Litigation Associate

Novate Legal Search; United States; On-site; USD 220,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) or retirement plan

Paid time off & holidays

Performance bonuses

Flexible or hybrid work arrangements

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Novate Legal Search is seeking a motivated Plaintiff-Side Employment Attorney to join our Los Angeles team. The attorney will represent employees in a broad range of California employment disputes, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage-and-hour claims, and related matters.

The ideal candidate will have strong litigation skills, excellent writing and negotiation ability, and a commitment to client advocacy, with 2–5+ years of employment litigation

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Active membership in the California State Bar.
• 2–5+ years of employment litigation experience preferred; plaintiff-side experience strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of California employment law including FEHA, wage-and-hour laws, Labor Code, PAGA, and related statutes.
• Experience with pleadings, discovery, motion practice, depositions, mediations, and court appearances.
• Excellent legal research, writing, negotiation, and oral advocacy skills.
• Strong judgment and ability to independently manage a litigation caseload.
• Excellent interpersonal and client-communication skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to employee advocacy and client service.

Responsibilities

• Manage plaintiff-side employment matters from intake through settlement, arbitration, or trial.
• Evaluate claims, liability, damages, and overall case strategy.
• Handle matters involving FEHA, California Labor Code, PAGA, wage-and-hour laws, FMLA/CFRA, ADA.
• Conduct client interviews and provide ongoing legal advice.
• Draft demand letters, complaints, discovery, motions, mediation briefs, settlement agreements, and other documents.
• Conduct legal research and develop litigation strategies.
• Take and defend depositions of parties, witnesses, and corporate representatives.
• Prepare for and appear at hearings, mediations, arbitrations, and settlement conferences.
• Negotiate with opposing counsel, employers, insurers, and their representatives.
• Represent clients before CRD, EEOC, and Labor Commissioner/DLSE.
• Maintain regular client communication and manage expectations.
• Collaborate with partners, associates, paralegals, and staff.
• Maintain organized caseload and meet deadlines.

Skills

Employment litigation

California employment law

Pleadings & discovery

Oral advocacy

Negotiation

Client communication

Case management

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Active California State Bar

Job description

We are seeking a motivated and experienced Plaintiff-Side Employment Attorney to join our Los Angeles team. The attorney will represent employees in a broad range of California employment disputes, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblower claims, wage-and-hour violations, and other workplace-related matters.

The ideal candidate is a strong advocate with excellent legal writing, negotiation, and litigation skills who is committed to protecting employees' rights and achieving meaningful results for clients.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage plaintiff-side employment matters from initial client intake through settlement, arbitration, or trial.
• Evaluate potential claims, liability, damages, and overall case strategy.
• Handle matters involving FEHA, California Labor Code, PAGA, wage-and-hour laws, FMLA/CFRA, ADA, and related federal and California employment laws.
• Conduct client interviews and provide ongoing legal advice and strategic counseling.
• Draft demand letters, complaints, discovery, motions, mediation briefs, settlement agreements, and other legal documents.
• Conduct legal research and develop litigation strategies.
• Propound and respond to written discovery and handle e-discovery.
• Take and defend depositions of parties, witnesses, and corporate representatives.
• Prepare for and appear at hearings, mediations, arbitrations, and settlement conferences.
• Negotiate with opposing counsel, employers, insurers, and their representatives.
• Prepare cases for trial and, when appropriate, participate in trial proceedings.
• Represent clients before agencies such as the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), EEOC, and Labor Commissioner/DLSE.
• Maintain regular communication with clients and manage expectations throughout the litigation process.
• Collaborate with partners, associates, paralegals, and legal support staff.
• Maintain an organized caseload and meet court and case-management deadlines.

Qualifications:

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Active membership in the California State Bar and in good standing.
• 2-5+ years of employment litigation experience preferred; plaintiff-side experience strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of California employment law, including FEHA, wage-and-hour law, Labor Code, PAGA, and related statutes.
• Experience with pleadings, discovery, motion practice, depositions, mediations, and court appearances.
• Excellent legal research, writing, negotiation, and oral advocacy skills.
• Strong judgment and ability to independently manage a litigation caseload.
• Excellent interpersonal and client-communication skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to employee advocacy and client service.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience handling single-plaintiff employment cases from intake through resolution.
• Class action and/or PAGA experience.
• Trial experience.
• Experience with complex wage-and-hour litigation.
• Spanish or another second-language proficiency is a plus.

Compensation & Benefits:

Competitive compensation based on experience and qualifications, with many current Los Angeles plaintiff-side employment positions advertising approximately $220,000-$260,000+, depending on seniority, specialization, and firm structure. Senior positions can exceed this range.

Benefits may include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) or retirement plan
• Paid time off and holidays
• Performance or case-outcome bonuses
• Flexible or hybrid work arrangements
• Professional development and advancement opportunities

About the Role:

This position offers the opportunity to take meaningful responsibility for employee-rights cases while working alongside experienced employment litigators. The successful candidate will have significant client contact and the opportunity to develop cases strategically from initial evaluation through resolution.