Job Description
Job DescriptionCorporate Associate Attorney
Sacramento, California
Direct Counsel is seeking a Corporate Associate Attorney to join a respected California-based law firm in its Sacramento office. This is an excellent opportunity for an attorney with 1–4 years of corporate and business transactions experience who is looking to build a broad-based practice handling sophisticated middle-market and growth-company matters.
The ideal candidate will have experience across mergers and acquisitions, business purchases and sales, financing arrangements, capital markets matters, and complex commercial agreements. This role offers the chance to work closely with senior attorneys and long-standing clients across a wide range of industries, providing hands-on exposure to companies at every stage of the business lifecycle—from formation and capital raising through major liquidity events.
Key Responsibilities
- Assist in the structuring, negotiation, and execution of corporate and transactional matters
- Support mergers and acquisitions, entity formations, reorganizations, and strategic transactions
- Draft, review, and revise purchase agreements, operating agreements, shareholder agreements, and commercial contracts
- Conduct legal and due diligence reviews in connection with corporate transactions
- Support financing transactions, including preparation and review of loan and related agreements
- Collaborate with attorneys across tax, real estate, and other specialty practice groups
- Manage multiple client matters simultaneously while meeting deadlines
- Communicate directly with clients, opposing counsel, and internal deal teams
- Stay current on corporate law developments and relevant industry trends
Qualifications
- 1–4 years of corporate and business transactions experience
- Experience with M&A, purchases and sales, capital markets, financing agreements, and commercial contracts
- Exposure to transactional tax planning preferred
- Exposure to securities law is a plus
- Strong ability to independently manage routine and increasingly sophisticated matters
- Excellent research, writing, and analytical skills
- Strong attention to detail and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
- Outstanding interpersonal, communication, and client service skills
- Collaborative, proactive, and team-oriented mindset
- JD from an accredited law school
- Active California Bar membership in good standing
- Strong academic credentials required
Compensation
$160,000 – $200,000, depending on experience and qualifications.
Why This Opportunity
This is a strong opportunity for a junior-to-midlevel corporate associate seeking meaningful transactional experience with direct mentorship and client exposure. The platform offers a collegial, quality-of-life-focused culture and the chance to work on a diverse range of matters for clients across sectors including manufacturing, real estate, agribusiness, banking, renewable energy, and technology.