Employment Litigation Associate & Counseling

WiseLex BPO • San Francisco, CA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a mid-level associate to join the Employment Law Practice in San Francisco, California; Newport Beach, California; or West Palm Beach, Florida. The role focuses on litigation across plaintiff and defense matters, complemented by substantive counseling for employers and employees. It is suited to an attorney with employment litigation experience seeking early ownership of matters, direct client interaction, and responsibility for advising clients on risk mitigation, compliance, and strategic personnel decisions.

The associate will support—and, as appropriate, take lead responsibility in—single-plaintiff employment claims involving discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination; class and representative wage-and-hour litigation; executive and professional disputes concerning compensation, equity, separation agreements, and restrictive covenants; and trade secret protection and unfair competition disputes in the employment context. The work includes representing employers and employees in state and federal court, arbitration, and administrative proceedings before state and federal agencies. Counseling work includes advising employers on compliance, investigations, disciplinary actions, terminations, wage practices, and policy drafting, as well as advising employees on compensation structures, separation negotiations, and claims evaluation. Matters regularly involve complex California and federal statutory frameworks, expedited proceedings, and significant financial and personal stakes.

The firm describes the environment as rigorous, collaborative, and practice-driven, with a dynamic mix of plaintiff and defense litigation, substantive counseling work, early matter ownership, meaningful responsibility, and direct client exposure. Competitive compensation is commensurate with experience, and hybrid schedule flexibility is available to support client and practice needs.

Requirements

• 3 to 6 years of solid employment litigation experience in state and/or federal court.
• Proven track record with dispositive motions and discovery management.
• Strong legal research and persuasive writing skills.
• Working knowledge of California employment statutes and civil procedure.
• Active membership in the California Bar, or ability to obtain admission promptly.

Nice To Haves

• Experience handling both plaintiff- and defense-side employment matters is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage cases and discrete litigation components with increasing independence.
• Draft pleadings, dispositive motions, written discovery, and substantive legal briefs.
• Conduct and defend depositions.
• Appear at court hearings, mediations, and settlement conferences.
• Provide strategic litigation and pre-litigation advice to employers and employees.
• Conduct workplace investigations and assist with internal assessments as needed.
• Maintain direct communication with clients, opposing counsel, and agency representatives.
• Support or take lead responsibility in employment litigation matters, including discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage-and-hour, executive and professional disputes, and trade secret or unfair competition disputes.
• Counsel employers on compliance, internal investigations, disciplinary actions, terminations, wage practices, and policy drafting.
• Counsel employees on compensation structures, separation negotiations, and claims evaluation.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation commensurate with experience.
• Hybrid schedule flexibility to support client and practice needs.
• Early ownership of matters, meaningful responsibility, and direct client exposure.
• A rigorous, collaborative, and practice-driven environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed