We are seeking a motivated and experienced Plaintiff-Side Employment Attorney to join our Los Angeles team. The attorney will represent employees in a broad range of California employment disputes, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblower claims, wage-and-hour violations, and other workplace-related matters.
The ideal candidate is a strong advocate with excellent legal writing, negotiation, and litigation skills who is committed to protecting employees' rights and achieving meaningful results for clients.
Key Responsibilities:
- Manage plaintiff-side employment matters from initial client intake through settlement, arbitration, or trial.
- Evaluate potential claims, liability, damages, and overall case strategy.
- Handle matters involving FEHA, California Labor Code, PAGA, wage-and-hour laws, FMLA/CFRA, ADA, and related federal and California employment laws.
- Conduct client interviews and provide ongoing legal advice and strategic counseling.
- Draft demand letters, complaints, discovery, motions, mediation briefs, settlement agreements, and other legal documents.
- Conduct legal research and develop litigation strategies.
- Propound and respond to written discovery and handle e-discovery.
- Take and defend depositions of parties, witnesses, and corporate representatives.
- Prepare for and appear at hearings, mediations, arbitrations, and settlement conferences.
- Negotiate with opposing counsel, employers, insurers, and their representatives.
- Prepare cases for trial and, when appropriate, participate in trial proceedings.
- Represent clients before agencies such as the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), EEOC, and Labor Commissioner/DLSE.
- Maintain regular communication with clients and manage expectations throughout the litigation process.
- Collaborate with partners, associates, paralegals, and legal support staff.
- Maintain an organized caseload and meet court and case-management deadlines.
Qualifications:
- J.D. from an accredited law school.
- Active membership in the California State Bar and in good standing.
- 2–5+ years of employment litigation experience preferred; plaintiff-side experience strongly preferred.
- Strong knowledge of California employment law, including FEHA, wage-and-hour law, Labor Code, PAGA, and related statutes.
- Experience with pleadings, discovery, motion practice, depositions, mediations, and court appearances.
- Excellent legal research, writing, negotiation, and oral advocacy skills.
- Strong judgment and ability to independently manage a litigation caseload.
- Excellent interpersonal and client-communication skills.
- Demonstrated commitment to employee advocacy and client service.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience handling single-plaintiff employment cases from intake through resolution.
- Class action and/or PAGA experience.
- Trial experience.
- Experience with complex wage-and-hour litigation.
- Spanish or another second-language proficiency is a plus.
Compensation & Benefits:
Competitive compensation based on experience and qualifications, with many current Los Angeles plaintiff-side employment positions advertising approximately $220,000–$260,000+, depending on seniority, specialization, and firm structure. Senior positions can exceed this range.
Benefits may include:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) or retirement plan
- Paid time off and holidays
- Performance or case-outcome bonuses
- Flexible or hybrid work arrangements
- Professional development and advancement opportunities
About the Role:
This position offers the opportunity to take meaningful responsibility for employee-rights cases while working alongside experienced employment litigators. The successful candidate will have significant client contact and the opportunity to develop cases strategically from initial evaluation through resolution.