Pre-Litigation Employment Attorney Plaintiff-Side

Job Description

Job Description

Direct Counsel is seeking an experienced Pre-Litigation Employment Attorney with 3–5 years of employment law experience to join a growing plaintiff-side employment practice representing employees throughout California.

This role is ideal for an attorney who excels at case evaluation, settlement strategy, demand drafting, negotiation, and client management and wants to focus on resolving employment matters effectively before litigation is filed .

Compensation

$130,000–$170,000 Base Salary + Bonus

Position Overview

The Pre-Litigation Attorney will independently manage a high-volume portfolio of plaintiff-side employment matters from intake through pre-litigation resolution .

The attorney will evaluate new matters, develop case strategy, prepare persuasive demands, negotiate directly with opposing counsel, and identify matters that should either be resolved pre-suit or transitioned into litigation.

The position offers meaningful autonomy and the opportunity to help develop and improve the firm's growing pre-litigation employment practice .

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a high-volume caseload of pre-litigation employment matters from intake through resolution.
• Evaluate prospective cases and determine case strength, potential damages, settlement value, and appropriate strategy .
• Assist with the evaluation and sign-up of new clients and matters .
• Draft persuasive demand letters and settlement communications .
• Negotiate directly with opposing counsel to achieve favorable pre-litigation settlements.
• Handle matters involving wage and hour violations, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, and related workplace claims .
• Develop strategies designed to maximize case value before litigation .
• Identify matters that should proceed to litigation and coordinate their transition to the litigation team.
• Maintain strong relationships and communication with clients throughout the pre-litigation process.
• Collaborate with intake professionals, senior attorneys, legal assistants, and support staff to keep matters progressing efficiently.
• Help develop and refine systems, workflows, and processes for the growing pre-litigation department.
• Provide mentorship to junior attorneys and support professionals as the team expands.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of employment law experience .
• Plaintiff-side employment experience strongly preferred .
• Strong experience with matters involving:
  • Wage and hour claims
  • Discrimination
  • Retaliation
  • Wrongful termination
• Demonstrated experience with settlement negotiations and case resolution .
• Strong ability to evaluate cases and develop effective settlement strategies.
• Excellent legal writing and persuasive communication skills.
• Strong negotiation skills and confidence communicating directly with opposing counsel.
• Ability to independently manage a high-volume caseload while maintaining strong client service.
• Strong organizational skills, judgment, and attention to detail.

Why This Opportunity

This position is particularly well suited for an employment attorney who enjoys the strategic and negotiation side of plaintiff representation and wants substantial responsibility for determining how cases are valued and resolved.

Rather than simply supporting litigation, the attorney will have direct ownership of matters during the critical pre-suit stage — evaluating claims, developing settlement strategy, drafting demands, negotiating resolutions, and determining which cases should advance to litigation .

The role also offers the opportunity to help shape the processes of a growing department and potentially take on mentorship and additional leadership responsibilities as the team expands.

Direct Counsel is committed to connecting exceptional legal talent with premier legal employers and fostering inclusive hiring practices.