Mid-Senior Employment Litigation Associate Attorney - Am Law 200

Employment Litigation Associate Attorney

Direct Counsel is seeking a mid-to-senior level Employment Litigation Associate Attorney with 4–7 years of experience to join a sophisticated labor and employment practice. This opportunity offers the chance to work on complex employment disputes for a diverse client base while taking on meaningful responsibility and direct client exposure.

Locations

Irvine, CA | Los Angeles, CA

Position Overview

The ideal candidate will have substantial experience handling wage and hour litigation, employment discrimination and harassment matters, class and collective actions, and PAGA cases. Associates will be actively involved throughout all phases of litigation and should be comfortable managing matters and interacting directly with clients.

Responsibilities

• Handle all phases of employment litigation from inception through resolution.

• Litigate wage and hour claims, including class and collective actions.

• Handle employment discrimination and harassment matters.

• Manage Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) litigation.

• Draft and respond to pleadings and discovery.

• Prepare and argue dispositive and non-dispositive motions.

• Take and defend depositions.

• Develop case strategies and manage litigation matters independently.

• Communicate directly with clients and provide practical legal guidance.

• Manage multiple sophisticated matters and competing deadlines.

• Collaborate with attorneys and legal professionals in a team-oriented environment.

Qualifications

• 4–7 years of employment litigation experience.

• Experience with wage and hour litigation required.

• Experience with employment discrimination and harassment matters.

• Experience handling class and collective actions and PAGA cases preferred.

• Strong litigation experience involving pleadings, discovery, motion practice, and depositions.

• Experience independently managing matters and interacting directly with clients preferred.

• Excellent academic credentials.

• Exceptional legal writing and analytical skills.

• Ability to manage multiple matters in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• Self-starter who can work independently and collaboratively.

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

• Admission to the California Bar required.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $230,000–$270,000 annually, depending on experience, skills, qualifications, internal equity, and other job-related factors.

Benefits

The firm offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage

• Generous paid time off

• Paid parental leave

• 401(k) with carve-out election

• Profit sharing

• Life insurance

• Long-term disability coverage

• Employee assistance program

• Optional critical care, accident, hospital indemnity, dependent life, student loan refinancing, and pet insurance