Associate Attorney (San Diego)

Our San Diego law firm represents local, state, and federal public safety employees and the labor associations that represent them. The work is interesting, fast-moving, and important. The matters we handle can directly affect a client’s career, reputation, livelihood, and future.

This is not the kind of associate position where you spend your first several years waiting for meaningful responsibility.

We are looking for a newer attorney who wants to learn how to become an outstanding advocate.

From the beginning, you will work directly with experienced attorneys and clients on real matters. You will learn how to investigate cases, develop strategy, prepare witnesses, conduct legal research, draft motions and briefs, participate in administrative hearings and disciplinary appeals, assist with labor disputes and negotiations, and work on litigation in state and federal court.

As your skills develop, so will your responsibility.

Our practice includes civil service proceedings, SPB and MSPB matters, disciplinary appeals, labor and employment disputes, civil litigation, appellate matters, and a wide variety of legal issues involving public safety employees and their associations.

Our attorneys also participate in periodic, prescheduled emergency call-out rotations representing public safety employees involved in critical incidents. These assignments provide an unusual opportunity to learn how to counsel clients in serious, high-pressure situations and to develop the judgment and confidence that only come from meaningful experience.

You will not be thrown into matters before you are ready. But you also will not spend years sitting on the sidelines.

We will train you.

We will give you responsibility.

And as you demonstrate that you are ready for more, you will get more.

We are looking for someone who is bright, motivated, organized, personable, and eager to learn. Strong writing, legal research, judgment, professionalism, and interpersonal skills are important. Prior experience in labor and employment law, public-sector law, administrative law, litigation, or criminal law is welcome, but it is not required.

We are particularly interested in attorneys at the beginning of their careers who want hands-on experience and the opportunity to develop quickly.

Base salary of $120,000–$150,000 , depending upon experience and qualifications, plus bonus.

The firm also provides:

• Employer-paid health insurance for the attorney;
• An employer 401(k) contribution equal to 3% of salary;
• No minimum billable-hour requirement; and
• Significant training, mentoring, direct client contact, and professional development.

We expect our attorneys to work hard, provide excellent representation, and take care of their clients. We do not measure attorneys by whether they hit an arbitrary annual billable-hour number.

For the right person, this is an opportunity to build real advocacy skills, work on meaningful matters, and develop the kind of practical experience that can take years to obtain elsewhere.

If you became a lawyer because you wanted to think, argue, strategize, advocate, and make a real difference for the people you represent, we want to hear from you.