Employment Litigation Attorney

NACBA; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Medical, dental, vision

Paid time off

Direct access to senior attorneys

Collaborative team environment

Plaintiff-side work with real outcomes

Job summary

NACBA in Santa Monica, CA is seeking an experienced Employment Litigation Attorney to handle full lifecycle matters on the plaintiff side. Based in Santa Monica, this full-time role covers pre-litigation through trial, with opportunities to shape strategy and engage in settlement discussions.

You will argue and draft in FEHA and wage-hour matters, manage a busy docket, and work directly with clients and senior attorneys in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• California Bar admission required.
• 2+ years of employment law litigation experience (plaintiff or defense).
• Experience drafting demand letters, complaints, and motions.
• Ability to manage a high-volume docket and deadlines.
• Strong legal writing and ownership of cases from day one.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate new matters, assess liability and damages exposure, and advise on viability.
• Draft demand letters, complaints, and notices.
• Manage FEHA/ wage-hour matters and charge filings.
• Engage in pre-litigation and litigation negotiations with counsel.
• Develop case strategy and coordinate mediation timing.

Skills

California Bar

Employment litigation

Demand letters & motions

Docket management

Legal writing

Case ownership

Job description

ABOUT THE ROLE
We are seeking a highly experienced and motivated Employment Litigation Attorney to join our growing Employment Law team on a full-time basis.

This is a full-time role based in Santa Monica, CA, spanning the full lifecycle of a case. From initial demand through trial, including pre-litigation negotiation and resolution. You'll conduct legal research, draft legal documents, interview clients, prepare legal strategy, engage in settlement discussions, and represent clients in litigation, negotiation, and in court as needed, exercising independent judgment at every stage. If you're looking for a place to build a real litigation career on the plaintiff side while making a concrete difference for clients, this is that opportunity.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Evaluate new matters, assess liability and damages exposure, and advise on case viability


• Draft demand letters, complaints, and statutory notices


• Manage DFEH/CRD and EEOC charge filings and right-to-sue processes


• Engage in pre-litigation and litigation negotiations with opposing counsel and in-house counsel


• Develop early case strategy, including mediation timing and settlement positioning


• Manage an active plaintiff-side docket across FEHA discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, wage and hour, whistleblower, and retaliation matters


• Draft pleadings, motions, discovery, and mediation and trial briefs


• Conduct depositions, mediations, and arbitrations; appear in court on hearings, CMCs, and trials


• Develop litigation strategy independently and in collaboration with senior attorneys


• Communicate directly with clients and manage their expectations through every stage of the case

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive pay, commensurate with experience


• Medical, dental, and vision coverage


• Paid time off


• Direct access to senior attorneys and firm leadership


• A genuinely collaborative, fast-paced team environment


• Plaintiff-side work with real case outcomes that matter

Salary is DOE

REQUIREMENTS

• California bar admission in good standing


• 2+ years of employment law litigation experience (plaintiff or defense considered)


• Demonstrated experience drafting demand letters, complaints, and motions in California


• Ability to manage a high-volume docket with competing deadlines without dropping balls


• Strong legal writer - your briefs and demand letters should speak for themselves


• Ability to take ownership of your cases from day one

PREFERED

• FEHA, PAGA, or wage and hour experience


• Experience negotiating pre-litigation resolutions directly with employers or in-house counsel


• Deposition and hearing experience


• Bilingual - Spanish or Farsi a plus, not required