Having Lawyers’ Backs from Intake to Appeal
Six Consecutive Jury Trial Wins • Two Minnesota Supreme Court victories • Experienced Advocate for Some of Minnesota’s Most Vulnerable Residents
Law firms sometimes need additional litigation firepower.
A complex motion is due. Discovery has gone off the rails. Trial is fast-approaching, and you’re unsure how to navigate unfamiliar terrain.
Hiring another full-time attorney may not make sense — but neither does leaving work unfinished or revenue on the table.
Most small firms do not need another full-time lawyer or paralegal. They need an experienced trial litigator who can step in when the workload spikes — to draft a motion, manage discovery, prepare for trial, or take the lead in the courtroom as needed—and help get cases to the finish line.
Experience
I am an experienced trial, motion practice, and appellate lawyer who assists law firms with litigation support from intake through appeals on an hourly, contingent, or project basis.
For fifteen years I served as managing attorney for a busy civil rights law firm representing injured humans, children, workers, tenants, protestors, prisoners, and consumers in state and federal courts. My work has received national and industry recognition, including honors from Minnesota Lawyer and the Minnesota Chapter of the National Employment Lawyers Association, which named me Attorney of the Year and Advocate of the Year.
Much of my experience involves statutory and civil rights litigation with attorney-fee shifting provisions, including employment, civil rights, privacy, consumer protection, and housing matters.
From early case evaluation through trial and appeals, I help firms move cases forward as contract litigation counsel or of counsel.
Bar Admissions
I am licensed in Minnesota and admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.
I can help lawyers across the country, including through pro hac vice admissions where appropriate.
What I Offer
I assist firms with all areas of litigation, providing litigation support at every phase of a case, including:
Case Development
• Early case evaluation
• Legal research and litigation strategy
Pretrial Litigation
• Motion practice drafting and briefing
• Court hearings
• Discovery drafting and responses
• Document review and case organization
• Depositions and witness preparation
Trial & Appeals
• Trial preparation and courtroom support
• Jury trials, judge trials, and evidentiary hearings
• Appellate briefing and strategy
Flexible Collaboration Options
Firms can use my services as little or as much as needed, allowing them to increase litigation capacity without taking on the cost or risk of hiring additional full-time staff.
This structure allows firms to increase litigation capacity while maintaining flexibility.
I work with firms in several ways:
Hourly Contract Litigation Support
Research, briefing, discovery management, motion practice, and trial preparation. My typical hourly rate for non-contingent civil litigation work is $55 per hour. For criminal defense matters, where I am continuing to expand my experience, my typical rate is $40 per hour.
Project-Based Engagements
For certain assignments — such as drafting motions, court appearances, depositions, trials, and trial preparation — I am also open to flat-fee or project-based arrangements, depending on the scope of the work.
Of Counsel Collaboration
Ongoing litigation support or strategic involvement in firm matters.
Contingent Co-counsel Partnerships
Joint representation and expense-sharing arrangements commensurate with the fee split, where appropriate.
Jurisdiction and Venue
I am licensed in Minnesota and available to assist firms in other jurisdictions, including appearing in court through pro hac vice admission where appropriate.
Representative Engagement with a Minnesota Litigation Firm
I helped a Minnesota law firm that handles a wide range of civil and criminal matters navigate an unforeseen calamity.
The firm was managing a busy caseload when a valued staff member unexpectedly went on extended leave, creating operational bottlenecks. As a result, the firm’s lawyers had to spend significant time on administrative and operational tasks rather than on billable legal work, substantially limiting their ability to move cases forward and earn revenue.
I stepped in as contract / of counsel litigation support, assisting with:
• Drafting motion papers
• Conducting Legal research
• Preparing documents for electronic filing
• General litigation support across active matters
This arrangement allowed the firm to increase litigation capacity without hiring another full-time attorney, while giving the partners the flexibility to use my services as needed.
Representative Trial Collaborations
In several matters, co-counsel have brought me into cases shortly before trial to help them prepare for and successfully try their first jury trials.
In one wage theft case, I joined the litigation team as first chair shortly before trial to help prepare the case and try it alongside co-counsel. The client was a Spanish-speaking worker, and much of the trial required coordination through interpreters. Despite these challenges and the compressed timeline leading up to trial, we successfully presented the case to the jury and prevailed. The statute included a fee-shifting provision, allowing recovery of attorney’s fees in addition to the client’s damages.
In another jury trial where I didn’t get involved until the last minute, I assisted co-counsel in preparing and trying a complex employment discrimination case that also included a statutory fee-shifting provision. Serving as first chair, I worked with co-counsel to present the case to the jury and secure a favorable verdict. We collected the full amount for our client, including court-awarded attorney’s fees.
These collaborations illustrate how experienced trial-ready litigation support can help firms successfully prepare cases for trial while mentoring newer trial lawyers through the process.
Get in Touch
If your firm could benefit from experienced litigation support, I would be honored to connect.
My preferred method of contact is this form. Please include a brief description of your matter or project. I generally respond within 24 hours with a substantive reply and, where appropriate, an estimate of scope and fees.
You are also welcome to reach me directly:
Joshua R. Williams
Lawyer
📧 joshua@triallawyer4hire.com
📞 612.876.7617
