Associate Attorney-Labor & Employment

Hawaii State Bar Association; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Torkildson Katz seeks an Associate Attorney to join our Tier 1 Labor & Employment Practice Group in Hawaii. You will work with senior counsel and, depending on your abilities, serve as direct contact managing complex workplace issues, with emphasis on internal investigations while supporting employment law litigation and labor relations matters.

Primary responsibilities include leading workplace misconduct investigations, preparing reports, counseling on compliance, and defending management in

Qualifications

• Active Hawaii State Bar Association member in good standing.
• Experience in internal investigations, administrative law, or management-side litigation preferred.
• Strong judgment, confidentiality, and impartial investigations.

Responsibilities

• Lead internal investigations into sensitive workplace misconduct and compliance issues.
• Counsel clients on proactive measures and handbook updates per HCRC/EEOC standards.
• Represent management in state and federal employment litigation and defend before relevant agencies.

Skills

Investigations

Litigation

Employment Law

Internal Investigations

Advice & Counseling

Confidentiality

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

ABA-accredited law school

Tools

Westlaw

LexisNexis

Microsoft Office

Job description

Torkildson Katz is seeking a highly motivated Associate Attorney to join our Tier 1 Labor & Employment Practice Group. This specialized role is designed for a practitioner who desires to gain expertise in both advocacy and advising clients. You will initially work with senior counsel and, depending on your abilities, serve as direct contact managing complex workplace issues, with an emphasis on conducting internal investigations while simultaneously supporting our team to manage employment law litigation and labor relations cases.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: INVESTIGATIONS & COUNSELING

• Workplace Misconduct Investigations: Lead sensitive internal investigations into allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and code of conduct violations for Hawaii’s leading employers.
• Fact-Finding & Credibility Assessments: Conduct impartial interviews with complainants and witnesses; gather and analyze electronic and documentary evidence to assess credibility.
• Investigative Reporting: Prepare comprehensive, defensible Reports of Investigation that outline factual findings and provide strategic recommendations to executive leadership.
• Compliance Advisory: Counsel clients on proactive measures, including the Hawaii $16.00 minimum wage hike and updating employee handbooks to comply with HCRC and EEOC standards.

LITIGATION & LABOR DEFENSE DUTIES

• Employment Litigation: Represent management in State and Federal courts against claims of wrongful termination and harassment under Title VII and the Hawaii Fair Employment Practices Act.
• Administrative Defense: Defend clients in proceedings before the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission (HCRC) and the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR).
• Labor Relations: Assist in collective bargaining negotiations, grievance arbitrations, and matters before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Hawaii Labor Relations Board (HLRB).
• Dispute Resolution: Draft dispositive motions, manage complex discovery, and conduct/defend depositions for single-plaintiff and class action matters.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Licensure: Active member of the Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA) in good standing.
• Experience: Prior experience in internal investigations, administrative law, or management-side litigation is strongly preferred, but not required.
• Competencies: Exceptional judgment, the ability to maintain strict confidentiality, and the neutrality required for credible attorney-led investigations.
• Education: Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA-accredited law school.