# Labor & Employment Associate Attorney - Mid-Level

> Coastal Wave Recruiting · San Francisco, United States (Hybrid) · Full-time · Posted 2026-09-02

**Salary:** USD 235,000–285,000

**Workplace:** hybrid

**Department:** Law Firm

## Description

**Locations:** San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Rafael, Walnut Creek, Sacramento, San Diego, Fresno, or Costa Mesa, CA

**Work Arrangement:** Hybrid / Flexible

A highly regarded California law firm is seeking a **Mid-Level Labor & Employment Associate Attorney** to join its growing practice. This attorney will work closely with an experienced L&E partner representing both **California public agencies and private-sector employers**.

The practice is approximately **60% public entity / 40% private sector** and **60% advice & counsel / 40% litigation**, providing a strong mix of counseling and substantive litigation work.

Responsibilities include advising employers on workplace issues, wage-and-hour compliance, leaves, accommodations, discipline, terminations, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation matters. The associate will also handle employment litigation, including discovery, motions, depositions, hearings, mediations, arbitrations, and trial preparation.

This is an opportunity for a true mid-level attorney to take on meaningful responsibility, work directly with clients and partners, and build a long-term career within a sophisticated California employment practice.

## Requirements

-   Several years of substantive **California Labor & Employment experience**
-   Strong knowledge of California employment law
-   Meaningful **employment litigation** experience
-   Experience providing **advice & counsel** to employers
-   Ability to independently manage significant portions of matters and cases
-   Excellent research, writing, analytical, and communication skills
-   **California Bar admission in good standing**
-   Public entity/public-sector employment experience is highly desirable
-   Strong private-sector employment attorneys with both counseling and litigation experience will also be considered
-   **1,800 credited-hour requirement**, with only **1,700 client-billable hours**

Candidates should already have an established California employment law foundation; this position is not intended for attorneys looking to completely transition from another practice area.

## Benefits

-   Credit for up to **150 pro bono hours + 50 impact/community hours**
-   Productivity bonuses beginning at approximately **1,850 hours**
-   Bonus opportunities generally ranging from approximately **10%–20% of base compensation**, depending on productivity
-   Additional discretionary bonus opportunities
-   Flexible hybrid environment with **no firmwide mandatory office-day requirement**
-   Eight California office options, including **Costa Mesa/Orange County**
-   Potential **$15,000–$30,000 sign-on or make-whole bonus** for qualified lateral attorneys
-   Defined **Senior Associate, Counsel, and Partnership** career paths
-   Professional development and business-development support
-   Sophisticated work with significant client interaction and direct partner access

## Apply

[Apply at Coastal Wave Recruiting](https://apply.workable.com/coastal-wave-recruiting/j/B5912961A4/apply)

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