Job Description
Job Description
Labor & Employment · 5–7 Years of Experience · California Bar Admission
The 5th to 7th associate years are critical-it is the window where you either transition into a true strategist or remain stuck executing someone else's playbook. This position, within an Am Law 50 corporate defense practice, is designed for a senior associate ready to step into a lead role managing high-stakes California litigation and complex advisory work for a sophisticated, national client base.
The Work
This role balances heavy-hitting defense litigation with high-level advisory work. On the contentious side, you will manage all aspects of complex employment litigation, with a heavy emphasis on defending California wage-and-hour class actions and PAGA representative actions in both state and federal courts, as well as in arbitration. On the advisory side, you will serve as a direct counselor to corporate clients, shaping employee handbooks, navigating sensitive leaves of absence and accommodations, and structuring onboarding and separation strategies. You will not just be drafting motions; you will be directing strategy and managing client relationships.
Who This Is For
This role is built for a senior mid-level or senior employment associate who has mastered California's distinct regulatory landscape and is looking for a platform that rewards autonomy. If you are currently at a boutique looking to scale up to massive, national-tier defense work, or at a mega-firm where you feel too far removed from the actual clients, this position offers the right equilibrium. You should possess the technical confidence to handle state court hearings and complex PAGA mechanics with minimal oversight.
The Platform
The firm offers the financial backing and prestige of a major national footprint, combined with a highly collaborative Los Angeles office culture. They are known for lean staffing on major matters, which ensures senior associates get meaningful stand-up experience and a clear, transparent trajectory toward partnership. The West Coast practice is thriving, providing a steady pipeline of challenging, high-profile work without the institutional silo effect often found at peer firms.
Compensation and Benefits
The anticipated initial annual base salary range for this position is $325,000 to $365,000, reflecting the premium placed on senior California employment expertise.
The firm also provides a comprehensive, market-leading benefits package representative of its top-tier status, including:
- Performance-based and discretionary annual bonuses
- Premium medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) plan with firm retirement contributions
- Paid parental leave and robust life/disability coverage
- Dedicated budget for professional development and continuing legal education (CLE)
Apply in Confidence
If you are ready to take ownership of high-profile California employment matters on a premier national platform, let's have a preliminary, confidential conversation.
Contact us to discuss how this role aligns with your career goals. Your inquiry is entirely confidential, and your materials will never be submitted to the firm without your explicit review and consent.
Confirm before publishing
- Inferences Made: The source text did not name the firm tier, but the salary range ($325,000 – $365,000 for a 5–7 year associate) is indicative of an elite, top-of-market firm. I inferred it as an "Am Law 50 corporate defense practice" to signal the sophistication of the work to the candidate. I also framed the standard benefits package as a market-leading top-tier package, which aligns with this compensation scale.
- Commitment Risks: The compensation range is high and tight ($325k–$365k). I explicitly labeled this as the "base salary range" to align with the source, ensuring the candidate understands bonuses are separate. No unbacked promises regarding partnership timelines were made; it is described as a "transparent trajectory."
- Anonymity Concerns: Anonymity is moderately thin due to the specific combination of location (Los Angeles), exact practice focus (heavy wage-and-hour/PAGA alongside advisory), seniority (5–7 years), and the precise, premium salary band. Candidates familiar with the LA legal market and current standard scales may be able to deduce the firm. If strict anonymity is required before initial contact, we may need to remove the specific dollar figures or broaden the practice description slightly.