Litigation Associate Attorney

Dickenson Peatman & Fogarty; Napa (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full health insurance (dental & vision

Wellness program

Flexible Spending Accounts

Employee & Family Assistance Program

Parental/Family Leave

Generous paid time off + holidays

Job summary

Dickenson Peatman & Fogarty (DPF) seeks an attorney with 1–5 years of general commercial litigation experience to support trial, appellate, and arbitration matters in Napa. The firm, with deep wine industry expertise, offers a broad range of practice areas and a collaborative, team-based environment.

Ideal candidates have strong academic credentials, excellent communication skills, and the ability to handle a demanding workload while contributing to client service and business development

Qualifications

• J.D. from ABA-approved law school; CA bar license preferred.
• 1–5 years of litigation experience, CA preferred.
• Strong analytical, oral, written, and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Support trial, appellate, and arbitration matters.
• Work in a team-oriented environment with partners from multiple practice groups.
• Manage day-to-day workflow and high-volume workload with attention to detail.

Skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Team collaboration

Work ethic

Multitasking

Attention to detail

Client service

Leadership

Time management

Legal reasoning

Education

J.D. from ABA-approved school

California bar admission

Tools

Microsoft Office

iManage

AI-powered research/drafting tools

Job description

We are seeking an attorney with 1-5 years of experience in general commercial litigation, preferably with a background preparing for and supporting trial, appellate and arbitration matters across multiple areas of law.Exposure to a diverse range of disputes, including business entity, contract, and real property disputes, and a desire to be a generalist is a plus.

Located in the wine region of Napa, Dickenson Peatman & Fogarty (DP&F) has extensive experience in wine industry and alcohol beverage law, providing full service legal representation to clients throughout California, the United States and abroad since 1964. We advise businesses throughout their lifecycle—from formation to transition,in key areas of law: business transactions, intellectual property, labor and employment, land use, litigation, real property, alcohol beverage regulations and compliance, and wine law.

Litigation Associate Attorney:

Candidates should have a high level of academic achievement from a nationally recognized law school and exceptional oral, written, and interpersonal skills, with strong attention to detail. They should be ambitious and highly motivated, have a strong work ethic and leadership skills, an interest in taking on increased levels of responsibility, good business and strategic judgment, and an ability to handle the day-to-day demands and workflow of working in a team-oriented environment.

This is a full-time position, based in our Napa office. The expected yearly salary range for this position is $120,000 - $150,000, with potential for additional production-based monthly billable hour bonuses. Beyond this range, final base compensation will be determined by several conditions, including but not limited to relevant experience, skills, qualifications, internal pay equity and other job-related factors permitted by law. Additionally, we provide monthly billable hour bonuses, that can increase your salary from between $24K to $60K annually, dependent on meeting billable hour requirements.

Qualifications and Required Skills:

• JD from a top-tier ABA approved school, preferably already licensed in California
• One to five years of litigation experience, preferably practicing in California
• Finely-tuned analytical skills and the ability to interpret and analyze a multitude of documents, including pleadings, client communications, and a variety of legal documents
• Ability to handle high-volume workload and effectively prioritize matters
• Ability to work in a collaborative work environment. While each practice group has its specialized disciplines, we work cross-functionally with partners from all areas of the firm.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Versatility, flexibility, attention to detail and a strong work ethic
• Excellent customer service skills to both internal and external customers
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and self-motivate, with the ability to multi-task
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel)
• Proficiency in iManage a plus
• Experience with AI-powered legal research or drafting tools is a plus.

What We Offer:

• Competitive base pay based on experience;
• Flexible working environment for work-life success;
• Full health insurance plan, including dental and vision;
• Wellness program including gym membership;
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Employee and Family Assistance Program;
• Parental/Family Leave;
• Generous paid time off plus 10 paid holidays.

Physical Requirements:

Sitting for extended periods of time, reading, writing, typing, speaking (in person and on the phone), working at a desk, talking on the phone, working on a computer, ability to lift 10 lbs.

About the Law Firm:

DP&F is a full-service law firm that offers its employees a close knit, family-oriented culture and a collegial work environment. We have a team of just under fifty people in downtown Napa, California. Our teams collaborate with clients and across our broad range of practice groups to provide individualized and sophisticated counsel, delivering pragmatic solutions to help clients solve their legal challenges and achieve their business goals.

DP&F attorneys include many recognized leaders in the field. We help clients navigate impacts and complexities arising from a range of issues, including shifts in regulatory environments, climate change, and market barriers. Our culture of collaboration and inquiry and unique experience make us well equipped to tackle whatever comes next.

DP&F recognizes the systems of inequality and privilege which are endemic in the legal industry and our community, and our responsibility to challenge those systems. We are committed to fostering a more inclusive firm culture, increasing diversity among our firm leadership, attorneys, and staff, and supporting marginalized, underrepresented, and underserved communities.