A well-established Los Angeles law firm is seeking 1-2 experienced Labor and Employment Litigation Associates to join its specialized employment defense practice. This is an excellent opportunity for attorneys with 2-8 years of employment defense experience to assume significant responsibility as primary handling attorneys on their own cases in a supportive and collaborative environment.
Key Responsibilities:
* Serve as lead attorney on employment litigation matters, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage and hour, and retaliation claims.
* Represent employer clients in state and federal courts for hearings, motions, and trials.
* Manage all phases of written discovery for employment matters, including personnel file reviews, witness interviews, and document production.
* Conduct and defend depositions of employees, supervisors, HR personnel, and expert witnesses.
* Draft and argue summary judgment motions, motions to compel, motions for protective orders, and other employment-specific motions.
* Handle EEOC charges, DFEH complaints, and other administrative agency matters.
* Participate in mediations, arbitrations, and settlement conferences.
* Prepare cases for trial, including witness preparation, exhibit organization, and trial strategy development.
* Provide preventive advice to clients on employment practices, policies, and procedures.
* Develop and implement defense strategies for single-plaintiff and class action employment matters.
Required Qualifications:
* Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
* Active member of the California State Bar in good standing.
* 2-8 years of experience in employment defense litigation.
* Strong understanding of federal and California employment laws, including Title VII, ADA, FMLA, FEHA, California Labor Code, and wage and hour regulations.
* Demonstrated experience in all phases of employment litigation.
* Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to explain complex legal concepts to business clients.
Preferred Qualifications:
* Experience defending public entities in employment matters.
* Background in insurance defense for employment practices liability.
* Experience in class action defense, particularly wage and hour class actions.
* Experience with workplace investigations and PAGA (Private Attorney General Act) litigation.
* Successful trial experience in employment defense cases.
* Experience providing client counseling on employment compliance matters.
Types of Cases:
* Discrimination claims: race, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion.
* Harassment: sexual harassment and hostile work environment claims.
* Wrongful termination: constructive discharge and retaliatory termination.
* Wage and hour: individual and class action overtime, meal/rest break, and misclassification claims.
* PAGA actions: Private Attorney General Act representative actions.
* Trade secrets: non-compete and confidentiality disputes.
* Workers’ compensation: coordination with workers’ compensation claims.
Compensation and Benefits:
* Salary range: $150,000 - $250,000, commensurate with experience.
* Billable hours requirement: 1,900 hours annually.
* Quarterly performance-based bonus program.
* Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
* 401(k) plan with employer matching.
* Clear partnership track with defined advancement criteria.
* Hybrid work arrangements available after a 3-month onboarding period.
Firm Culture:
The firm offers a supportive, team-oriented environment where associates can take ownership of their cases while receiving mentorship from senior attorneys. The employment defense practice emphasizes litigation excellence and practical business counseling.
