Senior Litigation Associate

Senior Litigation Associate
Orange County, California | 8-15 years experience

1,600 billable hours | Base salary: $200K-$250K

Sophisticated litigation. Sustainable practice.

About the Firm
We are a Southern California boutique handling sophisticated trust and estate disputes, business litigation, and select civil defense matters. Our clients include corporations, nonprofit organizations, executives, prominent individuals, and family-owned businesses in high-stakes, complex matters. We have been recognized as one of Orange County's Top Workplaces.

About the Role
We are adding a Senior Litigation Associate to a growing litigation team, with full ownership of complex matters from inception through resolution. Trust and estate litigation experience is preferred, but we are equally interested in accomplished civil litigators looking to build a specialized practice - we will train the right person. This is intellectually engaging work alongside experienced practitioners, at approximately 1,600 annual billable hours rather than the 2,000+ expected at larger defense firms.

What You'll Do
- Independently manage complex litigation matters from inception through resolution
- Take and defend depositions
- Draft and argue substantive motions
- Direct written and document discovery
- Represent clients in mediations and settlement negotiations
- Prepare cases for trial
- Advise clients directly on strategy and case posture

What You Bring
- 8-15 years of litigation experience
- Active California Bar license in good standing
- Demonstrated ability to run matters without day-to-day supervision
- Excellent legal research, writing, advocacy, and client communication skills
- Strong strategic thinking, sound judgment, and a collaborative working style
- Trust and estate litigation experience preferred; strong civil litigation experience equally considered
- Willingness to develop a trust and probate litigation practice

What We Offer
- Base salary: $200K-$250k, plus competitive benefits
- Approximately 1,600 annual billable hours
- Flexible work arrangements and real work-life balance
- Sophisticated, high-quality litigation with meaningful client relationships
- The opportunity to develop or expand a niche trusts and estates litigation practice
- A collaborative team that genuinely enjoys working together
- Modern technology and AI-enabled tools that reduce administrative burden
- A culture recognized as one of Orange County's Top Workplaces

If you're looking for a place to keep growing your practice without sacrificing your personal life, we'd like to hear from you. Please send your resume for confidential consideration.