Civil Rights Attorney

About the role

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced civil rights litigation attorney who is confident handling sophisticated, high-exposure cases and serving as a trusted litigation advisor to public entity and law enforcement clients.

Why join us?

• Opportunity to work with a respected public sector litigation firm handling meaningful, complex, and high-impact civil rights matters throughout California.
• The ability to manage sophisticated Section 1983 cases, work closely with public agency and law enforcement clients, and contribute to trial strategy on matters that often involve significant constitutional, governmental liability, and public policy issues.
• Competitive compensation package, hybrid/remote flexibility, reasonable 1,800-hour billable requirement, sophisticated civil rights and public entity litigation, opportunity to first-chair trials and lead high-exposure matters, strong litigation and trial platform, collaborative team environment, medical, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, flexible spending account, retirement plan with company match.

Job Details

• We are seeking a Civil Rights Litigation Attorney with 10+ years of litigation experience, including significant experience handling Section 1983 civil rights litigation. This role requires strong first-chair trial experience and the ability to manage complex civil rights and public entity defense matters with a high degree of independence.
• The ideal candidate will have deep experience defending public entities, law enforcement agencies, officers, municipalities, or governmental clients in civil rights matters involving constitutional claims, excessive force, wrongful arrest, unlawful search and seizure, due process, qualified immunity, Monell liability, and related federal and state law claims.

Responsibilities

• Manage civil rights litigation matters from inception through resolution, including case evaluation, discovery, depositions, motion practice, expert work, mediation, trial preparation, trial, and post-trial motions.
• Defend public entities, municipalities, law enforcement agencies, and individual officers in Section 1983 and related civil rights matters.
• Develop case strategy, evaluate liability and exposure, and advise clients regarding litigation risks, defenses, and resolution options.
• Prepare and argue motions, including dispositive motions, motions for summary judgment, motions involving qualified immunity, discovery motions, motions in limine, and post-trial motions.
• Take and defend depositions of parties, percipient witnesses, law enforcement personnel, experts, and other key witnesses.
• Lead trial preparation, including witness preparation, exhibit preparation, expert coordination, jury instructions, verdict forms, and trial briefs.
• Serve as first chair in civil rights, public entity, law enforcement, or related civil litigation trials.
• Represent clients in court appearances, mediations, settlement conferences, hearings, pre-trial conferences, and trials.
• Maintain regular communication with clients regarding case status, litigation strategy, risk assessment, and significant developments.
• Work collaboratively with attorneys, clients, experts, and support staff while also managing matters independently.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of litigation experience, with significant experience handling Section 1983 civil rights litigation.
• First-chair trial experience on Section 1983 matters required, with a minimum of 5 trials.
• Experience defending public entities, municipalities, law enforcement agencies, officers, or government clients strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of constitutional law, civil rights defense, Monell liability, qualified immunity, government tort liability, and related defenses.
• Excellent legal research and writing skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong deposition, motion practice, trial preparation, and courtroom advocacy experience.
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Admission to the State Bar of California required.

Compensation and Schedule

Base Salary: $200,000–$250,000 annually
Billable Requirement: 1,800 hours per year
Schedule: Full-time, hybrid role
Remote Flexibility: May work remotely except for client meetings, depositions, court appearances, team meetings, trial preparation, and other in-person business needs.

Location Requirement: Must live within reasonable commuting distance of the firm’s Orange County location.