Litigation Attorney – Labor & Employment

Litigation Associate — Labor & Employment (Management-Side)
Downtown Los Angeles | Full-time | Hybrid

About Our Client

Our client is a long-standing, single-office Los Angeles law firm based in downtown LA, comprised of roughly 40 attorneys and a comparable support staff. The firm has built its reputation serving middle-market businesses and multigenerational family-owned companies, with many client relationships extending back decades. It is debt-free, has historically low turnover, and operates on a foundation of loyalty, stability, and deep institutional knowledge.

About the Role

We are recruiting a California-licensed litigation associate with 1–5 years of experience to join the firm’s management-side Labor & Employment practice in downtown LA. The right candidate brings sharp legal writing and research abilities, a thoughtful and disciplined approach to work product, and an interest in building a long-term career at a collegial, mid-sized firm. Prior exposure to PAGA, wage and hour, discrimination, or harassment defense work is welcomed — though a strong civil litigator who is motivated to develop into an L&E specialist will also be considered.

Responsibilities

• Represent employer-side clients in litigation across state and federal courts, as well as in arbitrations, mediations, and administrative matters before agencies including the EEOC, DLSE, and CRD (formerly DFEH)
• Conduct in-depth legal research through Lexis and Westlaw to support active matters spanning the L&E practice
• Prepare briefs, motions, and legal arguments on live matters in close collaboration with senior partners through drafting, review, and filing
• Handle discrimination, harassment, and retaliation matters alongside wage and hour defense work (both single-plaintiff and class/PAGA)
• Draft and review workplace policies, employee handbooks, severance agreements, and employment contracts
• Attend depositions early on, progressing toward taking them independently as experience develops
• Provide ongoing employer counseling on terminations, employee classification, leaves, and wage/hour questions
• Lead employee trainings and support workplace health-and-safety and OSHA compliance matters
• Partner directly with senior attorneys on live client matters

Why This Role Stands Out

The compensation structure here is genuinely distinctive. Associates begin with a guaranteed base salary and become eligible, after a qualifying period, for a formula-based monthly profit-share tied to collections. Once an associate demonstrates profitability (billing and collecting beyond their cost), the partnership may vote them into this structure — which then pays a monthly percentage of collections on top of base. Some associates qualify within roughly six months; others take closer to a year. This arrangement is embedded in the partnership agreement and is separate from equity ownership, meaning productive attorneys realize meaningful financial upside throughout the year rather than waiting for a year-end bonus cycle. Partners at the firm have built very comfortable retirements under this model.

Qualifications

• Active California bar license
• 1–5 years of litigation experience
• Excellent legal research and writing capabilities
• Serious, detail-oriented approach to work product
• Genuine interest in committing to a long-term practice at a stable, collegial environment

Preferred Skills

• Direct experience in management-side L&E defense (wage and hour, PAGA, harassment, or discrimination)
• Background in traditional labor law (NLRB matters, union-related counseling and proceedings) is a meaningful plus
• Familiarity with employer counseling on leaves, classification, and terminations

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary: $180,000–$350,000, depending on experience
• Monthly profit-share on collections following the qualifying period (described above)
• Generous 401(k) match
• Medical (HMO and PPO with HSA buy-up option), dental, and vision coverage
• Daily in-office breakfast
• Modern offices in a premier downtown LA building, with recent IT investments

Work Arrangement

This role begins fully on-site at the firm’s downtown LA office, with flexibility for remote work available once the associate is established. Candidates should be willing and able to commute to downtown LA on a daily basis at the outset.