Senior Counsel

Senior Counsel | Insurance Defense | San DiegoYou’ve Built the Experience. Now Build What Comes Next.
An active California Bar license is required.
Tyson & Mendes is seeking an experienced Senior Counsel with 8+ years of litigation experience to join our San Diego team.
At this stage in your career, your next move should offer more than another caseload. It should give you the opportunity to use the experience you’ve built, take ownership of sophisticated matters, strengthen client relationships, mentor others, and continue moving toward the next level of your career.
For attorneys interested in leadership and partnership opportunities, Tyson & Mendes offers room to build what comes next.
Own Your Cases. Use Your Judgment.
Our San Diego attorneys handle a broad range of insurance defense matters, including complex personal injury and wrongful death, premises liability, automobile and transportation liability, professional liability, medical malpractice, construction and construction defect, products liability, employment, and other complex civil litigation.
As Senior Counsel, you’ll be trusted to bring your experience and judgment to your cases, from strategy and discovery through depositions, dispositive motions, mediation, client counseling, and trial preparation.
You’ve spent years developing your skills. We want you to use them.
Experienced Leaders. Strong Teams.
The San Diego office is led by Daniel Fallon, an experienced litigator and former Board Member of the San Diego Defense Lawyers, and overseen regionally by Kristi Blackwell, California Regional Managing Partner.
Across the office, you’ll work with experienced partners and team leaders with different practice areas and approaches to litigation. This gives senior attorneys the opportunity to collaborate with accomplished litigators while bringing their own perspective and experience to the team.
Your Career Doesn’t Stop at Senior Counsel
We’re not simply hiring experienced attorneys to handle cases. We’re looking for attorneys who can help strengthen and grow our San Diego teams.
Several of our current partners and team leaders developed within these teams, creating a natural path for experienced attorneys who want to take on greater responsibility.
For the right attorney, that can mean mentoring associates, developing client relationships, becoming a team leader, and pursuing partnership opportunities.
If leadership is where you want your career to go, we want to help you get there.
Flexibility + Autonomy
Our San Diego office offers a highly flexible, primarily remote work environment, with office space available for attorneys who prefer to come in.
With that flexibility comes trust and accountability. Attorneys who thrive here are self starters who communicate well, take ownership of their work, adapt, and stay connected to their teams without needing constant oversight.
Your Experience Should Open Doors.
If you’re ready for greater autonomy, sophisticated litigation, opportunities to lead, and a path toward the next stage of your career, we’d love to talk.
Bring your experience. Build your reputation. Help shape the future of Tyson & Mendes San Diego.
Responsibilities
Develop a case theme that is more compelling than any plaintiff ploy for sympathy or anger
Refuse to accept mediocrity, the average, the standard or the norm in anything
Independently handle court appearances, depositions, briefs and trials
Work as part of a team with all levels of experiences
Routine communications with clients
Cultivate relationships with the firm’s existing and future clients
Provide leadership and direction with respect to less experienced attorneys
Requirements
JD from an ABA approved school
Must be licensed in the State of California
8+ years of solid litigation experience, specifically with litigation support, deposition and trial preparation
Ability to manage full case handling responsibilities, including all facets of discovery and trial
Experience handling insurance defense matters preferred
Experience with time management systems
Proficiency in MS Suite, specifically Word, PowerPoint and Outlook
Ability to think and act independently and with minimal supervision
Outstanding listening, verbal and written communication skills
Professional appearance and demeanor
Compensation Package
The base salary for this position ranges from $160,000-$190,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications
Attorneys are eligible for an annual billable hours bonus ranging from $10,000 and then aggregating with $7,500 for every additional tier
Comprehensive benefits coverage offered, including plans available at zero employee cost (average annual employer contribution for health/vision/dental/life coverage is $700-$1,700)
Employees benefit from a 401(k) program that includes a 100% match on the first 3% contributed and a 50% match on the following 4-5%
Student loan repayment assistance or 529 college savings plan (full-time attorneys after one year with the firm) $100-$200/month
Paid parental leave at base pay
Employees receive a monthly technology reimbursement of $60
Benefits
Employee Assistance Program through HealthAdvocate
Comprehensive in-house training and leadership development opportunities
Firm Provided CLE Programs and Paid Bar License Renewal Fees
Flexible vacation policy for attorneys
Defined pathway to partnership
Internal diversity and inclusion programs, such as the Women’s Initiative and Young Professionals Initiative
Firm-wide charitable giving program
Numerous social and off-site events each year to enrich your relationships with your colleague
Flexible Work Model: Remote, hybrid, or onsite options available
About Tyson & Mendes
Click here to learn more about the Tyson & Mendes Office! (944) The Tyson & Mendes Office - YouTube
We’re one of the fastest-growing civil defense firms in the country—known for breaking the mold of the traditional law firm. Our dynamic, diverse team of trial attorneys delivers exceptional results, from landmark cases like Howell v. Hamilton Meats to numerous defense verdicts across the nation.
But we don’t stop at great legal work—we invest in our people. With specialized training in our proven defense methods, clear paths to leadership, and robust professional development, we empower attorneys to grow their careers, build their personal brands, and become leaders in the field.
Follow along with the firm on Twitter and LinkedIn, or visit www.tysonmendes.com.
Equal Opportunity Employer Notice
OK, now for the legal copy (we are a law firm, after all). It is Tyson & Mendes’ policy to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit-based factors. By the way, if you read all of this, congratulations – we can already tell your attention to detail is exceptional.
NOTICE TO APPLICANTS/EMPLOYEES OF TYSON & MENDES: Please take notice that the Firm collects certain information about you. For more information on the Firm’s policies, please refer to the document provided here.
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Pay Range: $160,000 USD - $190,000 USD

Work arrangement
Yes