Associate Counsel

Talently; Pearland (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Talently is seeking an Associate Counsel to join its in-house legal team in South Houston, TX. The role focuses on employment matters, litigation support, and general commercial issues, working with human resources and business leaders.

You will handle investigations, wage and hour concerns, discrimination matters, contract issues, and vendor relationships, while advising on compliance and terminations in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and in good standing.
• Two to five years of employment law experience in-house or at a law firm.
• In-house commercial litigation experience is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of ADA, FMLA, FLSA, Title VII, ADEA, and related employment laws.
• Experience conducting workplace investigations, witness interviews, fact investigations, discovery, and document review.
• Experience with employment and commercial litigation, including research, drafting, depositions, and case management.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance on federal, state, and local employment laws, including discrimination, leave, wage issues, and accommodation.
• Assist with employment litigation, including investigations, pleadings, motions, discovery, and trials.
• Prepare responses to administrative charges and inquiries from government agencies.
• Conduct and support workplace investigations into discrimination, harassment, and wage concerns.
• Handle or assist with commercial disputes involving contracts, vendors, and property matters.
• Manage pre-litigation matters, subpoenas, and discovery; coordinate with stakeholders on strategy and budgets.
• Draft, review, and negotiate settlement and confidentiality agreements and other legal documents.
• Advise HR and business leaders on employment decisions, compliance, investigations, and terminations.

Skills

Employment law

In-house counsel

Litigation

Contract negotiation

Legal research

Negotiation

Workplace investigations

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Texas State Bar in good standing

Tools

Lexis

Westlaw

Microsoft Office

Job description

Location: On Site - South Houston, Texas, United States

About the Opportunity:

A growing retailer is seeking an Associate Counsel to join its in-house legal team and provide practical, business-focused legal support across employment matters, litigation, and general commercial issues.

The role will work closely with human resources, business leaders, internal stakeholders, and outside counsel in a fast-paced environment. The position offers broad exposure to employment law, workplace investigations, litigation, contracts, property-related matters, vendor relationships, and other business and legal matters.

Responsibilities:

• Provide legal guidance on matters arising under federal, state, and local employment laws, including discrimination, leave, wage-and-hour, accommodation, and workplace conduct requirements.
• Assist with employment litigation, including investigations, pleadings, motions, discovery, depositions, hearings, trials, and appeals.
• Prepare responses to administrative charges and inquiries from government agencies.
• Conduct and support workplace investigations involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage-and-hour concerns, misconduct, and other employee complaints.
• Handle or assist with commercial disputes involving contracts, vendors, property, construction, business relationships, and other general commercial matters.
• Manage or assist with pre-litigation matters, demand letters, subpoenas, preservation notices, litigation holds, discovery, and document collection.
• Coordinate with outside counsel and internal stakeholders regarding litigation strategy, budgets, discovery, case status, and resolution.
• Draft, review, and negotiate settlement agreements, separation agreements, releases, confidentiality agreements, commercial agreements, and other legal documents.
• Advise human resources professionals, managers, and business leaders on employment-related decisions, including hiring, discipline, performance management, accommodations, leaves, compliance, investigations, and terminations.
• Conduct legal research and monitor changes in applicable laws and regulations.
• Maintain organized matter files, track deadlines, and communicate practical legal recommendations to business stakeholders.

Must-Have Skills:

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school & in good standing with Texas State law.
• Two to five years of relevant employment law experience in-house or at a law firm.
• In-house commercial litigation experience.
• Strong knowledge of the ADA, FMLA, FLSA, Title VII, ADEA, and related federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Experience conducting workplace investigations, witness interviews, fact investigations, discovery, and document review.
• Experience with employment and commercial litigation, including legal research, drafting, depositions, and case management.
• Strong legal research, analytical, writing, negotiation, and oral communication skills.
• Ability to provide practical legal advice, manage multiple priorities, exercise sound judgment, and protect confidential information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft applications and legal research platforms such as Lexis or Westlaw.

Nice-to-Have Skills:

• Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial agreements.
• Experience with property, construction, vendor, or other operational business matters.
• Experience managing outside counsel, litigation budgets, discovery strategy, and dispute resolution.
• Familiarity with employment policies, procedures, agreements, forms, and training materials.