Labor & Employment Associate Attorney

Aligned Talent Acquisition; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 235,000 - 390,000; Full time

Job summary

An AmLaw 100 firm in Chicago is seeking a Labor & Employment Associate Attorney to join its Chicago office. The role focuses on sophisticated employment counseling, investigations, labor relations, and litigation.

The ideal candidate will have 3–5 years of experience, represent employers, and possess strong drafting and advocacy skills, with a J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school and Illinois bar admission.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of labor and employment experience at a sophisticated law firm.
• Experience representing employers in a broad range of employment law matters.
• Experience providing day-to-day employment counseling on hiring, discipline, leave, wage and hour, and policies.
• Experience drafting and negotiating employment agreements, separation agreements, confidentiality agreements, non-compete agreements, and related documents.
• Experience handling employment litigation in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies.
• Experience conducting workplace investigations and advising on compliance and risk management.
• Experience representing employers in traditional labor matters is a plus.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, analytical, advocacy, and client counseling skills.
• Ability to independently manage sophisticated matters with significant client interaction.
• Excellent academic credentials.

Responsibilities

• Represent employers in counseling, investigations, labor relations, and litigation matters.
• Provide day-to-day employment counseling on hiring, discipline, leaves, accommodations, wage/hour compliance, and policies.
• Draft and negotiate employment-related documents such as agreements and separation papers.
• Handle employment litigation in state and federal courts and before agencies.
• Conduct workplace investigations and advise clients on compliance and risk management.
• Support counsel in traditional labor matters and arbitrations where applicable.

Skills

Labor & Employment experience

Experience representing employers

Day-to-day employment counseling

Employment agreements drafting

Employment litigation experience

Workplace investigations

Traditional labor matters experience

Drafting and negotiation

Client counseling skills

Independent matter management

Excellent academic credentials

Education

J.D. from ABA-accredited law school

Illinois bar admission or ability to become admitted

Job description

Chicago| Hybrid

Labor & Employment Associate Attorney

AmLaw 100 Opportunity

Compensation

$235,000 – $390,000+

A nationally recognized AmLaw 100 firm is seeking a Labor & Employment Associate Attorney to join its Chicago office.

This opportunity is ideal for an attorney interested in representing employers in sophisticated employment counseling, workplace investigations, labor relations, and employment litigation matters.

Ideal Background

• 3–5 years of labor and employment experience gained at a sophisticated law firm
• Experience representing employers in a broad range of employment law matters
• Experience providing day-to-day employment counseling regarding hiring, discipline, terminations, leave and accommodation issues, wage and hour compliance, restrictive covenants, employee handbooks, and workplace policies
• Experience drafting and negotiating employment agreements, separation agreements, confidentiality agreements, non-compete agreements, and other employment-related documents
• Experience handling employment litigation, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage and hour, and other workplace disputes in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies
• Experience conducting workplace investigations, responding to agency charges, and advising clients on employment law compliance and risk management
• Experience representing employers in traditional labor matters, collective bargaining, or labor arbitrations is a plus
• Strong drafting, negotiation, analytical, advocacy, and client counseling skills
• Ability to independently manage sophisticated matters while maintaining significant client interaction
• Excellent academic credentials
• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school required
• Illinois bar admission required or ability to become admitted

Why This Opportunity

• Nationally recognized Labor & Employment practice
• Sophisticated employment counseling and litigation work
• Opportunity to represent employers ranging from emerging companies to Fortune 500 organizations
• Significant client interaction and early responsibility
• Strong mentorship, professional development, and partnership-track opportunities
• Collaborative AmLaw 100 environment with competitive compensation and benefits