Associate Attorney-Labor & Employment Section

Torkildson Katz, A Law Corporation; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Torkildson Katz, A Law Corporation in Honolulu seeks an Associate Attorney with 2-6 years of experience to join our Labor & Employment Practice Group. The role blends advocacy and advisory work, with initial mentorship from senior counsel and potential to lead investigations.

Candidates will handle internal investigations, employment litigation, and labor relations matters for Hawaii employers, while upholding the firm’s standards of confidentiality and professional integrity.

Qualifications

• Active Hawaii State Bar Association membership in good standing.
• 2-6 years of legal experience; internal investigations or management-side litigation preferred.
• Exceptional judgment with strict confidentiality and impartial investigations.
• JD from an ABA-accredited law school.

Responsibilities

• Lead internal investigations into harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and code of conduct violations for Hawaii's leading employers.
• Conduct impartial interviews with complainants and witnesses; gather and analyze evidence to assess credibility.
• Prepare comprehensive Reports of Investigation with factual findings and strategic recommendations for executive leadership.
• Counsel clients on compliance measures and updating employee handbooks to meet Hawaii standards.
• Represent management in State and Federal courts against wrongful termination and Title VII claims.
• Defend clients in HCRC and DLIR proceedings.
• Assist in collective bargaining negotiations, grievance arbitrations, and NLRB/HLRB matters.
• Draft dispositive motions, manage discovery, and conduct/defend depositions in single-plaintiff and class actions.

Skills

Judgment

Confidentiality

Investigation skills

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Associate Attorney: Labor & Employment Section

Torkildson Katz is seeking a highly motivated Associate Attorney with 2-6 years of experience 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: 2-6 years of legal experience. Prior experience in internal investigations, administrative law, or management-side litigation is strongly preferred.
• 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.

WHY TORKILDSON KATZ?

• Prestige: Join a firm ranked as Tier 1 by U.S. News - Best Law Firms in Honolulu for Employment Law – Management.
• Mentorship: Work directly with the state's most respected L&E practitioners and Top-Rated Hawaii Super Lawyers.
• Total Rewards: Competitive salary, 401(k), and comprehensive health/dental benefits in a collaborative firm culture.