Labor And Employment Associate

Coastal Wave Recruiting; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 235,000 - 245,000; Full time

Job summary

Coastal Wave Recruiting is seeking a Labor & Employment Associate for a well-established California law firm. The ideal candidate has about 4–5 years of employment litigation experience and CA Bar active status, to join a team handling litigation, advice-and-counsel, and potentially traditional labor matters.

The role offers a hybrid, office-based environment in Northern California with exposure to depositions, trials, client counseling, and close collaboration with partners and experienced

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school.
• Strong CA Bar in good standing.
• Approx. 4–5 years of employment litigation experience.
• Excellent legal research, writing and advocacy skills.
• Experience managing employment matters through multiple litigation stages.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities.
• Organizational skills to handle multiple matters and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Represent employers in state and federal employment litigation.
• Handle discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage-and-hour claims.
• Oversee discovery, research, motions, strategy and trial prep.
• Take and defend depositions; participate in hearings and mediations.
• Counsel employers on day-to-day workplace issues and compliance.
• Collaborate with Labor & Employment team and clients.
• Assist with workplace investigations and agency matters.
• Support traditional labor matters when applicable.

Skills

Employment litigation

Legal research

Legal writing

Client communication

Case management

Collaboration

Education

J.D.

Job description

Location: San Francisco, San Rafael, or Walnut Creek, CA

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Experience: 4–5 years

About the Opportunity

A well-established California law firm is seeking a Labor & Employment Associate with approximately 4–5 years of employment litigation experience to join its growing Employer Services practice in Northern California.

This is an excellent opportunity for an attorney who wants substantive responsibility, direct exposure to clients and partners, and the opportunity to develop a well-rounded employment practice encompassing litigation, advice and counsel, and potentially traditional labor matters.

The position offers a collaborative environment where associates gain meaningful experience with depositions, trials, client counseling, and complex employment matters while working closely with experienced attorneys.

Key Responsibilities

• Represent employers in a broad range of employment litigation matters in state and federal court.
• Handle matters involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage-and-hour claims, and related workplace disputes.
• Manage discovery, legal research, motion practice, case strategy, and trial preparation.
• Take and defend depositions and participate in hearings, mediations, arbitrations, and other proceedings.
• Advise employers on day-to-day workplace issues, policies, compliance, and risk management.
• Work directly with clients and collaborate closely with partners and other members of the Labor & Employment team.
• Assist with workplace investigations and administrative agency matters as appropriate.
• Support traditional labor matters and collective bargaining issues when applicable.

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school.
• Active California Bar membership in good standing.
• Approximately 4–5 years of employment litigation experience.
• Strong legal research, writing, analytical, and advocacy skills.
• Experience managing employment matters through multiple stages of litigation.
• Ability to communicate effectively with clients and work collaboratively within a team.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple matters and deadlines.

Preferred Experience

Traditional labor law experience and/or significant employment advice-and-counsel experience is a plus. Experience independently handling depositions, motions, hearings, mediations, or other substantive aspects of employment matters is highly valued.

The anticipated base salary range for this California position is $235,000–$245,000, depending on experience, skills, and other job-related factors.

This is a hybrid position based in one of the firm's Northern California offices, including San Francisco, San Rafael, or Walnut Creek.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This role is particularly attractive for an employment attorney looking for more than simply working cases behind the scenes. Associates have the opportunity to develop meaningful client relationships, work directly with experienced partners, gain early exposure to depositions and trials, and continue building both their litigation and counseling skills within a respected California platform.