Litigation Fellowship

The Miami Beach City Attorney’s Office has established a paid, full-time, one year Fellowship for a recent law school graduate or junior attorney to work in its litigation practice group, with a focus on discovery. The Fellowship is ideal for a less-experienced lawyer or J.D. who wants to gain experience building a case from the ground up, liaising with different departments to investigate and gather information to be used as evidence in prosecuting or defending our civil cases. Experienced attorneys with strong organizational, research, and writing skills are also welcome to apply. Familiarity with e-discovery is preferred.

This is primarily a fact-investigative and discovery management position, to also include reviewing documents responsive to public records requests and analyzing potential statutory exemptions. There may additionally be some opportunities for legal research and motion writing. Deposition and court appearances may also be part of the job. 
After successfully completing the Fellowship, the successful applicant may be considered for full-time employment in the City Attorney’s Office if a position is available. Regardless, successful completion of this Fellowship will secure for the successful applicant valuable experience and resume enhancement, enabling them to better secure coveted employment practicing litigation at nonprofit organizations, government agencies, or private law firms. 

The City of Miami Beach is both a vibrant residential community and a cosmopolitan and fast-paced hub of entertainment, business, and tourism. As a result, the City is faced with a broad array of civil litigation, including constitutional and civil rights claims, personal injury suits, labor and employment actions, land use and zoning matters, commercial disputes, construction-related matters, and more.

This is a complex and fast-paced position. A Fellow in this position is primarily responsible for performing a variety of duties in assisting attorneys with case preparation. Duties involve interviewing, fact-gathering, and other investigative tasks related to civil pre-suit and court proceedings in state and federal courts; reviewing and drafting discovery requests; analyzing and preparing written responses to discovery; organizing and Bates-stamping discovery productions; drafting and facilitating service of subpoenas; proactively following up on missing or incomplete discovery responses or subpoenas related to litigation matters; preparing privilege logs; reviewing and responding to public records requests; preparing appropriate legal motions or briefs (including appellate briefs), discovery, documents, affidavits/declarations under penalty of perjury, and correspondence; and attending pre-trial, trial, and administrative hearings such as code enforcement proceedings. A Fellow may perform other related duties as assigned. 


FELLOWSHIP DETAILS:

The Litigation Fellowship begins August 4, 2025, and ends July 31, 2026. These dates may be flexible depending on the needs or availability of the successful applicant. 

The selected Fellow will be paid an annual salary of $80,000–$85,000. In addition, the City of Miami Beach offers a comprehensive benefits package, including annual leave, sick leave, and floating holidays; medical (including visual) and dental insurance partially sponsored by the City's group plan; basic life insurance.; the City's pension plan (known as the Miami Beach Employees' Retirement Plan). Voluntary Benefits (fully paid by the employee, but payroll deductible): flexible spending account, 457 Deferred Compensation Plan and Roth IRA, supplemental life insurance, and short- and long-term disability insurance. Additional voluntary benefits include a legal plan, tuition assistance, continuation of medical and dental coverage up to 18 months upon termination (COBRA). For a more detailed overview of the benefit package, please visit Benefits section at http://web.miamibeachfl.gov/hr.

• Applicants for the Fellowship must be Florida licensed attorneys or recent law school graduates who have either passed the Florida Bar or are awaiting Florida Bar exam results. Out-of-state applicants must secure a Florida Bar license expeditiously. 
• Applicants should have superior academic credentials, and provide evidence of strong legal writing, research, and organizational skills. Because of the interactive nature of the position, strong interpersonal skills are also preferred. 
• This is a fully in-person (not remote) position.
• Applicants should submit a current resume and a recent writing sample to Freddi Mack, First Assistant City Attorney at: freddimack@miamibeachfl.gov. Questions about the Fellowship should be directed to Henry Hunnefeld, Deputy City Attorney, at henryhunnefeld@miamibeachfl.gov.