Trial Graphics Strategist

About the job

Job Description

Trial Graphics Strategist

Position Type:

Full Time

Non-Exempt

Hybrid Flexible (work in the office for 1 - 3 days, as needed, on a flexible schedule; typically, 1 day per week).  Must be flexible to travel.

Schedule Monday – Friday; range between 8:00 AM (PST) and 6:00 PM (PST) and the flexibility to work late nights and on weekends due to business needs.

Location:         Los Angeles

Residency Requirements:

Washington D.C.: For all positions based in the Washington, D.C. office, residency within Washington D.C., Maryland or Virginia and within a reasonable commutable distance to the assigned office is required depending on the firm's discretion and the nature of the role.

Los Angeles and San Francisco Offices: For all positions based in the Los Angeles and San Francisco offices, residency within the state of California and within a reasonable commutable distance to the assigned office is required depending on the firm's discretion and the nature of the role.

Salary Range:         $69.57/hour - $79.33/hour ($144,705.60 - $165,006.40 annually)  *****

*******The salary range is the one that Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP reasonably expects to pay for this position.  The salary range does not guarantee, obligate, nor set expectations of an applicant’s wage in the event of hire.  The posted range is only one component of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP’s Total Rewards package.

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The Trial Graphics Strategist is a trusted visual communications advisor to attorneys, clients, expert witnesses and legal professionals on complex, high-stakes litigation. This role leads the development and delivery of persuasive, accurate and courtroom-ready graphics for trials, arbitrations, hearings, mediations, mock trials and other proceedings, translating complex legal, technical, financial and scientific information into clear visual narratives.

Working in close partnership with legal team stakeholders, the Trial Graphics Strategist develops and manages the graphics support plan, serves as the primary graphics point of contact at trial, and directs internal and external design resources under demanding deadlines. The role may lead the Firm's most complex trial graphics engagements.

Although trial work is the primary focus, the Trial Graphics Strategist also serves as a resource for firmwide graphics needs, working collaboratively with other members of the Firm’s graphics team to support Marketing and Business Development, executive and internal communications, recruiting, training, Firm events, and other high-impact visual communications. Working with the graphics team, the role helps establish and maintain quality and brand standards, develops reusable templates and assets, shares expertise and provides guidance to colleagues, coordinates workflow and vendors, and evaluates new graphics and visualization technologies. The Trial Graphics Strategist is expected to meet applicable annual billable-hour expectations through client matter work, including pro bono matters, and approved department work.

Job Functions & Responsibilities

TRIAL VISUAL STRATEGY AND CLIENT SERVICE

• Serve as a trusted advisor to attorneys, clients, trial teams, expert witnesses and other stakeholders; lead collaborative discussions to define audiences, case themes, visual communication needs, priorities, deadlines, and presentation environments.
• Analyze complex case materials, evidence and testimony and recommend visual strategies and presentation formats that improve understanding, persuasion and retention while remaining accurate to the record and aligned with attorney direction.
• Develop and manage the end-to-end graphics support plan for trials, arbitrations, hearings, mediations, mock trials and other key case milestones, including scope, staffing, production schedules, budgets, vendor needs and contingency planning.
• Participate in case strategy meetings, witness preparation, presentation rehearsals, mock trials, and trial-site planning; advise attorneys, clients and witnesses on the effective use of demonstratives and visual storytelling.
• Build and maintain strong professional relationships across the legal team and communicate status, risks, options, dependencies and realistic turnaround times clearly and diplomatically.

DESIGN, PRODUCTION AND ON-SITE TRIAL SUPPORT

• Conceptualize, design, revise and oversee high-level customized graphics, including opening and closing presentations, witness examinations, timelines, document callouts, process diagrams, data visualizations, technical tutorials, maps, illustrations, medical and scientific graphics, exhibit sequences, large-format boards, 2D or 3D animations, and advanced video editing.
• Create and maintain litigation-specific PowerPoint systems, templates, style guides and asset libraries that support rapid production and visual consistency across large, evolving presentations.
• Provide on-site and remote graphics support at trials and other proceedings; serve as the primary graphics point of contact, respond to real-time requests, direct workflow among designers, coordinate closely with hotseat and trial technology personnel, and ensure all graphics are presentation-ready.
• Establish and apply rigorous source verification, proofreading, quality-control, version-control and final-production processes; safeguard privileged, confidential, proprietary and sensitive information.
• Coordinate with Practice Support, Legal Technology, eDiscovery, case teams and experts to obtain and organize exhibits, transcripts, databases, video, imagery and other source materials needed for graphics.
• Develop estimates, monitor budgets, review invoices and ensure deliverables meet Firm standards and deadlines.
• Resolve complex design, production and delivery issues quickly under significant time pressure and maintain practical backup plans for extended trial assignments.

FIRMWIDE GRAPHICS AND VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS

• Support Marketing and Business Development, executive communications, recruiting, training, events, internal communications, pitches and proposals, websites and digital channels, and other Firm initiatives with high-quality, audience-appropriate graphics.
• Partner with Marketing and other departments to maintain the Firm's visual standards, templates, presentation systems and reusable asset libraries across internal and external communications.
• Have the ability to prioritize competing trial, client and administrative requests; communicate capacity, dependencies, deadlines and delivery expectations to stakeholders.
• Assist with the promotion of internal trial resources and the development of portfolio materials, internal sites, practice examples and training resources, consistent with confidentiality requirements and Firm policies.

