Labor & Employment Associate (3-5 yrs) - San Francisco/San Rafael

Permanent Placements LLC; Costa Mesa (CA); Hybrid; USD 205,000 - 245,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Job summary

Permanent Placements LLC is seeking a Labor & Employment Associate (Public Sector) for a California practice, with 3-5 years of experience, to represent public agencies and districts from San Francisco or San Rafael. This role blends litigation, investigations, and advisory work with meaningful client exposure.

The position offers a hybrid work environment, strong mentorship, and growth opportunities within a respected public-law team handling governance, wage/hour, and personnel matters.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and admission to the California Bar.
• 3-5 years of labor and employment law experience.
• Strong litigation, research, writing, and advocacy skills.

Responsibilities

• Represent public agency clients in employment litigation, arbitrations, hearings, and discipline appeals.
• Provide day-to-day advisory services on wage/hour issues, discipline, leaves, and governance.
• Develop litigation strategies and advise clients on risk management.
• Conduct workplace investigations and respond to employment matters.
• Assist with labor negotiations and governance training.

Skills

Litigation

Research

Writing

Advocacy

Client relations

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Job description

Labor & Employment Associate (Public Sector)

Our client, a highly regarded California law firm, is seeking a mid-level Labor & Employment Associate with 3-5 years of experience to join its Labor & Employment practice in either San Francisco or San Rafael.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an attorney interested in representing public agencies and special districts on a broad range of employment, labor, governance, investigation, and litigation matters. The role combines significant courtroom and hearing experience with day-to-day advisory work, providing meaningful client interaction and responsibility from the outset.

Responsibilities

Employment Litigation & Administrative Proceedings

• Represent public agency clients in:
  • Employment litigation
  • Arbitrations
  • Administrative hearings
  • Employee discipline appeals
• Draft arbitration briefs, motions, and other advocacy materials
• Prepare witnesses and manage matters through hearing and resolution
• Develop litigation strategy and advise clients regarding risk management and dispute resolution

Employment Counseling

• Advise public employers on:
  • Employee discipline and performance management
  • Leave of absence issues
  • Wage and hour compliance
  • Disability accommodation matters
  • Workplace policies and procedures
• Provide practical legal guidance regarding day-to-day employment issues affecting public sector workforces

Workplace Investigations

• Conduct and support investigations involving:
  • Discrimination claims
  • Harassment allegations
  • Retaliation complaints
  • Other workplace misconduct matters
• Prepare investigative findings and recommendations

Labor Relations

• Support labor negotiations and collective bargaining matters
• Advise clients regarding represented and unrepresented employees
• Counsel agencies regarding issues involving public safety personnel and labor-management relations

Government Law & Governance

• Advise clients regarding:
  • Public records compliance
  • Open meeting requirements
  • Ethics and government transparency obligations
• Draft and deliver trainings for:
  • Boards and commissions
  • Human resources professionals
  • Executive leadership teams
  • Agency management

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school
• Active membership in good standing with the California Bar
• 3-5 years of labor and employment law experience
• Strong litigation, research, writing, and advocacy skills
• Ability to manage client relationships and provide practical legal advice
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple matters simultaneously
• Comfort working both independently and collaboratively

Preferred Experience

Experience with one or more of the following is highly desirable:

• Public agency or public entity representation
• California employment law
• Workplace investigations
• Government law matters
• Wage and hour compliance
• Public records and open meeting laws
• Public sector labor relations

Familiarity with:

• FEHA
• FLSA
• FMLA/CFRA
• POBR
• FBOR
• Public records and governance issues

Why This Opportunity

Our client offers attorneys the opportunity to serve as trusted advisors to public agencies while handling sophisticated employment and governance matters. Attorneys benefit from:

• Significant client contact and direct responsibility
• A blend of litigation, investigations, labor relations, and counseling work
• Exposure to impactful public sector matters
• Strong mentorship and professional development
• Collaborative and collegial team culture
• Long-term growth opportunities within a respected public law practice

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary: $205,000 - $245,000 annually
• Compensation based on experience, qualifications, and professional skills

Locations

• San Francisco, California
• San Rafael, California

Work Arrangement

• Hybrid work environment

Application Requirements

Interested candidates should submit:

• Resume
• Law School Transcript
• Writing Sample (if requested)