Habitability - Associate Attorney

At Wilson Elser, we are redefining what it means to work at a national law firm. With more than 1,400 attorneys across 46 offices nationwide, we are recognized among the top 100 law firms by The American Lawyer and ranked #30 in the National Law Journal’s survey of the nation’s largest law firms. Our continued success is built on a culture of collaboration, innovation, client service, and mutual respect.

About the role

This role focuses on defending property owners, landlords, property management companies, and other clients in Superior Court litigation that typically involves habitability (mold, code defects), Wrongful Eviction, and Premises Liability claims. Our cases involve overlap with construction defect and often require navigating the rent stabilization acts to properly evaluate the exposure for our clients. The position offers a flexible, hybrid or remote working arrangement.

The ideal candidate will have strong litigation experience in landlord-tenant, habitability, premises liability, insurance coverage, or related litigation, excellent analytical skills, and the ability to manage cases from inception through resolution. Strong familiarity with the San Francisco, Alameda County, and Los Angeles County tenant protection ordinance is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Draft pleadings, motions, briefs, legal memoranda, discovery, and other legal documents
• Handle court appearances, depositions, mediations, and other litigation events
• Manage a litigation caseload as part of a collaborative team, with level of independence based on experience
• Develop case strategy, evaluate liability and damages, and work toward efficient resolution of matters
• Communicate with clients, carriers, experts, opposing counsel, and witnesses
• Prepare status reports, case evaluations, and other client-facing updates
• Collaborate with attorneys across offices and practice areas, contributing to a cohesive and supportive team environment

Requirements

• JD from an ABA-accredited law school
• Admitted to practice in California
• 2+ years of litigation experience required
• Experience in habitability, landlord-tenant, premises liability, insurance defense, or related litigation strongly preferred
• Experience in coordinating inspections and working with construction, building, environmental, or medical experts preferred
• Experience with cases involving multiple defendants, property managers, contractors, maintenance companies, or insurers preferred
• Experience drafting discovery, pleadings, dispositive motions, and pretrial motions required
• Experience handling court appearances, depositions, mediations, and expert discovery preferred
• Experience cross-examining plaintiffs, fact witnesses, and/or experts preferred
• Superior analytical, writing, and communication skills
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage competing deadlines
• Ability to work independently while also contributing to a collaborative team environment

Benefits

• Competitive salary and discretionary bonuses
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with match
• Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance
• Generous PTO
• Hybrid or remote work flexibility
• Corporate discount programs and employee benefits

Pay

Salary Range: $145,000 USD - $210,000 USD. A variety of factors are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, education, licensure and/or certifications, geographic location, market demands, other business and organizational needs, and other factors permitted by law.

Why Join Wilson Elser?

• Meaningful work handling sophisticated matters alongside experienced attorneys and partners
• Collaborative culture that values mentorship and professional development
• Opportunities for long-term growth within a nationally recognized firm
• Flexible hybrid work arrangement supporting work-life balance
• Comprehensive benefits package