MID-LEVEL LITIGATION ASSOCIATE - EMPLOYMENT LITIGATION AND COUNSELING

Location : San Francisco, CA | Newport Beach, CA | West Palm Beach, FL Salary : $175,000 DOE OVERVIEW We are seeking a mid-level associate to join our Employment Law Practice in San Francisco, CA, Newport Beach, CA, or West Palm Beach, FL. The role focuses on litigation in both plaintiff and defense matters, together with substantive employer and employee counseling. This role is well suited for an attorney with employment litigation experience seeking early ownership of matters, direct client interaction, and meaningful counseling responsibility advising clients on risk mitigation, compliance, and strategic personnel decisions. THE PRACTICE The associate will support and, as appropriate, take lead responsibility in matters that include: - Single-plaintiff employment litigation, including discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination claims - Wage and hour litigation, including class and representative actions - Executive and professional disputes involving compensation, equity, separation agreements, and restrictive covenants - Trade secret and unfair competition matters arising in the employment context - Representation of both employers and employees in state and federal court and in arbitration - Administrative proceedings before state and federal agencies - Employer-side counseling on compliance, investigations, discipline, termination, wage practices, and policy drafting - Employee-side counseling on compensation structures, separation negotiations, and claims evaluation Matters regularly involve complex statutory frameworks under California and federal law, expedited proceedings, and significant financial and personal stakes. RESPONSIBILITIES - Manage cases and discrete litigation components with increasing independence - Draft pleadings, dispositive motions, discovery, and substantive briefs - Conduct and defend depositions - Appear at hearings, mediations, and settlement conferences - Provide strategic litigation and pre-litigation advice to employers and employees - Conduct workplace investigations and assist with internal assessments, as appropriate - Communicate directly with clients, opposing counsel, and agency representatives QUALIFICATIONS - Three to six years of employment litigation experience in state and/or federal court - Experience handling both plaintiff and defense-side employment matters preferred - Demonstrated experience with dispositive motions and discovery management - Strong research, writing, and analytical skills - Working knowledge of California employment statutes and civil procedure - Active membership in the California Bar, or ability to obtain admission promptly WHAT WE OFFER A balanced plaintiff and defense employment practice with meaningful counseling work, meaningful responsibility and direct client exposure, a rigorous and practice-driven environment, competitive compensation commensurate with experience, hybrid flexibility consistent with client and practice needs.