Associate / Attorney - Labor and Employment

Watts & Associates Recruitment; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 260,000 - 390,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based bonus

Generous paid time off

Firm holidays

Job summary

Watts & Associates is seeking a mid-level Labor and Employment Associate for our Los Angeles office, working in-office four days a week. You will provide day-to-day California employment law guidance to management-side clients and collaborate with senior partners on complex matters within a collaborative national platform.

Ideal candidates have 3–5 years of employment law experience, California Bar admission, and strong credentials from a top law school.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of dedicated employment law experience at a sophisticated law firm.
• Strong counseling experience on discrimination, harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination.
• Hands-on California-specific guidance, including leave laws and wage-and-hour compliance.
• Active California Bar admission and top-50 law school credentials.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day California employment-law advice and counseling to management-side clients.
• Advise on discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination risk.
• Counsel on leave laws and wage-and-hour compliance across jurisdictions.
• Draft and refine handbooks, policies, employment agreements and advisory memoranda.
• Collaborate with partners and senior counsel with ownership of client-facing workstreams.

Skills

Employment law experience

Discrimination counselling

Wage & hour compliance

Policy advisement

Client counseling

Education

Active California Bar admission

Top 50 law school graduate

Job description

Watts & Associates is working discreetly with a national Am Law ranked full service firm with recognized employment and industry strengths seeking a mid level Labor and Employment Associate to join its Los Angeles office on an in office 4 days per week basis.

This role offers direct access to sophisticated California employment counselling for significant regional and national clients, with meaningful responsibility from day one. You will work closely with partners on complex advisory matters within a collaborative national platform that supports long term advancement, cross office collaboration, and strong professional development.

Company Highlights

• Join an Am Law ranked national platform with approximately 800 attorneys and 21 offices
• Benefit from a highly regarded labor and employment group serving major employers across key industries
• Leverage a full service firm with particular strength in healthcare, real estate, corporate and litigation
• Access partner led teams that emphasize collaboration, practical training and substantive associate responsibility
• Grow your career in a culture focused on diversity, inclusion, wellbeing and structured mentorship

The Role

• Provide day to day California employment law advice and counselling to management side clients
• Advise on discrimination, harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination risk and compliance
• Counsel on leave laws and wage and hour compliance, including multi jurisdictional policy issues
• Draft and refine handbooks, policies, employment agreements and related advisory memoranda
• Work directly with partners and senior counsel, taking substantive ownership of client facing workstreams

Ideal Candidate Profile

The firm is seeking a mid level Labor and Employment Associate with:

• 3 to 5 years of dedicated employment law experience from a sophisticated law firm
• Substantial experience with discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination and related claims counselling
• Hands on California specific advice and counselling experience, including leave laws and wage and hour compliance
• Active California Bar admission and strong academic credentials, ideally from a top 50 law school
• Comfort working in office 4 days per week in Los Angeles with a growth oriented mindset
• $260,000 to $390,000 base salary, depending on experience
• Performance based bonus opportunity
• Generous paid time off and firm holidays
• 1,900 billable hours expectation with strong training and development support

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