Associate Attorney

HNE; Long Beach (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

HNE in California seeks a Litigation Associate Attorney licensed in California to join a growing Pacific West Coast practice. This hybrid role involves handling a broad range of secured lending, foreclosure, title, and civil litigation matters from intake to resolution.

You will draft pleadings, conduct legal research, review titles, and represent clients at hearings and depositions across California, while communicating with lenders, servicers, and opposing counsel.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Active California Bar license in good standing.
• 2+ years of mortgage/real estate litigation experience.
• Strong knowledge of CA, federal, and local procedures.
• Experience drafting discovery, motions, and pleadings.
• Excellent writing and research skills.
• Proficiency with Westlaw and LexisNexis.

Responsibilities

• Handle foreclosure, title, and related civil litigation matters involving secured lending and creditor rights issues.
• Conduct initial file review, case analysis, and develop litigation strategy and budget recommendations within established timelines.
• Draft pleadings, motions, discovery requests and responses, dispositive motions, legal memoranda, and client correspondence.
• Review chain of title, foreclosure documents, pleadings, and related case materials to identify potential issues and litigation risks.
• Conduct legal research and analyze applicable state, federal, and local laws impacting client matters.
• Represent clients at hearings, court appearances, depositions, and other proceedings throughout California.
• Provide timely client updates and strategic recommendations following case developments and court appearances.
• Communicate regularly with lenders, servicers, opposing counsel, court personnel, and other stakeholders.
• Prepare, review, and edit legal opinions, reports, compliance-related documents, and case analyses.
• Collaborate closely with attorneys, paralegals, and support staff to ensure efficient case progression and superior client service.
• Manage multiple matters simultaneously while maintaining accuracy, responsiveness, and attention to detail.
• Assist with related litigation, bankruptcy, title, and special project work as needed.

Skills

Legal research

Drafting pleadings

Litigation strategy

Court appearances

Client communication

Time management

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Tools

Westlaw

LexisNexis

Job description

Our client is seeking a Litigation Associate Attorney licensed in California to join a growing Pacific West Coast litigation practice. This hybrid opportunity offers exposure to a broad range of secured lending, foreclosure, title, and civil litigation matters. The ideal candidate is a strong writer, strategic thinker, and self-starter who enjoys managing litigation from initial case assessment through resolution while working in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Handle foreclosure, title, and related civil litigation matters involving secured lending and creditor rights issues.
• Conduct initial file review, case analysis, and develop litigation strategy and budget recommendations within established timelines.
• Draft pleadings, motions, discovery requests and responses, dispositive motions, legal memoranda, and client correspondence.
• Review chain of title, foreclosure documents, pleadings, and related case materials to identify potential issues and litigation risks.
• Conduct legal research and analyze applicable state, federal, and local laws impacting client matters.
• Represent clients at hearings, court appearances, depositions, and other proceedings throughout California.
• Provide timely client updates and strategic recommendations following case developments and court appearances.
• Communicate regularly with lenders, servicers, opposing counsel, court personnel, and other stakeholders.
• Prepare, review, and edit legal opinions, reports, compliance-related documents, and case analyses.
• Collaborate closely with attorneys, paralegals, and support staff to ensure efficient case progression and superior client service.
• Manage multiple matters simultaneously while maintaining accuracy, responsiveness, and attention to detail.
• Assist with related litigation, bankruptcy, title, and special project work as needed.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Active California Bar license in good standing.
• 2+ years of experience in mortgage litigation, foreclosure, creditor's rights, real estate litigation, title matters, or related civil litigation preferred.
• Strong knowledge of California, federal, and local court procedures and applicable laws.
• Experience drafting discovery, motions, pleadings, legal opinions, and client communications.
• Ability to analyze case law, identify legal risks, and develop practical litigation strategies.
• Strong courtroom advocacy, legal research, and writing skills.
• Proficiency with Westlaw and/or LexisNexis legal research platforms.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a client-service-oriented approach.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to prioritize a high-volume workload.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and legal technology platforms.
• Self-motivated professional who is adaptable, detail-oriented, and able to work effectively both independently and within a team environment.