Labor & Employment Mid-Level Associate

McGuireWoods LLP; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 260,000 - 390,000; Full time

Job summary

McGuireWoods LLP in Los Angeles (Century City) seeks a mid-level associate for its Labor & Employment Department. The team handles employer-side matters for Fortune 500s to nonprofits, across litigation, wage-and-hour actions, and labor relations.

The role offers exposure to complex defense work and mentoring by experienced practitioners. Ideal candidates have 3–6 years of California labor and employment experience, strong writing and communication skills, and admission to the California Bar.

Qualifications

• 3–6 years of relevant California labor and employment experience at a leading law firm.
• Experience defending wage and hour class actions and PAGA actions.
• Experience defending single-plaintiff employment cases in state and federal court (and arbitration).
• Admission to the California Bar is required.
• Strong academic background with writing abilities.

Responsibilities

• Defend wage and hour class actions and PAGA actions, including discovery, witness interviews, and motions.
• Defend single-plaintiff employment cases in state and federal court and in arbitration, including depositions and dispositive motions.
• Represent clients in administrative hearings and proceedings, respond to EEOC/CRD charges, and draft responses to demand letters.
• Collaborate with partners on case strategy and assume increasing ownership of matters.

Skills

Legal research

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Team collaboration

Job description

Job Description

McGuireWoods seeks a mid-level associate to join its Labor & Employment Department in the firm’s Los Angeles (Century City) office.

About The Team

McGuireWoods' Labor & Employment group is one of the most active employer-side practices in the country, handling upwards of 4,000 employment-related matters each year for clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to emerging businesses and nonprofits. The Los Angeles team operates at the intersection of three core practice areas:

• Employment Litigation. Our litigators and trial lawyers defend employers across every form of employment claim in state and federal courts and in arbitral forums, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, whistleblower, and restrictive covenant disputes. We are the go-to team for our clients' most sensitive and high-stakes employment matters.
• Wage & Hour Class, Collective, and Representative Actions. We defend employers against FLSA collective claims, state wage-and-hour class actions, and PAGA representative actions—including off-the-clock, meal and rest break, misclassification, and improper notice claims. Our partners have defeated class certification, won trials and arbitrations, and negotiated favorable outcomes at every stage of litigation.
• Labor Relations. Our labor management relations team handles union petitions, campaigns, NLRB elections, collective bargaining negotiations, grievance arbitrations, and unfair labor practice proceedings. We help clients build and maintain positive employee relations strategies—whether in unionized or non-unionized settings.

The Team You’d Be Joining

This is a collaborative, high-performance group. Our partners work closely alongside associates on complex litigation strategy, and our associates take on meaningful responsibility early—managing discovery, preparing and arguing motions, taking depositions, and advising clients directly. The team represents domestic and international employers across diverse industries, including manufacturing, logistics, aerospace, education, retail, hospitality, insurance, natural resources, and professional services. You would work alongside attorneys who combine deep subject-matter expertise with a practical, business-first mindset—crafting solutions that align with each client's operational realities and strategic goals. Associates here develop broad skill sets, moving fluidly between class action defense, single-plaintiff litigation, administrative proceedings, and client counseling on compliance, handbooks, and employment policies.

Key Responsibilities

You will assist in the defense of wage and hour class actions and PAGA representative actions, including handling discovery, conducting witness interviews, and briefing class certification issues. You will play a key role in defending single-plaintiff employment cases in state and federal court and in arbitration, including taking and defending depositions, managing discovery, and drafting dispositive motions. You will represent clients in administrative hearings and proceedings, respond to EEOC and CRD charges, and draft responses to demand letters. You will collaborate with partners and senior attorneys on case strategy while taking increasing ownership of your matters as part of your own professional growth.

About The Firm

McGuireWoods, one of the world’s leading law firms, has provided legal solutions to corporate, individual and nonprofit clients since 1834. Along with excellent benefits, McGuireWoods offers our attorneys a competitive salary with hours and merit bonus opportunities and billable hours credit for pro bono work. Continually establishing new initiatives and enhancing existing efforts, we focus on meaningful support for our lawyers in their careers. Our Applicant Disclosures describe your rights. Our Privacy Statement describes how we will process and safeguard your personal data.

Salary

$260,000 - $390,000

Job Requirements

• Qualified candidates will have 3-6 years of relevant California labor and employment experience at a leading law firm to include:
• Demonstrated experience defending wage and hour class actions and PAGA actions, including handling discovery, witness interviews, and briefing class certification issues with partner or senior attorney oversight.
• Experience in California defending single-plaintiff employment cases with partner or senior attorney oversight — including depositions, discovery, and dispositive motions in state and federal court (and in arbitration).
• Experience representing clients in administrative hearings and proceedings, on EEOC/CRD charges, and in responses to demand letters.
• Experience advising clients on California labor and employment compliance issues is preferred but not required.
• Traditional labor law experience is a plus, but not required.
• Strong academic background with top-notch legal research, analysis, and writing abilities, including fluent working knowledge of California state and federal court procedural and evidence rules.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with client, business, and legal teams.
• Willingness and desire to work with innovative technology platforms. Our attorneys leverage Harvey AI to accelerate research, streamline document drafting, and enhance analytical work, allowing attorneys to focus on higher-value strategic thinking and client engagement.
• Admission to the California Bar is required.

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