Mid-Senior Employment Litigation Associate Attorney - Am Law 200

Job Description

Job Description

Employment Litigation Associate Attorney

Direct Counsel is seeking a mid-to-senior level Employment Litigation Associate Attorney with 4–7 years of experience to join a sophisticated labor and employment practice. This opportunity offers the chance to work on complex employment disputes for a diverse client base while taking on meaningful responsibility and direct client exposure.

Locations

Irvine, CA | Los Angeles, CA

Position Overview

The ideal candidate will have substantial experience handling wage and hour litigation, employment discrimination and harassment matters, class and collective actions, and PAGA cases . Associates will be actively involved throughout all phases of litigation and should be comfortable managing matters and interacting directly with clients.

Responsibilities

• Handle all phases of employment litigation from inception through resolution.

• Litigate wage and hour claims, including class and collective actions.

• Handle employment discrimination and harassment matters.

• Manage Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) litigation.

• Draft and respond to pleadings and discovery.

• Prepare and argue dispositive and non-dispositive motions.

• Take and defend depositions.

• Develop case strategies and manage litigation matters independently.

• Communicate directly with clients and provide practical legal guidance.

• Manage multiple sophisticated matters and competing deadlines.

• Collaborate with attorneys and legal professionals in a team-oriented environment.

Qualifications

• 4–7 years of employment litigation experience.

• Experience with wage and hour litigation required.

• Experience with employment discrimination and harassment matters.

• Experience handling class and collective actions and PAGA cases preferred.

• Strong litigation experience involving pleadings, discovery, motion practice, and depositions.

• Experience independently managing matters and interacting directly with clients preferred.

• Excellent academic credentials.

• Exceptional legal writing and analytical skills.

• Ability to manage multiple matters in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• Self-starter who can work independently and collaboratively.

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school.

• Admission to the California Bar required.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $230,000–$270,000 annually , depending on experience, skills, qualifications, internal equity, and other job-related factors.

Benefits

The firm offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage

• Generous paid time off

• Paid parental leave

• 401(k) with carve-out election

• Profit sharing

• Life insurance

• Long-term disability coverage

• Employee assistance program

• Optional critical care, accident, hospital indemnity, dependent life, student loan refinancing, and pet insurance