Workers Compensation Defense Attorney

Associate Defense Attorney (Remote - Southern California)

An established Orange County-based civil defense law firm is seeking a motivated Associate Defense Attorney to join its growing litigation team. This position is ideal for an attorney who enjoys handling litigation matters from inception through resolution while working in a collaborative, paperless environment with a manageable caseload and strong administrative support.

The successful candidate will be licensed to practice law in California, possess solid civil defense litigation experience, and be comfortable making court appearances throughout Southern California.

Responsibilities include managing a civil defense litigation caseload from inception through resolution, drafting pleadings, motions, discovery requests and responses, legal memoranda, and other litigation documents. The candidate will conduct legal research and prepare case strategy recommendations, attend court hearings, case management conferences, mediations, depositions, and other litigation proceedings throughout Southern California, communicate effectively with clients, opposing counsel, experts, and court personnel, participate in settlement negotiations and alternative dispute resolution proceedings, maintain accurate case files and meet litigation deadlines, collaborate with attorneys and support staff to provide high-quality legal representation.

Required qualifications include a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school, active membership in the California State Bar in good standing, minimum of 2 years of civil defense litigation experience, experience handling cases independently from inception through resolution, strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills, excellent oral and written communication skills, and the ability to effectively manage multiple cases and competing deadlines. The candidate should also be self-motivated, organized, and capable of working independently in a remote environment, and willing and able to travel for court appearances throughout Southern California.

Preferred qualifications include experience representing self-insured entities, experience defending public entities or municipalities, insurance defense or general liability litigation experience, deposition, mediation, and motion practice experience, and trial preparation experience is a plus.

Key skills include civil defense litigation, insurance defense, general liability, public entity defense, case management, legal research, motion practice, discovery, depositions, mediation, court appearances, negotiation, client communication, time management, legal writing.

Compensation and benefits include a competitive salary (commensurate with experience), performance-based bonus opportunities, medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, paid time off (PTO), training and professional development, reasonable billable hour expectations, manageable caseload, dedicated support staff, fully paperless work environment, and remote work flexibility.