Sr. Labor & Employment Associate (5+ yrs exp.) - San Diego

Senior Labor & Employment Associate

Position Overview

Our client, a nationally recognized law firm, is seeking a Senior Labor & Employment Associate to join its Los Angeles or San Diego office.

This opportunity is ideal for an experienced employment attorney with 5+years of practice experience and a strong background in employment law counseling and litigation. The successful candidate will handle a broad range of labor and employment matters, including litigation, day-to-day counseling, workplace compliance, employment agreements, and risk management initiatives for a diverse client base. Candidates with both litigation and transactional employment experience are particularly encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise employers on a wide range of labor and employment law matters.
• Manage employment litigation matters through all stages of the dispute process.
• Draft and revise employee handbooks, workplace policies, and employment-related agreements.
• Counsel employers on personnel issues, workplace compliance, and risk management strategies.
• Negotiate employment, separation, and severance agreements.
• Defend employers in employment-related litigation and administrative proceedings.
• Advise clients regarding union relations and labor-management issues.
• Represent employee benefit plans, including Taft-Hartley benefit plans.
• Partner directly with management teams to develop practical solutions that minimize legal and operational risk.
• Provide strategic guidance to clients ranging from closely held businesses to large national organizations.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Admission to the California Bar and in good standing.
• 7-9 years of legal practice experience, with at least 5+ years of recent employment law experience.
• Strong employment litigation experience.
• Experience drafting:
  • Employee handbooks
  • Employment agreements
  • Separation and severance agreements
  • Workplace policies and related employment documents
• Experience counseling employers on workplace compliance and employment law issues.
• Exceptional legal writing, analytical, and communication skills.
• Strong organizational and project management abilities.
• Ability to manage sophisticated matters independently while working collaboratively within a team environment.
• Excellent academic credentials.

Compensation

Base Salary: $225,000 - $280,000 annually

The salary offered within this range will depend on factors including years of practice, relevant experience, qualifications, and performance.

In addition to base compensation, this position is eligible for annual performance-based bonuses tied to productivity and overall contribution.

Benefits & Professional Development

Our client offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, along with meaningful opportunities for professional growth and advancement. Attorneys benefit from a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment, direct client interaction, mentorship, and the opportunity to work on sophisticated employment matters for businesses ranging from closely held companies to large national organizations.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Our client is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants in accordance with applicable law.

This is an excellent opportunity for a senior employment attorney seeking a leadership-track role with a thriving labor and employment practice, sophisticated client work, and substantial responsibility advising employers on both litigation and workplace counseling matters.