Associate Attorney

Nelson Connects; California; Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) with company match

Health stipend

Phone & mileage reimbursement

Hybrid work model

Flexible hours

Job summary

Nelson Connects in Los Angeles County is seeking an experienced Associate Attorney to manage civil litigation matters in employment defense. This boutique firm emphasizes ownership of cases, client relationships, and strong written advocacy while offering hybrid work with occasional in-office court appearances.

The ideal candidate has 3–5 years of civil litigation experience, active California State Bar membership, and proven skills in discovery, depositions, motion practice, and trial

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of civil litigation experience, ideally in defense of employment matters.
• Active membership in the California State Bar and ability to appear in court.
• Strong research, writing, and analytical abilities.

Responsibilities

• Manage civil litigation matters from intake to resolution, including discovery, depositions, motions, and trial prep.
• Represent clients in hearings, conferences, and depositions.
• Draft and review pleadings, motions, briefs, and discovery requests.
• Conduct electronic legal research and develop case strategies.
• Prepare witnesses, organize exhibits, and support trial preparation.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships through clear communication.
• Collaborate with attorneys, paralegals, and staff to move cases forward efficiently.
• Manage multiple cases, deadlines, and priorities while maintaining high-quality work.
• Maintain approximately 1,800 billable hours annually.

Skills

Civil litigation experience (defense)

Discovery handling

Depositions

Motions and court appearances

Legal research and writing

Client relations

Case management

Attention to detail

Independent work

Job description

Location: Los Angeles County/Calabasas - In office as needed but there is no full-time requirement to be in-office. Expectation is as needed to perform your job. Hybrid flexibility with sister office in the Bay Area.

Salary: $140,000–$150,000, depending on experience

A boutique employment and litigation firm is looking for an experienced Associate Attorney to join its team in Calabasas/Los Angeles County. This is a great opportunity for an attorney who enjoys litigation, takes ownership of their cases, and wants to build strong client relationships while growing with a boutique firm.

Ideal candidate has 3–5 years of litigation experience in defense side employment law. Experience on the defense side of legal malpractice, personal injury or similar civil litigation claims will also be considered.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Manage civil litigation matters from initial case assessment through resolution, including discovery, depositions, motion practice, and trial preparation.
• Represent clients in court hearings, conferences, depositions, and other legal proceedings.
• Draft and review pleadings, motions, briefs, discovery requests, and other legal documents.
• Conduct electronic legal research.
• Develop case strategies, prepare witnesses, organize exhibits, and support trial preparation.
• Build & maintain strong client relationships through clear communication and responsive service.
• Work closely with other attorneys, paralegals, and support staff to move cases forward efficiently.
• Manage multiple cases, deadlines, and priorities while maintaining high-quality work.
• Maintain approximately 1,800 billable hours annually, a lower requirement than many larger firms.

What You Bring:

• 3–5 years of civil litigation experience, ideally with employment litigation on the defense side.
• Experience handling discovery, depositions, motion writing, and court appearances.
• Active membership in the California State Bar.
• Strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build trust with clients.
• A self-sufficient, organized approach to managing cases and meeting deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail and sound judgment, with the ability to work independently while collaborating with the team.
• Competitive salary of $140,000–$150,000, depending on experience.
• Medical and 401(k) with a company match.
• Monthly health and wellness stipend.
• Cell phone and mileage reimbursement
• Hybrid flexibility and flexible working hours to accommodate personal needs and court-related responsibilities.

Why Join our firm?

Join a boutique litigation firm where you can take ownership of your work, build lasting client relationships, and continue developing your litigation skills. With a manageable billable-hour target and flexibility around your schedule, this is an opportunity to build your career without the demands of a traditional large law firm.

Please note:

Candidates must be based in Los Angeles County and able to commute to court appearances, depositions, and other in-person legal responsibilities as needed.