Job Description
Job DescriptionEmployment Law – Senior Attorney / Partner (School District Defense)
Salary: $230K–$300K
Billables: 150/month
Requirements:
• 8+ years of school district defense experience
• Civil trial experience (1st or 2nd chair preferred)
• Defense-side only
• Must have spent 80%+ of the last 5 years in Employment Law litigation
• Experience with EL compliance documents; wage/hour auditsLocation: Orange County, CA, El Segundo, Oakland, CA-Hybrid
Job Competencies
- Must have a well-established and exclusive employment litigation, defense background
- Experience in Employment Law compliance document & wage/hour audits
- Experience in compliance, employee handbooks, etc.
- School district defense experience required
- Trial experience preferred, but not required
- Experience with public entity defense a plus
- Bachelor’s and Juris Doctor degrees
- Member, State Bar of California in good standing
- Superior research, analytical, and negotiating ability
- Excellent written and oral communication
- Commitment to proactive case management
Benefits & Pay
We offer a competitive salary, a casual environment, and a generous benefits package including:
- Competitive Salary with Quarterly Bonus Opportunities
- · Unlimited Paid Time Off (UPTO) for Attorneys
- · Eligible Attorneys get 70 Credit Hours offered once per calendar year to take a vacation!
- · Hybrid Work (there will be times when employees need to come into the office or attend in-person hearings or meetings)
- · Medical, Dental, Vision, and Pet Insurance
- · Firm paid Life Insurance
- · 11 Paid Holidays
- · 401(k) + Employer Matching after 1-year
- · Flexible Spending Account
- · Accelerated Partnership Track
- · Continuous Training/Learning
- · Employee Discounts
- · Holiday Parties & Team Building
- · Employee Referral Program
- · Free Snacks & Beverages
- · Cell Phone Reimbursement
- · Military Leave
- · Premium Office Locations
- · Ease of Access to Public Transit
- · Casual Dress Code
Tasks Performed:
1. Litigation Defense & Risk Management for School Districts:
- Defend school districts in employment-related lawsuits, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims involving teachers, staff, and administrators.
- Handle disputes arising from complaints filed with agencies like the EEOC, state education departments, and labor boards.
- Oversee the discovery process, motion practice, and settlement negotiations, with a focus on public sector employment regulations and education law.
2. Strategic Counsel & Legal Guidance for School District Leadership:
- Advise school boards, superintendents, and HR departments on navigating complex employment laws such as Title IX, ADA, FMLA, and state-specific education regulations.
- Develop proactive legal strategies to mitigate risk in labor disputes, employee discipline, hiring practices, and contract negotiations.
- Provide counsel on addressing union relations, teacher tenure, and collective bargaining agreements to prevent litigation and ensure compliance.
3. Policy Development & Compliance for Educational Institutions:
- Review and draft school district employment policies on areas like employee conduct, tenure, discipline, and termination, ensuring they align with both employment and education laws.
- Advise on drafting teacher and staff contracts, ensuring compliance with public education laws, union agreements, and collective bargaining terms.
- Ensure the district’s practices comply with federal and state regulations affecting public school employment, including Title IX, ADA, and other education-specific statutes.
4. Training & Development for School District HR and Administrators:
- Provide tailored training to school district leadership, HR personnel, and administrators on legal compliance, best practices in handling employee relations, and mitigating risks of litigation in the educational context.
- Conduct workshops on issues such as anti-discrimination, sexual harassment prevention, and navigating teacher tenure and union rules, ensuring the district adheres to legal and ethical standards.
Please email resume to: Sheila@mykeystaff.com