Labor & Employment Litigation Associate Attorney
Job Description
Job DescriptionLabor & Employment Associate Attorney
Direct Counsel is seeking a Labor & Employment Mid-Level Associate Attorney with 4–6 years of experience to join a leading national law firm and its highly regarded Labor & Employment practice. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced employment litigator to work on sophisticated, high-stakes matters involving major employers across a wide range of industries.
Position Overview
The ideal candidate will have meaningful experience defending single-plaintiff employment litigation, wage and hour class and collective actions, and related employment disputes. Experience with mass arbitration is preferred but not required. Associates will work closely with experienced partners and take on significant responsibility in discovery, depositions, motion practice, client counseling, and case strategy.
Responsibilities
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Defend employers in single-plaintiff employment litigation in state and federal courts and arbitration.
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Handle discovery, including developing discovery strategies, managing document discovery, and conducting witness interviews.
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Take and defend depositions.
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Draft and argue dispositive motions and other substantive litigation briefs.
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Defend wage and hour class actions and FLSA collective actions, including assisting with class certification briefing and strategy.
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Support mass arbitration matters involving large volumes of individual claims and coordinate defense efforts across multiple forums.
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Represent clients in administrative proceedings and hearings.
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Respond to EEOC and state agency charges and draft responses to demand letters.
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Advise clients on labor and employment compliance matters as needed.
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Collaborate with partners and senior attorneys on case strategy while taking increasing ownership of assigned matters.
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Utilize innovative legal technology to enhance research, drafting, analysis, and client service.
Qualifications
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4–6 years of relevant labor and employment litigation experience at a leading law firm.
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Experience defending single-plaintiff employment cases, including depositions, discovery, and dispositive motions in state and federal court and arbitration.
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Demonstrated experience defending wage and hour class actions and/or collective actions, including discovery, witness interviews, and class certification matters.
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Mass arbitration experience preferred but not required.
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Experience managing large-volume individual claims, coordinating multi-forum defense strategies, or supporting mass arbitration logistics is a plus.
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Experience with administrative hearings and proceedings, EEOC and state agency charges, and responses to demand letters.
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Labor and employment compliance counseling experience preferred.
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Strong academic credentials and excellent legal research, writing, and analytical skills.
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Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with clients, business teams, and legal teams.
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Interest in and willingness to utilize innovative legal technology platforms.
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Admission to the Virginia Bar required, or eligibility for prompt admission.
Locations
Dallas, Los Angeles, or Norfolk
Compensation
The anticipated salary range for this position is $310,000–$390,000 annually, with actual compensation determined based on experience, qualifications, and other relevant factors. Additional compensation may include merit-based bonuses and comprehensive benefits.
Application Requirements
Candidates should be prepared to submit a resume, cover letter, law school transcript, and writing sample.