Labor & Employment Mid-Level Associate

McGuireWoods seeks a mid-level associate to join its Labor & Employment Department in the firm’s Norfolk, Virginia office. Counsel candidates are also welcome to apply.

About The Team

McGuireWoods’ Labor & Employment group is one of the most active employer-side practices in the country, handling upwards of 4,000 employment-related matters each year for clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to emerging businesses and nonprofits. The team operates at the intersection of three core practice areas:

• Employment Litigation. Defend employers across every form of employment claim in state and federal courts and in arbitral forums, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, whistleblower, wage and hour, and restrictive covenant disputes. The team is the go-to for clients’ most sensitive and high-stakes employment matters.
• Wage & Hour Class, Collective, and Representative Actions. Defend employers against FLSA collective claims, state wage-and-hour class actions, and representative actions — including off-the-clock, meal and rest break, misclassification, and improper notice claims. Partners have defeated class certification, won trials and arbitrations, and negotiated favorable outcomes at every stage of litigation.
• Mass Arbitration. Lead and direct complex mass arbitration matters throughout the country for companies in retail, health care, and financial services. The team has extensive experience managing thousands of individual claims pending before the American Arbitration Association and JAMS, developing efficient defense strategies and driving favorable outcomes at scale.

This is a collaborative, high-performance group where partners work closely alongside associates on complex litigation strategy. Associates take on meaningful responsibility early—managing discovery, preparing and arguing motions, taking depositions, and advising clients directly. The team represents domestic and international employers across diverse industries, including manufacturing, logistics, retail, health care, financial services, food and beverage, and consumer products. Attorneys combine deep subject-matter expertise with a practical, business-first mindset, crafting solutions aligned with each client’s operational realities and strategic goals. The hiring partners bring decades of first-chair trial and class action experience, nationally recognized practices in wage and hour defense and mass arbitration, and a track record of wins at every stage of litigation.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the defense of wage and hour class actions and collective actions, including handling discovery, conducting witness interviews, and briefing class certification issues.
• Play a key role in defending single-plaintiff employment cases in state and federal court and in arbitration, including taking and defending depositions, managing discovery, and drafting dispositive motions.
• Support the team’s mass arbitration practice by managing large volumes of individual claims, developing case strategy, and coordinating defense efforts across multiple forums.
• Represent clients in administrative hearings and proceedings, respond to EEOC and state agency charges, and draft responses to demand letters.
• Collaborate with partners and senior attorneys on case strategy while taking increasing ownership of matters as part of professional growth.

About The Firm

McGuireWoods, one of the world’s leading law firms, has provided legal solutions to corporate, individual, and nonprofit clients since 1834. The firm offers excellent benefits, a competitive salary with hours and merit bonus opportunities, and billable hours credit for pro bono work. The firm continually enhances support for lawyers in their careers and leverages innovative technology platforms, including Harvey AI, to accelerate research, streamline document drafting, and enhance analytical work.

Requirements

• 4-6 years of relevant labor and employment litigation experience at a leading law firm.
• Experience defending single-plaintiff employment cases with partner or senior attorney oversight—including depositions, discovery, and dispositive motions in state and federal court (and in arbitration).
• Demonstrated experience defending wage and hour class actions and/or collective actions, including handling discovery, witness interviews, and briefing class certification issues with partner or senior attorney oversight.
• Mass arbitration experience is preferred but not required. Candidates with experience managing large-volume individual claims, coordinating multi-forum defense strategies, or supporting mass arbitration logistics are encouraged to apply.
• Experience representing clients in administrative hearings and proceedings, on EEOC or state agency charges, and in responses to demand letters.
• Experience advising clients on labor and employment compliance issues is preferred but not required.
• Strong academic background with top-notch legal research, analysis, and writing abilities.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with clients, business, and legal teams.
• Willingness and desire to work with innovative technology platforms.
• Admission to the Virginia Bar is required (or eligibility for prompt admission).

Pay

$310,000 - $390,000