Employment Litigation Associate

Spencer Fane LLP; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 200,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401K

Paid Parental Leave

Group Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Job summary

Spencer Fane LLP in San Jose, CA seeks an Employment Litigation Associate with 5+ years of defense-oriented employment litigation and counseling experience. The role involves strategy execution, depositions, motions, trial, hearings, and coordinating with partners.

You will manage a diverse caseload, draft pleadings, and represent clients in court and mediations, while collaborating with attorneys and staff to advance complex matters.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school.
• Employment litigation and counseling, or general litigation experience.
• Admission to the California bar.
• Minimum 5 years of experience.
• Ability to interface directly with attorneys and clients.
• Ability to work independently and productively.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• Strong decision-making, problem-solving and organization skills.
• Ability to handle multiple projects.
• Ability to develop and implement legal strategies.
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff and attorneys.
• Ability to exemplify Spencer Fane's core values.

Responsibilities

• Conduct legal research and analysis to support litigation matters.
• Draft pleadings, motions, briefs, and other legal documents with attention to detail.
• Represent clients in court appearances, depositions, mediations, and arbitrations.
• Manage and prioritize a diverse caseload.
• Work closely with partners on complex litigation matters.
• Communicate effectively with clients, opposing counsel, judges, mediators, arbitrators, and other parties involved in the litigation process.
• Participate in strategy discussions and case planning.

Skills

5+ years of experience

Client and attorney interfacing

Written and oral communication

Decision-making and problem solving

Organizational skills

Multi-project management

Collaboration with staff/attorneys

Legal strategy development

Education

Juris Doctorate

Job description

JOB TITLE:

Employment Litigation Associate

LOCATION:

San Jose, CA

POSITION TYPE:

Hybrid

POSITION SUMMARY:

Spencer Fane has an opening in our San Jose, CA office for an Employment Litigation Associate. We are seeking candidates with 5+ years of substantive experience in defense-oriented employment litigation and counseling matters. An ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience in successfully executing legal strategy, taking depositions, motion practice, trial, arbitration, hearings, producing witnesses for depositions, and other key litigation events. Candidates must have law firm experience and previous experience advocating for clients.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct legal research and analysis to support litigation matters.
• Draft pleadings, motions, briefs, and other legal documents with attention to detail.
• Represent clients in court appearances, depositions, mediations, and arbitrations.
• Manage and prioritize a diverse caseload.
• Work closely with partners on complex litigation matters.
• Communicate effectively with clients, opposing counsel, judges, mediators, arbitrators, and other parties involved in the litigation process.
• Participate in strategy discussions and case planning.

QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS:

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school with an excellent academic record.
• Employment litigation and counseling, or general litigation experience preferred.
• Admission to the California bar.
• Minimum 5 years of experience required.
• Ability to interface directly with attorneys and clients.
• Demonstrate an ability to work independently and productively.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• Strong decision-making, problem‑solving and organization skills.
• Ability to effectively handle multiple projects.
• Ability to develop and implement legal strategies.
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff and attorneys.
• Ability to exemplify Spener Fane's core values.

BENEFITS:

Paid Time Off, Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, Paid Parental Leave, Group Life, and Disability.

COMPENSATION:

$200,000 - $240,000 commensurate with experience.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Regularly required to sit, stand, or walk for extended periods while performing job duties.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 lbs for filing, document handling, or office materials.
• Ability to perform repetitive motions, including typing, filing, and scanning.
• Occasional bending, reaching, and handling of office equipment.
• Adequate visual and auditory ability to accurately review legal documents, read computer screens, printed materials, and communicate effectively.

DISCLAIMER:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required of personnel so classified.