California General Liability Associate (West Coast)

This is a full-caseload general liability defense seat at an AV-rated full-service national law firm with more than 160 attorneys across eight states. The firm is known for tenacious defense work and long-standing client relationships, and this role gives you real ownership over a varied docket of premises liability, personal injury, and casualty defense matters from day one, not a siloed motion-writing function. The annual billing target is 1,950 hours, with a quarterly bonus structure that starts at 1.25% of base salary and scales to 4.25% once you reach 650 billable hours in a quarter.

The ideal candidate is a self-directed civil defense litigator with two to eight years of California general liability experience who is ready to run a full caseload independently. You come from a defense firm, you are comfortable managing 25 or more matters at once, and you want a place where the path from associate to senior associate, of counsel, and partner is real and well-traveled. No book of business is required.

Key Responsibilities

1. Manage a full caseload of general liability defense matters, including premises liability, personal injury, and casualty defense
2. Draft and respond to motions, complaints, and written discovery across active matters
3. Attend and defend depositions, court hearings, and client meetings
4. Assist with preparation for mediations and trials
5. Maintain approximately 1,950 billable hours annually to meet firm targets and qualify for quarterly bonuses
6. Communicate proactively with clients and keep matters moving with minimal supervision
7. Collaborate with practice group attorneys while taking independent ownership of assigned files

Required Skills & Experience

• JD from an ABA-approved law school
• Active California bar license in good standing
• 2 to 8 years of civil defense litigation experience in general liability, premises liability, bodily injury, or casualty defense
• Defense-side experience required; plaintiff-side only backgrounds will not be considered
• Demonstrated ability to manage 25 or more cases simultaneously
• Experience at a defense firm handling full litigation lifecycles, not just motions work
• Ability to work independently and self-manage caseload with minimal supervision
• California-based; open to fully remote or hybrid work

Preferred Skills

• Deposition, court appearance, and discovery drafting experience across varied GL matters
• Trial or mediation experience
• Background at a California insurance defense or regional defense firm with a comparable general liability practice
• Stable tenure with clear, explainable transitions between firms