Litigation: Class Action
A class action is a type of civil lawsuit brought on behalf of many similarly situated people who have been harmed in the same way by the same entity; because they do not have the resources individually to sue the responsible party, they band together in a single case. Class action litigators are trial attorneys who usually work on a contingency basis, which means that they will receive a portion of the award if the lawsuit is successful, but will charge their clients no fees if it fails. Common issues in class action litigation include illegal hiring or salary practices, dangerous or defective drugs or products (such as motor vehicles, machinery, toys, and electronics), environmental or health concerns, and financial fraud.
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Day-to-Day Activities
- Conduct an initial case investigation.
- Seek class certification from the appropriate court; draft complaints, answers and counterclaims.
- Propound and respond to interrogatories and document requests.
- Conduct and defend depositions.
- Draft motions and memoranda of law.
- Determine overall trial strategy.
- Conduct settlement negotiations.
- Perform jury selection as necessary.
- Appear and argue for clients in federal and state court.
Practice Settings
- Nonprofit and Legal Services Organizations
- Private Public Interest Law Firms
Skills Required
- Analytic skills
- Legal research
- Written advocacy
- Oral advocacy
- Ability to synthesize complex legal and factual materials
- Negotiation
- Teamwork