Arbitration Team Lead Attorney Mass Arbitrations & Wage and Hour

Job Description

Job Description

Direct Counsel is seeking an experienced Arbitration Team Lead to lead a growing plaintiff-side employment arbitration practice focused primarily on mass arbitrations involving wage and hour claims .

This is a senior leadership opportunity for a seasoned California employment litigator with significant experience in wage and hour, PAGA, class actions, and arbitration who has successfully managed attorneys and high-volume matters. The Team Lead will oversee arbitration strategy, attorney performance, workflows, and case quality while remaining involved in complex and high-value matters.

Compensation

$175,000–$300,000 Base Salary + Bonus
Salary commensurate with experience.

Position Overview

The Arbitration Team Lead will oversee a team of attorneys handling a substantial portfolio of plaintiff-side employment arbitrations , with a particular emphasis on mass wage and hour matters .

This position combines sophisticated employment litigation with team leadership, strategic case management, and operational oversight . The successful candidate will supervise matters from intake through resolution, develop scalable processes for high-volume arbitration, mentor attorneys, and ensure compliance with AAA and JAMS arbitration procedures and mass arbitration protocols .

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of attorneys handling mass employment arbitrations , primarily involving wage and hour claims.
• Develop and oversee litigation and arbitration strategy across a high-volume portfolio of matters.
• Supervise all phases of arbitration, including case evaluation, discovery, motion practice, briefing, hearing preparation, settlement, and final arbitration hearings .
• Review and ensure the quality of arbitration demands, motions, briefs, discovery responses, settlement agreements, and other substantive legal work .
• Provide strategic guidance on wage and hour, PAGA, class action, and individual employment claims .
• Mentor and coach junior attorneys while establishing consistent best practices across the arbitration team.
• Develop and optimize workflows, templates, processes, and systems designed to efficiently manage large-scale arbitration caseloads.
• Monitor procedural requirements and ensure compliance with AAA and JAMS rules , including applicable batch and mass arbitration protocols .
• Work closely with intake, pre-litigation, and operations teams to ensure efficient case transitions and readiness for arbitration.
• Lead strategic decision-making on complex, high-value, or sensitive matters.
• Represent clients in arbitration hearings when needed.
• Monitor team performance, case outcomes, and developing trends and provide regular reporting to firm leadership.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, case strategy, attorney performance, and overall department results .

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Active membership in good standing with the California State Bar .
• 7+ years of employment law experience .
• Significant experience involving wage and hour class actions, PAGA, and employment arbitration matters .
• Hands-on experience managing high-volume and/or mass arbitration matters from intake through resolution .
• Demonstrated experience leading legal teams, supervising attorneys, or managing junior lawyers .
• Strong knowledge of arbitration forums and procedures, particularly AAA and JAMS .
• Familiarity with mass and batch arbitration protocols .
• Excellent legal writing, oral advocacy, negotiation, and strategic decision-making skills.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to oversee attorney performance and a substantial volume of matters simultaneously.

Preferred Experience

• Significant plaintiff-side California employment litigation experience.
• Direct experience leading mass wage and hour arbitrations .
• Experience developing scalable processes for large portfolios of similar or coordinated claims.
• Substantial experience with AAA and JAMS mass arbitration procedures .
• Experience managing attorneys and providing substantive review of their legal work.
• Arbitration hearing experience.

Why This Opportunity

This is not simply a senior arbitration attorney position. It is an opportunity to lead and shape a growing arbitration department handling sophisticated, high-volume plaintiff-side employment matters.

The Team Lead will have responsibility for both legal strategy and team performance , including supervising attorneys, reviewing substantive work product, developing scalable workflows, and helping determine how large portfolios of wage and hour arbitrations are prosecuted.

For an experienced employment litigator with a strong background in mass arbitration, wage and hour litigation, PAGA, and attorney management , this role provides the opportunity to move into a meaningful leadership position while remaining closely involved in substantive strategy and advocacy.

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