Consumer Protection Associate

Berger Montague; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Profit sharing

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

HRA contribution

Disability and life insurance

401(k) with profit sharing

Bar dues and CLE reimbursement

Pre-tax transportation benefits

Job summary

Berger Montague PC in San Diego, CA is seeking an associate for its Consumer Protection Department to handle civil class action litigation and appear in court rather than document review. This is a full-litigation role with meaningful work from day one. The ideal candidate will have a J.D.

from an accredited law school, bar admission in at least one U.S. jurisdiction, and 1–2 years of civil litigation experience, with strong legal research and writing skills.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school; admitted in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 1–2 years of civil litigation experience with exposure to federal court and motion practice.
• Exceptional legal research and writing ability.
• Genuine commitment to consumers' rights and plaintiff-side litigation.
• Ability to manage competing deadlines in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Responsibilities

• Conduct pre-litigation investigations: client intake, factual analysis, legal research
• Analyze consumer complaints, company records, advertising materials, and data to identify and quantify violations
• Draft demand letters, complaints, arbitration demands, litigation hold notices, and pre-suit correspondence
• Draft motions for Rule 23 class certification, summary judgment, and to compel
• Write discovery requests and responses
• Research and write appellate briefs when warranted
• Work with the team on litigation and discovery strategy
• Take and defend depositions of corporate witnesses, class members, and other fact witnesses
• Manage large-scale document review and ESI discovery
• Appear at hearings, oral arguments, and status conferences in federal and state court
• Mediations and settlement negotiations
• Maintain client relationships and coordinate with co-counsel

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Civil litigation

Courtroom advocacy

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Bar admission in at least one U.S. jurisdiction

Job description

Most litigation firms ask you to defend corporations from accountability. At Berger Montague, you do the opposite at the highest level of the plaintiffs' bar.

Our Consumer Protection Department handles some of the most consequential class action litigation in the country. Our docket spans consumer fraud, false advertising, defective products, data breaches, Fair Credit Reporting Act violations, and other unfair trade practices affecting millions of consumers. We go up against the biggest defense firms in the country and we win.

This is a position for an associate who wants to be in court, not doing document review. This position is for people who want their names on briefs that matter, not just time entries.

This is a rare opportunity to practice sophisticated civil litigation at scale while fighting for consumers who have been deceived, defrauded, or harmed by corporate misconduct.

Learn more about our Consumer Protection practice: https://bergermontague.com/practice-areas/consumer-protection/

ABOUT BERGER MONTAGUE

Berger Montague PC pioneered the use of class actions in American civil litigation. Founded in Philadelphia in 1970, the Firm has spent more than five decades at the vanguard of plaintiff-side litigation, recovering more than $55 billion for clients across antitrust, consumer, employment, securities, civil rights, and more.

Our 100+ attorneys take on high stakes matters where the legal issues are hard, and the outcomes change lives. Associates are given genuine responsibility from day one because our cases demand it.

The firm is recognized by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and Law360 as a national leader in class action litigation.

LOCATION

This position is based in our San Diego, CA office. However, we will also consider candidates who are licensed and residing in the following cities where Berger Montague has an office, or who wish to work remotely from elsewhere:

• Philadelphia, PA
• Washington, DC
• Minneapolis, MN
• Chicago, IL

THE ROLE

This is a full-litigation associate position. You will be assigned meaningful work from your first week and grow rapidly into an attorney who can independently manage major phases of complex consumer class action litigation. Responsibilities include:

• Conduct pre-litigation investigations: client intake, factual analysis, legal research
• Analyze consumer complaints, company records, advertising materials, and data to identify and quantify violations
• Draft demand letters, complaints, arbitration demands, litigation hold notices, and pre-suit correspondence
• Draft motions for Rule 23 class certification, summary judgment, and to compel
• Write discovery requests and responses
• Research and write appellate briefs when warranted

Discovery & Depositions

• Work with the team on litigation and discovery strategy
• Take and defend depositions of corporate witnesses, class members, and other fact witnesses
• Manage large-scale document review and ESI discovery

Trial & Client Management

• Appear at hearings, oral arguments, and status conferences in federal and state court
• Participate in mediations and settlement negotiations
• Maintain client relationships and coordinate with co-counsel

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• J.D. from an accredited law school; admitted in at least one U.S. jurisdiction
• 1–2 years of civil litigation experience with exposure to federal court and motion practice
• Exceptional legal research and writing ability
• Genuine commitment to consumers' rights and plaintiff-side litigation
• Ability to manage competing deadlines in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment

Preferred:

• Prior plaintiff-side or class action experience
• Experience with Rule 23 class certification briefing
• Familiarity with consumer protection statutes (state UDAP laws, FCRA, CLRA, etc.)

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• $200,000 base annual salary plus an annual discretionary bonus
• Profit sharing
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance; HRA contribution
• Short/long-term disability and life insurance
• 401(k) with profit sharing
• Bar dues and CLE reimbursement; pre-tax transportation benefits

Berger Montague PC is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We actively encourage applications from attorneys of all backgrounds, including those historically underrepresented in the plaintiffs' bar.