Labor & Employment Associate (3–5 Years)
Location: Costa Mesa, CA (Orange County)
Position Type: Full-time
Salary: Highly competitive and based on experience
About the Firm: A highly respected, premier Am Law firm is seeking a skilled Labor & Employment Associate to join their dynamic team in Costa Mesa. This firm is known for representing sophisticated clients, fostering a collaborative and team-oriented culture, and offering excellent career progression for associates ready to take the next step in their practice.
Position Overview: The ideal candidate will have 3 to 5 years of dedicated employment litigation and counseling experience. You will work closely with partners on a diverse range of employment matters, including single-plaintiff cases, wage-and-hour class actions, and strategic advice/counseling. Experience with organized labor and union negotiations is a distinct plus.
Key Responsibilities:
Manage single-plaintiff cases and play a substantial role in complex litigation and class actions.
Collaborate directly with partners to develop and execute case strategy.
Draft substantial briefs, discovery requests, and responses.
Argue motions in court, take/defend depositions, and participate in trial work as needed.
Conduct witness interviews, handle internal investigations, and prepare fact presentations.
Provide complex employment law advice and assist with the labor aspects of M&A transactions.
Proactively manage case dockets, deadlines, and client files.
Position Requirements:
Education: JD from an ABA-accredited law school.
Experience: 3–5 years of employment litigation and counseling experience within a law firm setting.
Bar Admission: Active license to practice in California (or licensed in WA with a willingness to seek immediate admission to the CA bar).
Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; highly responsive, proactive, and detail-oriented. Proficient in MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook; Excel is a plus).
Core Values: A commitment to diversity, continuous improvement, and an ability to work seamlessly across all levels of firm personnel.
Compensation & Benefits: * Highly competitive salary based on depth of experience in the practice area.
Work-Life Customization: Option to elect a lower billable-hours track with a proportional reduction in salary.
Eligibility to participate in the firm’s competitive associate bonus program.
To apply:
Send your confidential resume and writing sample to Nykki McAdoo at nykki.mcadoo@gogpac.com
All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations. GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.
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