Employment Litigation & Counseling Associate Attorney

Direct Counsel is seeking an Employment Litigation & Counseling Associate Attorney to join a prestigious Am Law firm in Los Angeles or San Francisco, California.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an attorney with 1-4 years of employment law experience to join a nationally recognized Labor & Employment practice. The team represents major employers in sophisticated employment litigation and counseling matters, including high-profile class actions, discrimination and harassment claims, wage and hour disputes, internal investigations, and workplace policy development.

• Represent employers in all phases of employment litigation, from pre-litigation strategy through trial.

• Defend discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, whistleblower, wage and hour, and pay equity claims.

• Handle class, collective, and representative employment actions.

• Conduct and assist with sensitive workplace and internal investigations.

• Draft pleadings, motions, briefs, legal memoranda, and other substantive litigation documents.

• Provide employment counseling on workplace policies, employee handbooks, wage and hour compliance, and other employment issues.

• Manage discovery, prepare witnesses, take and defend depositions, and assist with hearings and trial preparation.

• Work directly with clients while helping develop litigation and risk management strategies.

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school.

• Active membership in the California Bar.

• 1-4 years of employment litigation and/or employment counseling experience, or a strong interest in developing a labor and employment practice.

• Experience handling employment litigation involving discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and wage and hour matters.

• Class action experience is preferred but not required.

• Familiarity with California civil procedure is preferred.

• Experience advising employers on workplace policies and employment counseling matters is a plus.

• Excellent legal research, analytical, drafting, and advocacy skills.

• Outstanding academic credentials and strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

• Salary: $225,000-$435,000, commensurate with class year, experience, and qualifications.

• Comprehensive compensation and benefits package, including competitive associate compensation and benefits consistent with a leading Am Law firm.