Employment Defense Attorney
A highly regarded and entrepreneurial full-service law firm in Newport Beach is seeking a California-licensed Employment Litigation Associate to join its growing Labor and Employment practice.
For more than 75 years, our firm has partnered with successful businesses across California and the United States, providing strategic legal counsel and exceptional client service. Our Labor and Employment team works closely with employers of all sizes, serving as trusted advisors and outside general counsel on a broad spectrum of workplace issues and disputes.
This is an outstanding opportunity for an attorney seeking sophisticated work, meaningful client interaction, and long-term career growth within a collaborative and collegial environment.
Unlike many employment defense practices, we represent clients directly rather than through insurance carriers. Our attorneys enjoy:
- More direct and meaningful client relationships
- Greater involvement in case strategy and counseling
- Higher-value legal work
- Smaller caseloads with deeper engagement
- Opportunities to become trusted business advisors
Our Labor and Employment attorneys handle the full spectrum of employment matters, including:
- Employment counseling and risk management
- Pre-litigation disputes
- Single-plaintiff litigation
- Wage and hour matters
- Class actions
- PAGA litigation
- Harassment claims
- Discrimination claims
- Retaliation claims
- Wrongful termination matters
- State and federal court litigation
- Mediation and arbitration proceedings
We are seeking attorneys with approximately 2 to 10 years of employment litigation experience. We are also open to newly admitted California attorneys who have developed substantial labor and employment experience through law clerk, summer associate, or in-house legal roles.
Responsibilities:
- Manage employment litigation matters from inception through resolution
- Draft and respond to pleadings
- Prepare and respond to written discovery
- Conduct legal research and analysis
- Draft dispositive motions, including summary judgment and summary adjudication motions
- Prepare for and assist with depositions
- Participate in mediations and arbitrations
- Draft trial briefs and trial-related documents
- Work directly with clients on litigation strategy and employment issues
- Collaborate with partners and other attorneys on complex matters
Qualifications:
Required:
- Active membership in the California State Bar
- Experience with California and/or federal employment law matters
- Strong legal writing, research, and analytical skills
- Experience drafting pleadings, motions, and discovery responses
- Excellent communication and client service skills
Preferred:
- 2 to 10 years of California employment litigation experience
- Experience with wage and hour, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination matters
- Exposure to class action and PAGA litigation
- Experience preparing for depositions, mediation, arbitration, or trial
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) Matching
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health savings account
- Life Insurance
- Professional Development Assistance
- Vision Insurance
For this position you must be currently authorized to work in the United States. We do not sponsor for this position.