness is sworn. What changes the outcome is everything else: the reconstruction, the timeline, the medical causation, and a defense lawyer who knows which facts matter and how to present them without sounding cold.

I'm Ryan Jaiswal at Distinct Recruitment, and I'm hiring for a Tampa insurance defense firm that handles auto and trucking defense. The role covers both everyday auto negligence and the more complex commercial vehicle claims.

Five reasons this role is worth a look

• Variety that builds skill: a mix of auto and trucking files means plenty of courtroom time on standard cases alongside complex, high exposure claims

• Real ownership: you'd run your files, take the key depositions and handle the hearings

• Trial work: cases that should be tried get tried, and attorneys with the experience take the first chair

• Room to grow: experienced lawyers lead teams, train associates and build the carrier relationships that lead to partnership

• Fair pay: $125,000 to $200,000, a range set wide on purpose so senior attorneys and counsel are paid for their experience

What you'd do

• Defend drivers, motor carriers and insurers in auto and trucking injury claims

• Work with accident reconstructionists, human factors experts and medical experts

• Handle discovery disputes around driver files, ELD data and maintenance records

• Prepare and argue dispositive motions and evaluate cases candidly for clients

Background

• Florida Bar membership

• 2+ years of litigation experience in auto, trucking or insurance defense

• Trucking experience is a plus but not essential if your auto defense background is strong

• A level head when the stakes are high

The structure

• Hybrid, with the team based in Tampa

• 1,950 billable hours a year

A last thought

Many lawyers drift into a practice and stay because moving feels like effort. The ones who build the best careers are usually those who made one deliberate move at the right time. If you've been wondering whether now is that time, a short call will tell you a lot.