Elinor Leary

Elinor Leary

Elinor Leary is the team leader of the Leary Trial Team which handles complex cases that involve life-altering injuries or death. The Leary Trial Team has expertise with cases that involve construction and worksite injuries, defective products, dangerous property conditions, negligent security, car and truck collisions, and incidents that involve pedestrians and bicyclists. Ms. Leary has tried cases to verdict as well as reached large settlements in numerous other cases, including cases listed in The Recorder's "Top Settlements" publications.

The Leary Trial Team provides extensive knowledge of the civil justice system and a commitment to helping clients when they face difficult times after a catastrophe. We help clients who have suffered fractures, amputations, head injuries, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and burn injuries. We also help families who have lost loved ones due to the fault of others in wrongful death actions. We have experience helping construction workers, laborers, truck drivers, union members, and other professionals and their families.

In addition to handling cases from start to finish, the Leary Trial Team also serves as trial counsel when colleagues call for last-minute help. Ms. Leary has been a clinical professor at the University of San Francisco School of Law, where she taught advanced law students case investigation, courtroom advocacy, jury selection, and trial skills.

Ms. Leary believes in giving back to the community and devotes time to pro bono service for the San Francisco and Bay Area communities. Her pro bono work was previously recognized with nominations for the State Bar of California President's Pro Bono Service Award and Jack Berman Award of Achievement.

Ms. Leary enjoys travel, and lived for a time in Mexico City. She speaks Spanish fluently. She lives in San Francisco where she enjoys time spent with family and friends, preferably outdoors.

Articles written by this author:

Maximize your closing argument

Outline how you will sum it all up for the jury; here’s what to include in that outline

William Veen
Elinor Leary

2009 March


A defendant for your products-liability case

Depending on special relationships with the product manufacturer, an insurance company may be liable

Elinor Leary

2011 January


“Criminal” torts

Maximizing your client’s recovery through effective use of victim restitution

Elinor Leary
Andje Medina

2011 August


Putting the best face on your client – “warts and all”

Nobody’s perfect; it takes creativity for the attorney to present the flawed client in the best light

Elinor Leary

2011 December


Waging war in the trial court and at the court of appeal

A loss at trial is not necessarily a lost war. Sometimes it just means a prolonged campaign

Elinor Leary

2012 December


Protecting immigrant clients from having their cases undervalued

Immigration status should not interfere with a damages’ suit

Elinor Leary

2013 December


Let your case speak for itself

Make the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur work for you

Elinor Leary

2014 December


“Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated”

Despite efforts to redefine the reasonable value of medical care, plaintiff still has a right to full and fair compensation for future medical damages

Elinor Leary

2015 December


How to read “Procrustean reasoning”

A step-by-step approach to statutory interpretation by counsel to fit their goals

Elinor Leary

2016 December


No second string

A physical therapist may be a very good option for testimony by a “treater” at trial

Elinor Leary

2017 November


The law of unintended consequences

The law of unintended consequences

Law enforcement agencies are investigating medical service providers — docs and clinics — for fraud and other crimes

Elinor Leary

2018 December