Habitability - Associate Attorney

Wilson Elser; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits

Hybrid/remote work options

Job summary

Wilson Elser in San Francisco is seeking an experienced Habitability – Associate Attorney to join our national law firm. This role focuses on defending property owners, landlords, and property management clients in Superior Court litigation, including habitability claims, wrongful eviction, and premises liability, with exposure to construction defect matters.

The ideal candidate will have a J.D. from an ABA‑accredited school, California admission, and 2+ years of litigation experience, plus

Qualifications

• JD from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Admitted to practice in California.
• 2+ years of litigation experience required.
• Experience in habitability, landlord‑tenant, premises liability, insurance defense, or related litigation preferred.
• Experience coordinating inspections and working with construction, building, environmental, or medical experts preferred.
• Experience with cases involving multiple defendants, property managers, contractors, maintenance companies, or insurers preferred.
• Experience drafting discovery, pleadings, dispositive motions, and pretrial motions.
• Experience handling court appearances, depositions, mediations, and expert discovery preferred.
• Superior analytical, writing, and communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage competing deadlines.
• Ability to work independently while also contributing to a collaborative team environment.

Responsibilities

• Draft pleadings, motions, briefs, legal memoranda, discovery, and other legal documents.
• Handle court appearances, depositions, mediations, and other litigation events.
• Manage a litigation caseload as part of a collaborative team, with independence based on experience.
• Develop case strategy, evaluate liability and damages, and work toward efficient resolution.
• Communicate with clients, carriers, experts, opposing counsel, and witnesses.
• Prepare status reports, case evaluations, and other client-facing updates.
• Collaborate with attorneys across offices and practice areas, contributing to a cohesive and supportive team environment.

Skills

Analytical skills

Writing skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Deadline management

Independent work

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) from ABA‑accredited law school

Admitted to practice in California

Job description

At Wilson Elser, we are redefining what it means to work at a national law firm. With more than 1,400 attorneys across 46 offices nationwide, we are recognized among the top 100 law firms by The American Lawyer and ranked #30 in the National Law Journal’s survey of the nation’s largest law firms.

Our continued success is built on a culture of collaboration, innovation, client service, and mutual respect. We are committed to fostering an environment where attorneys are empowered to grow their careers, contribute meaningfully, and thrive professionally.

Our firm is committed to attracting and retaining professionals who value each other and the service we provide by embracing Teamwork, Collaboration, Client Service, and Innovation. If you are a motivated professional looking for a long‑term fit where you can grow in a role, and will be valued and empowered, then we invite you to apply to our Habitability – Associate Attorneyposition in ourSan FranciscoOffice.

This position offers a flexible, hybrid or remote working arrangement.

The Position

This role focuses on defending property owners, landlords, property management companies, and other clients in Superior Court litigation that typically involves habitability (mold, code defects), Wrongful Eviction and Premises Liability claims. Our cases involve overlap with construction defect and often require navigating the rent stabilization acts to properly evaluate the exposure for our clients. The ideal candidate will have strong litigation experience in landlord‑tenant, habitability, premises liability, insurance coverage, or related litigation, excellent analytical skills, and the ability to manage cases from inception through resolution.

The ideal candidate for this role would also have strong familiarity with the San Francisco, Alameda County, and Los Angeles County tenant protection ordinance.

Discover our newly renovated San Francisco office! Take a virtual tour and explore our building amenities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Draft pleadings, motions, briefs, legal memoranda, discovery, and other legal documents
• Handle court appearances, depositions, mediations, and other litigation events
• Manage a litigation caseload as part of a collaborative team, with level of independence based on experience
• Develop case strategy, evaluate liability and damages, and work toward efficient resolution of matters
• Communicate with clients, carriers, experts, opposing counsel, and witnesses
• Prepare status reports, case evaluations, and other client‑facing updates
• Collaborate with attorneys across offices and practice areas, contributing to a cohesive and supportive team environment

Qualifications

• JD from an ABA-accredited law school
• Admitted to practice in California
• 2+ years of litigation experience required
• Experience in habitability, landlord‑tenant, premises liability, insurance defense, or related litigation strongly preferred
• Experience in coordinating inspections and working with construction, building, environmental, or medical experts preferred
• Experience with cases involving multiple defendants, property managers, contractors, maintenance companies, or insurers preferred
• Experience drafting discovery, pleadings, dispositive motions, and pretrial motions required
• Experience handling court appearances, depositions, mediations, and expert discovery preferred
• Experience cross‑examining plaintiffs, fact witnesses, and/or experts preferred
• Superior analytical, writing, and communication skills
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage competing deadlines
• Ability to work independently while also contributing to a collaborative team environment

Wilson Elser offers a competitive salary and benefits package designed to support our attorneys both professionally and personally.A variety of factors are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, education, licensure and/or certifications, geographic location, market demands, other business and organizational needs, and other factors permitted by law. This position is also eligible for discretionary bonuses. Final salary wages offered may be outside of this range based on other reasons and individual circumstances. This position is considered full‑time and therefore qualifies for benefits including 401(k) retirement savings plan, medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.

Salary Range:: $145,000 USD - $210,000 USD

Why Join Wilson Elser?

• Meaningful Work: Handle sophisticated matters alongside experienced attorneys and partners
• Collaborative Culture: Work in a supportive team environment that values mentorship and professional development
• Advancement: Gain opportunities for long‑term growth within a nationally recognized firm
• Hybrid Flexibility: Enjoy a flexible hybrid work arrangement that supports work‑life balance
• Comprehensive Benefits: Competitive compensation, generous PTO, 401(k) match, and robust medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage
• Additional Perks: Access to corporate discount programs and employee benefits