Employment Litigation Associate

Ave Staffing; Durham (NC); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A premier North Carolina litigation firm, Ave Staffing, seeks an Employment Litigation Associate or experienced Business Litigation Attorney with 3–5 years of sophisticated litigation to join its Durham office.

This rare hybrid track welcomes prior employment law exposure but welcomes transition for commercial or business litigators aiming to specialize in high‑value labor and employment disputes.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of litigation experience within a reputable law firm setting.
• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school with excellent academics.
• Active license in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction; willing to obtain NC license within one year of hire.

Responsibilities

• Defend corporate employers in state and federal courts against discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and FLSA wage/hour claims.
• Litigate disputes involving non‑compete and non‑solicitation covenants, confidentiality breaches, and trade secret misappropriation.
• Represent clients before regulatory agencies including EEOC, DOL, OSHA, and state unemployment commissions.
• Draft complex pleadings, dispositive motions, and discovery requests; manage e‑discovery workflows.
• Take and defend depositions; present oral arguments in court or arbitration panels.
• Provide strategic risk assessments and legal research to executives and HR on litigation exposure.

Skills

Litigation experience

Advocacy

Brief drafting

Discovery management

Education

J.D. degree

Tools

e-discovery platforms

Westlaw/LexisNexis

Case management

Job description

Employment Litigation Associate / Business Litigation Attorney

Location: Durham, NC (Hybrid/Flexible)

Salary: Competitive / Commensurate with experience

Top Selling Points

• Direct First-Chair Track: Gain immediate, hands‑on deposition, oral advocacy, and motion practice experience based on merit, not tenure.
• High‑Stakes, Diverse Caseload: Defend local to international employers across complex state/federal litigation, administrative hearings, and arbitration.
• No Multi‑Year Office Mandates: Highly collaborative firm culture that values in‑person development while offering genuine work‑from‑home flexibility.

A premier, Chambers‑rated North Carolina business law firm is seeking a talented Employment Litigation Associate or experienced Business Litigation Attorney with 3 to 5 years of sophisticated litigation experience to join its Durham office. This position offers a rare hybrid track: prior employment law experience is welcomed but not mandatory, making it an exceptional transition opportunity for a commercial or business litigator looking to specialize in high‑value labor and employment disputes.

The firm is highly selective, prioritizing entrepreneurial attorneys who thrive with direct client contact, immediate partner collaboration, and early courtroom exposure.

Key Responsibilities

• Defense & Advocacy: Defend corporate employers in state and federal courts against discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and FLSA wage and hour claims.
• Restrictive Covenants & IP: Litigate disputes involving non‑compete agreements, non‑solicitation covenants, confidentiality breaches, and trade secret misappropriation.
• Administrative & Agency Proceedings: Represent clients before regulatory agencies including the EEOC, Department of Labor (DOL), OSHA, and state unemployment commissions.
• Core Litigation & Trial Prep: Draft complex pleadings, dispositive motions, summary judgment briefs, and discovery requests; manage comprehensive e‑discovery vendor workflows.
• Depositions & Court Appearances: Take and defend depositions of key parties, witnesses, and experts; present oral arguments in court hearings and arbitration panels (AAA, JAMS, FINRA).
• Strategic Client Counseling: Deliver risk assessments, legal research, and strategic advice directly to corporate executives and HR stakeholders regarding litigation exposure and mediation.

Qualifications & Skills

• Experience: 3–5 years of litigation experience within a reputable law firm setting, handling business, commercial, or employment disputes.
• Education: Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school with exceptional academic credentials.
• Licensure: Active license in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction; must be willing and eligible to obtain licensure in North Carolina within one year of hire.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency with advanced e‑discovery platforms, legal research software (Westlaw/LexisNexis), and complex case management.
• Advocacy: Proven track record of drafting high‑quality legal briefs and managing core discovery independent of heavy oversight.