Associate Attorney

Talentry; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) + Profit Sharing

Professional development and partner

Full‑time onsite with hybrid flexibil­

Job summary

Talentry, a boutique litigation firm in San Diego, seeks an Employment Attorney with a strong public entity defense practice. This direct-hire role offers direct partner mentorship, courtroom exposure, and meaningful ownership of complex employment matters for public agencies.

You will defend school districts and other public employers in FEHA claims, wage and hour, PAGA, and wrongful termination, with hybrid flexibility after onboarding and full-time onsite in San Diego.

Qualifications

• 2–8 years of civil litigation experience (public entity or employment defense preferred).
• Strong writing, research, and case-management skills.
• Interest in public sector law and government defense work.
• Motivation to take ownership and work closely with partners.

Responsibilities

• Defense of public agencies in employment disputes.
• Harassment, retaliation, and discrimination claims (FEHA).
• Wage & hour, PAGA, and classification matters involving public employers.
• Wrongful termination and whistleblower actions.
• Drafting pleadings, motions, and discovery.
• Depositions, mediations, hearings, and trial preparation.

Skills

Civil litigation

Legal writing

Legal research

Case management

Public sector law

Ownership mindset

Job description

(Onsite with Flexible Hybrid Options)

On behalf of a boutique litigation firm in San Diego, Talentry is pleased to be looking for an Attorney with a strong and expanding public entity defense practice. The firm is highly regarded for representing school districts and other public agencies in complex employment litigation, along with a broader practice spanning business litigation and related disputes.

With decades of combined experience, the partners bring big-firm training into a collaborative, agile boutique environment—delivering sophisticated advocacy for public-sector clients without big-firm bureaucracy. Associates gain meaningful responsibility, direct partner mentorship, courtroom exposure, and hands‑on experience defending public entities in high-impact matters.

This is a direct‑hire opportunity and an excellent role for an Employment Attorney interested in public sector defense who wants to accelerate their career before year‑end.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

• Direct work with seasoned trial attorneys focused on public entity defense
• Early responsibility and meaningful litigation ownership
• Exposure to complex, precedent‑shaping public employment matters
• Collaborative, low‑ego culture with real growth potential
• Hybrid flexibility available after onboarding

What You’ll Work On

• Defense of public agencies in employment disputes
• Harassment, retaliation, and discrimination claims (FEHA)
• Wage & hour, PAGA, and classification matters involving public employers
• Wrongful termination and whistleblower actions
• Drafting pleadings, motions, and discovery
• Depositions, mediations, hearings, and trial preparation

(Attorneys with limited public entity experience are encouraged to apply if their litigation fundamentals are strong.)

Requirements

What We’re Looking For

• 2–8 years of civil litigation experience (public entity or employment defense preferred)
• Strong writing, research, and case‑management skills
• Interest in public sector law and government defense work
• Motivation to take ownership and work closely with partners

Excellent compensation and benefits!

• 401(k) + Profit Sharing
• Professional development and partner mentorship
• Full‑time onsite in San Diego with hybrid flexibility