LEADERSHIP AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

• Provide functional direction, feedback, mentoring and skill development to designers and teams around trial graphics; lead the trial graphics workstream on the Firm's most complex presentation matters.
• Develop and document standards, workflows, checklists and reusable templates that improve speed, quality, scalability, accessibility and consistency.
• Develop and deliver training to attorneys and professional staff on presentation design, information visualization, PowerPoint, courtroom graphics and approved design technologies.
• Stay current with legal visualization, trial presentation, animation, video, large-format production and emerging design tools, including approved AI-enabled tools; evaluate and recommend solutions in coordination with Technology, Information Security, Marketing and Risk.
• Track project performance, utilization and lessons learned; identify opportunities to improve service delivery, resource planning and client value.
• Perform other tasks as assigned.

Tools

• Adobe Creative Cloud, including Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, After Effects, Premiere Pro and Acrobat
• Microsoft 365, with expert-level PowerPoint skills
• Video editing, motion graphics, data visualization, illustration and 2D or 3D modeling and animation tools
• Trial presentation and litigation support platforms, including OnCue, TrialDirector 360 and transcript or video synchronization tools
• Project management, digital asset management and large-format print production tools and workflows

Minimum Job Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; bachelor's degree in graphic design, visual communications, information design, fine arts or a related field preferred.
• Eight or more years of progressively responsible professional graphics or visual communications experience, including at least five years developing litigation or trial graphics at a law firm, trial consulting company or major litigation support vendor.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a lead graphics consultant on complex trials, arbitrations or hearings, including significant on-site courtroom or war-room support and rapid-turnaround production.
• Expert knowledge of visual storytelling, information design and presentation strategy, with the ability to distill complex legal, technical, financial, scientific or medical information into clear, accurate and persuasive visuals.
• Expert proficiency with Microsoft PowerPoint and Adobe Creative Cloud; advanced proficiency with video editing, motion graphics and animation required; 2D or 3D modeling experience strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of trial presentation workflows and software and the ability to partner effectively with Trial Technology Strategists, hotseat operators and other litigation support professionals.
• Exceptional ability to serve as a trusted advisor and communicate with, influence and manage expectations of attorneys, clients,  expert witnesses, executives and professional staff.
• Exceptional project management and organizational skills, including the ability to scope work, establish schedules, direct resources, manage vendors and budgets, and balance multiple urgent priorities.
• Superior judgment, discretion, attention to detail, proofreading and quality-control skills, with demonstrated ability to protect confidential, privileged and sensitive information.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams; demonstrated ability to provide project leadership, direction, feedback and mentoring.
• A portfolio or sanitized work samples demonstrating advanced litigation graphics, presentation design, information visualization and multimedia capabilities is required, subject to confidentiality obligations.
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently, accept extended trial-site assignments, work evenings, weekends and holidays as needed, and respond effectively to rapidly changing requirements under pressure.

Physical Demands

Writing, typing, reading, speaking, hearing, seeing, sitting, standing, bending, reaching and lifting or carrying up to 35 lbs.

Working Conditions

Hybrid office environment with significant work at client sites, courtrooms, war rooms, hearing rooms and other alternative work locations. Frequent travel, extended assignments and irregular hours - including evenings, weekends and holidays - may be required before and during trials. Work is performed in fast-paced, high-pressure settings with changing priorities and tight deadlines.

Direct Reports

None. Provides project leadership and functional direction to designers, contractors, vendors and other team members.

Competencies

• Communicates effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Being resilient: Rebounding from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Instills trust: Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
• Customer focus: Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
• Drives results: Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
• Situational adaptability: Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.
• Manages complexity: Making sense of complex, high-quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to solve problems effectively.
• Ensures accountability: Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
• Interpersonal savvy: Relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people and navigating sensitive stakeholder dynamics.

*The ****Trial Graphics Strategist ***role is an amazing opportunity available on our team of professionals at Munger, Tolles & Olson, LLP! We offer competitive pay, benefits and an opportunity to make an impact in today’s world.

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About Munger, Tolles & Olson

Munger, Tolles & Olson has topped The American Lawyer’s A-List a record twelve times and maintains the highest average A-List ranking in the history of the award.

We strive to hire only the most qualified and creative lawyers. We believe that clerkships provide valuable experience. In this regard, nearly 75% of our lawyers and over 80% of our litigators served as law clerks to federal or state judges and sixteen attorneys were clerks to U.S. Supreme Court Justices. We recruit and retain the best professional talent to support our Attorneys with a focus on service and excellence. We have a full spectrum of functional positions including Information Technology, Information Security, Accounting, Human Resources, Legal Support, and Marketing.

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MTO is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles (for example, braids, locks, and twists), color, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, marital or domestic partner status, parental or family care status, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, disability or medical condition, genetic characteristic, political affiliation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.  It is the policy of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP to prohibit discrimination, unlawful harassment (including sexual harassment), and retaliation.  This commitment prohibits such conduct by any individual involved in MTO’s operations and by anyone doing business with or on behalf of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP.

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We are a talent-first Firm and are always looking for great people. We encourage you to apply even if the level of this position is not an exact match to your qualifications. This may not guarantee your placement into the opening; however, it is always worth exploring if there is an opportunity for the future.

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Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP (MTO) does not accept unsolicited resumes from 3rd parties or agencies.  Any unsolicited resumes and profiles received from 3rd parties or agencies will be considered property of MTO and no fees will be due or paid.  If you wish to become an approved Agency with MTO, please contact a member of the MTO Talent Acquisition Team.