Associate Attorney

Jobtailor; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Lydecker seeks an experienced civil defense attorney to join its California practice group. You will handle Labor and Employment, General Liability, and Mass Tort matters, drafting petitions, motions, and discovery, and will attend hearings, client meetings, and depositions.

The role includes managing up to 13 cases, billing time, and supporting mediation and trial prep. Required are a California bar in good standing and a JD from an ABA‑approved law school, plus 2+ years of civil defense

Qualifications

• California bar license in good standing required.
• JD from ABA-approved law school.
• Minimum of 2+ years of civil defense litigation experience.
• Experience in General Liability, Mass Tort, Toxic Tort, Construction Defect, Labor and Employment, and/or insurance defense litigation preferred.
• Experience managing up to 13 cases at once.
• Experience taking and defending depositions.
• Court appearances; motion and discovery drafting experience.
• Mediation and trial experience is a plus.
• Experience mentoring junior Associates is a plus.
• Basic knowledge of computer operation, internet software, spreadsheet software, and word processing software.

Responsibilities

• Work in Lydecker’s California practice group
• Handle matters in the Labor and Employment, General Liability, and Mass Tort groups
• Draft, review, and respond to petitions, complaints, motions, and written discovery
• Attend hearings and client meetings when requested
• Prepare for and attend depositions
• Assist with preparation for and/or participate in mediation and trial
• Manage multiple civil defense litigation cases, potentially up to 13 at once
• Bill time as required
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills

Civil Defense Litigation

Motion Drafting

Discovery Drafting

Deposition Taking

Trial Preparation

Mediation Participation

Case Management

Legal Research

Client Representation

Ethical Compliance

Client Communication

Oral Communication

Written Communication

Confidentiality

Education

JD from ABA-Approved Law School

California Bar License in Good Standing

Tools

Microsoft Products

Office Equipment

Internet Software

Spreadsheet Software

Word Processing Software

Job description

Job Responsibilities

• Work in Lydecker’s California practice group
• Handle matters in the Labor and Employment, General Liability, and Mass Tort groups
• Draft, review, and respond to petitions, complaints, motions, and written discovery
• Attend hearings and client meetings when requested
• Prepare for and attend depositions
• Assist with preparation for and/or participate in mediation and trial
• Manage multiple civil defense litigation cases, potentially up to 13 at once
• Bill time as required
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

• California bar license in good standing
• JD from an ABA-approved law school
• Minimum of 2+ years of civil defense litigation experience
• Preferably experience in General Liability, Mass Tort, Toxic Tort, Construction Defect, Labor and Employment, and/or insurance defense litigation
• Experience managing up to 13 cases at once
• Experience taking and defending depositions
• Court appearances
• Motion and discovery drafting experience
• Mediation and trial experience is a plus
• Experience mentoring junior Associates is a plus
• Basic knowledge of computer operation, internet software, spreadsheet software, and word processing software
• Microsoft products preferred
• Ability to type and operate office equipment
• Self-motivated and able to work independently
• Strong client communication skills
• Clear and persuasive oral communication skills
• Clear written communication, including spelling, grammar, editing, and interpretation of numerical data
• Ability to maintain client and firm confidentiality
• Understanding and implementation of ethical rules applicable to lawyers
• Must be willing and able to bill

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in civil defense litigation, including experience in General Liability, Mass Tort, and Labor and Employment cases. Proficient in drafting motions and discovery documents, managing multiple cases, and maintaining strong client communication.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• California Bar License
• Civil Defense Litigation Experience
• Motion and Discovery Drafting
• Deposition Experience
• Client Communication Skills

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Civil Defense Litigation
• Motion Drafting
• Discovery Drafting
• Deposition Taking
• Trial Preparation
• Mediation Participation
• Case Management
• Legal Research
• Client Representation
• Ethical Compliance

Soft Skills

• Self-Motivated
• Independent Work
• Clear Oral Communication
• Clear Written Communication
• Mentoring Junior Associates

Certifications & Qualifications

• JD from ABA-Approved Law School
• California Bar License in Good Standing

Industry Keywords

• Labor and Employment
• General Liability
• Mass Tort
• Toxic Tort
• Construction Defect
• Insurance Defense Litigation
• Civil Litigation
• Client Confidentiality
• Legal Ethics
• Court Appearances

Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Products
• Office Equipment
• Internet Software
• Spreadsheet Software
• Word Processing Software