Litigation Associate - Northern California

Direct Counsel is seeking a Litigation Associate with 3-5 years of experience to join a growing and sophisticated litigation practice in Northern California. This opportunity is ideal for an attorney seeking hands-on litigation experience, meaningful client interaction, and exposure to complex civil disputes from inception through trial.
The successful candidate will work closely with experienced litigators on a broad range of matters involving general liability, construction litigation, professional negligence, catastrophic injury claims, wrongful death actions, and other complex civil disputes.
Responsibilities

• Draft pleadings, motions, briefs, discovery requests and responses, subpoenas, and other litigation documents, including motions for summary judgment
• Conduct legal research and prepare memoranda on substantive legal issues
• Take and defend depositions, including party, fact, and expert witness depositions
• Participate in client interviews, witness preparation, and trial preparation activities
• Attend mediations, court hearings, and motion arguments
• Assist with all phases of litigation from case inception through trial
• Collaborate closely with partners and senior attorneys on case strategy and client management
• Interface with clients, insurance professionals, experts, third-party administrators, opposing counsel, and witnesses

• General liability litigation, including motor vehicle accidents, trucking litigation, premises liability, workplace accidents, professional negligence, products liability, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death claims
• Construction litigation involving breach of contract disputes, construction defect claims, and property damage matters

• 3-5 years of civil litigation experience
• Strong legal research, writing, analytical, and advocacy skills
• Deposition and motion practice experience preferred
• Ability to manage multiple matters in a fast-paced environment
• Strong interpersonal and client-facing skills
• California Bar admission required

• Base salary range: $158,000 - $190,000
• Annual performance-based and billable hours bonuses
• Mainly Remote - Must reside in California!
• Reasonable billable hour expectations
• Competitive health insurance benefits and 401(k) with partial match
• Strong mentorship and long-term career development opportunities