Employment Litigation Associate

Job Title: Employment Litigation Associate
Employment Type: Full-Time
Work Model: Hybrid, Initially 3 Days Onsite
Location: Downtown Long Beach, CA
Compensation: $210,000 Base Salary + Quarterly Production Bonus

We're working with an established employer-side labor and employment practice in Downtown Long Beach seeking an Employment Litigation Associate with 4+ years of experience .

The firm represents employers ranging from closely held businesses to large national companies in workplace disputes, including single-plaintiff claims, wage and hour class actions, and PAGA representative actions.

This is a hands-on role for an attorney who is ready to take meaningful ownership of matters. You'll investigate cases, manage discovery, take and defend depositions, draft and argue dispositive motions, appear in California state and federal court, and work directly with clients on the business issues behind the litigation.

The position offers a $210,000 base salary plus quarterly production bonus opportunity and a hybrid schedule with 3 days per week in the Long Beach office initially .

What You'll Be Doing

• Manage employer-side employment litigation matters in California state and federal court.
• Defend claims involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, leave, disability, and reasonable accommodation.
• Handle wage and hour matters involving meal and rest periods, overtime, misclassification, expense reimbursement, and wage statement claims.
• Work on wage and hour class actions and PAGA representative actions.
• Draft pleadings, demurrers, motions to strike, discovery and discovery motions, dispositive motions, and trial and arbitration briefs.
• Take and defend depositions of plaintiffs, managers, PMK witnesses, and experts.
• Represent clients at hearings, case management conferences, mediations, and settlement conferences.
• Support and second-chair arbitrations and trials.
• Handle administrative proceedings before agencies including the California Civil Rights Department, EEOC, and Labor Commissioner.
• Advise clients on day-to-day employment matters, including terminations, investigations, leave and accommodation issues, policies, and wage and hour compliance.

What We're Looking For

• 4+ years of civil litigation experience with substantial and identifiable employment law experience.
• Active membership in good standing with the State Bar of California .
• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Demonstrated experience taking and defending depositions.
• Experience drafting dispositive motions.
• Working knowledge of California employment law, including FEHA, the California Labor Code, IWC Wage Orders, PAGA, and related employment laws.
• Excellent legal research and writing skills.
• Ability to independently manage a meaningful caseload, court deadlines, and client communication.
• Comfortable with e-discovery platforms, case management software, and electronic filing in California state and federal courts.

Preferred Background

• Employer-side employment litigation experience.
• Defense-side wage and hour class action and/or PAGA experience.
• Admission to the Central District of California or other federal districts in California.
• Workplace investigation experience.
• Conversational or professional Spanish (Not required at all)

Work Model

This position is hybrid, initially 3 days per week in the Downtown Long Beach office .

Additional remote flexibility may be considered over time based on reliability, performance, assignments, and firm needs. Court appearances, depositions, client meetings, and other business needs may require additional in-person attendance.

Billable Requirement

Minimum of 1,800 client-billable hours annually , with a quarterly threshold of 450 client-billable hours .

Compensation

Base Salary: $210,000

In addition to the base salary, attorneys are eligible for a quarterly production bonus for client-billable hours above the 450-hour quarterly threshold .

There is no cap on bonus-eligible hours .

How to Apply

Apply now or email your application materials directly to: [email protected]

Subject: Employment Litigation Associate | Long Beach

Please include:

• Resume
• Law school transcript
• Writing sample