Employment Law Partner – School District Defense

Full-time | Remote within any major California city| Approximately 150 billable hours per month | Exempt | $230,000 - $300,000 + Quarterly Bonus Opportunities | Relocation Available

Offices are located in El Segundo, Fresno, Oakland, Ontario, Orange, Redding, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose, or Westlake Village.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Are you an experienced employment litigator looking for a sophisticated practice without the pressure of excessive billable requirements? Join a growing California defense firm where you'll represent school districts and public entities in high-impact employment litigation while partnering directly with educational leaders to solve complex workplace challenges.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an accomplished Employment Law Partner with deep defense-side experience who wants meaningful autonomy, flexible work arrangements, and the support of an established statewide litigation platform. You'll manage significant employment disputes, advise school administrators on compliance, mentor attorneys, and help clients proactively reduce legal risk. The firm values practical legal strategies, collaboration, and long-term client relationships over unnecessary bureaucracy, allowing you to focus on practicing law at a high level.

WHY YOU'LL LOVE WORKING HERE!

• Competitive salary of $230,000-$300,000 plus quarterly bonus opportunities
• Manage sophisticated employment litigation for California school districts and public entities
• Hybrid and remote flexibility with office locations throughout California
• Reasonable 150 billable hour per month expectation
• Unlimited PTO for attorneys
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and pet insurance
• 401(k) with employer matching after one year
• Cell phone reimbursement
• 11 paid holidays
• Vacation credit accrual
• Collaborative litigation teams with strong administrative support
• Opportunities to mentor attorneys and help grow a respected statewide practice
• Relocation assistance may be considered for exceptional candidates

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Defend California school districts and public entities in employment litigation
• Handle wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour, and workplace investigations
• Manage cases through every phase of litigation, including pleadings, discovery, depositions, dispositive motions, settlement negotiations, mediation, arbitration, and trial
• Serve as lead counsel in state and federal court proceedings
• Respond to administrative agency matters before the EEOC, DFEH/CRD, PERB, and other regulatory agencies
• Advise school boards, superintendents, HR leadership, and administrators on employment law compliance
• Counsel clients regarding Title VII, Title IX, ADA, FMLA, FEHA, FLSA, Education Code, and collective bargaining issues
• Draft and review employment policies, contracts, investigations, disciplinary actions, and separation documents
• Conduct legal training for administrators, HR professionals, and management teams
• Develop proactive risk management strategies to minimize future litigation
• Mentor associates and contribute to practice growth and client development

WHAT MAKES YOU A GREAT FIT

• Active member in good standing with the California State Bar
• Minimum 8 years of employment law experience
• At least 80% of your practice has focused on employment litigation during the past five years
• Significant defense-side employment litigation experience
• Experience representing school districts, educational institutions, or public entities
• Strong motion practice, deposition, negotiation, and courtroom advocacy skills
• Experience advising management and HR professionals on complex employment issues
• Excellent client relationship management and business judgment
• Ability to independently manage a sophisticated litigation caseload

Preferred

• First or second chair civil trial experience
• Experience handling PERB matters and collective bargaining issues
• Background advising public agencies or government entities
• Existing relationships within California education or public sector organizations
• Leadership or mentoring experience within a litigation practice
• Portable book of business is welcomed but not required

ABOUT THE FIRM

This established California litigation firm has built a strong reputation defending employers, insurance carriers, and public entities in complex legal matters throughout the state. Attorneys benefit from a collaborative culture, modern technology, flexible work arrangements, and experienced litigation support teams that allow them to focus on delivering exceptional client service. The firm is committed to professional development, long-term career growth, and maintaining a workplace where experienced attorneys have the autonomy and resources needed to build thriving practices.

Attorneys are empowered to build successful long-term careers while maintaining flexibility and professional autonomy. With manageable billable expectations, statewide resources, strong litigation support, modern technology, generous benefits, and a collaborative leadership team, the firm creates an environment where experienced lawyers can focus on delivering outstanding results for clients without sacrificing work-life balance. Whether your goal is to deepen your litigation practice, mentor the next generation of attorneys, or continue building your career in public sector employment law, you'll have the resources and support to succeed.

DISCLOSURES

Compensation Transparency (California):

• Salary range: $230,000-$300,000 annually, depending on experience, qualifications, business development, and overall fit.
• Eligible for quarterly performance bonuses.

Work Authorization:

• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.
• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Licensure Requirement:

• Active membership in good standing with the California State Bar is required.

Employment Requirement:

• Candidates must have current or most recent employment litigation experience on the defense side. Applicants whose experience is exclusively plaintiff-side will not be considered. Candidates with mixed plaintiff and defense experience must have their most recent employment litigation experience representing defendants.
• Equal Employment Opportunity:
  The firm is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other status protected under applicable federal, California, or local law.
• Fair Chance Hiring:
  Consistent with applicable California law, qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered in a manner consistent with state and local Fair Chance regulations, where applicable.

Ref#: BSS 25-03444